Grace Anozie

Anozie was paralyzed from polio when she was two years old.[1] She completed a university accounting program in 1998 but changed her career to sports when she could not find a job.[2]

Anozie started powerlifting in 1998 and medalled in multiple Paralympic Games. In powerlifting, she was fourth in the 82.5 kg event at the 2000 Summer Paralympics.[3] Changing to the over 82.5 kg event, Anozie won a bronze at the 2004 Summer Paralympics. She later won a silver at the 2008 Summer Paralympics and a gold at the 2012 Summer Paralympics.[1] Outside of the Paralympics, Anozie won gold at the 2013 Powerlifting Asian Open Championships.[4]

During her career, Anozie has held world records in powerlifting. At the Beijing Paralympics in 2008, she broke the Paralympic record in the over 86 kg powerlifting event.[5] Later on, Anozie set the world record in the over 82.5 kg category during the 2012 Fazza International Powerlifting Championships.[1] The year later, she held the world record in the over 86 kg event at the 2013 Asian Open Championship, which was later broken by Precious Orji.[6]

Anozie was nominated for the International Paralympic Committee's athlete of the month in March 2012.[7]

Anozie lived in Benin, Edo State, Nigeria[3] before moving to the United States in 2014. She originally planned to visit Chicago for training tour for 2014 Commonwealth Games but ended up living in Shreveport, Louisiana after a conflict with her trainer.[1]