Paris 2024 Paralympic Games: Powerlifting Day Four Preview
Day four of the Para Powerlifting competition at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games promises to be an exciting event, with four new champions set to be crowned at La Chapelle Arena on Saturday, 7 September 2024. Athletes from across the globe will showcase their strength and determination, with Brazil, Jordan, Nigeria, Egypt, China, and Uzbekistan all fielding top competitors. Here’s a preview of the important thing activities and athletes to watch.
Afternoon Finals
The first event of the day is the women’s up to 73kg category, where Brazil’s Mariana D’Andrea is the favorite to win. D’Andrea is the reigning Paralympic champion and is eager to retain her title in Paris. As one of the most accomplished powerlifters in the sport, she is known for her strength and resilience. Although she faces tough competition, the absence of Kafila Almaruf, the world champion and world record holder in the category, puts D’Andrea in an even stronger position to dominate the event.
Challenging her will be Ruza Kuzieva from Uzbekistan, who secured a silver medal in the women’s up to 61kg category at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. Kuzieva has shifted to a higher weight category and will be aiming to make a mark on the podium once again. With her experience and competitive spirit, she could provide a surprise in the contest.
The men’s up to 88kg final will follow, with athletes who have switched weight categories since the Tokyo 2020 Games. Yan Panpan of China, the Paralympic champion in the men’s up to 97kg class, is one of the key athletes to watch. Despite moving down to the 88kg category, his previous success and form make him a serious contender for the gold medal.
Mohamed Elelfat of Egypt, a two-time Paralympic medallist in the men’s 75kg and men’s 80kg categories, will also be vying for a podium finish. Elelfat’s experience and versatility in powerlifting should make him one of the top performers in this category, alongside Yan.
Evening Finals
The women’s up to 79kg category promises to be a thrilling encounter between Nigeria’s Bose Omolayo and China’s Miaoyu Han. Omolayo is the reigning Paralympic champion, while Han is the current world record holder with a lift of 153kg, achieved at the 2024 Tbilisi World Cup. This head-to-head contest is expected to captivate the audience as both athletes push each other to new heights in their quest for gold.
Finally, the day’s highlight will be the men’s up to 97kg final. Jordan’s Abdelkareem Khattab is the man to watch. Khattab, the Paralympic champion in the men’s up to 88kg category, holds the world record in both the 88kg and 97kg categories. He is aiming to claim his first gold in the 97kg category, and fans are anticipating a potential world record performance from the Jordanian powerhouse.
Fabio Torres of Colombia, a bronze medallist at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, will also be in contention. Having won gold at the Parapan American Games, Torres will be looking to use that momentum to secure a medal in Paris. His strength and determination make him a strong competitor in this highly anticipated event.
The opening day of Para Powerlifting at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games saw impressive performances, with world and Paralympic records being shattered, but disappointment for the French contingent. Held at the Arena Porte de La Chapelle, two French powerlifters—Axel Bourlon and Alex Adelaïde—competed, with both failing to secure medals.
Axel Bourlon’s Disappointment
Much was expected from Axel Bourlon, a Paralympic silver medalist from Tokyo 2020, but the day did not go as planned. Bourlon was seen as a strong contender for a medal, with the home crowd rallying behind him. However, his first attempt at 163 kilograms was invalidated by two of the three judges, and a video challenge confirmed the decision. This put immense pressure on him for his next two lifts.
For his second attempt, Bourlon decided to increase the weight to 169 kilograms, aiming for a higher ranking. Despite feeling confident in his strength, he struggled with his technique, particularly with his right arm, leading to all three judges invalidating the lift. The video challenge once again upheld the decision. His third attempt at 169 kilograms also ended in failure, meaning Bourlon was not ranked in the competition.
Reflecting on his performance, Bourlon expressed deep disappointment: “I didn’t come here for this. I wanted a medal, the best one possible. I’m leaving these Games empty-handed.”
In the end, Kazakhstan’s David Degtyarev took gold with a lift of 188 kilograms, beating Cuba’s Pablo Ramirez Barrientos (185 kg) and China’s Jinglang Yang (179 kg).
Alex Adelaïde Finishes Sixth
Earlier in the day, France’s other powerlifting representative, Alex Adelaïde, competed in the men’s under 54kg category. In his first Paralympic powerlifting appearance, Adelaïde lifted 160 kilograms, which earned him a sixth-place finish. Unfortunately, his subsequent attempts at 165 kilograms and a daring final attempt at 172 kilograms—one that could have put him in medal contention—were unsuccessful.
Adelaïde, who previously won a bronze medal in Para athletics at the Rio 2016 Games in the 4×400 meter relay, was left to reflect on his powerlifting debut, with hopes of redemption at the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympic Games.
Women’s Competition: Records Broken
The women’s competition delivered record-breaking performances. In the under 41kg category, China’s Zhen Cui won her first Paralympic gold medal after a series of silver finishes at the previous four Games. Cui lifted 119 kilograms, setting a new Paralympic record, though she fell just short of breaking the world record of 123 kilograms. She triumphed over Nigeria’s Esther Nworgu (118 kg) and Brazil’s Lara Aparecida de Lima (109 kg).
In the women’s under 45kg category, another Chinese athlete, *Lingling Guo, stole the spotlight by setting a new world record with a lift of 123 kilograms. Guo, who previously held the Paralympic title in the under 41kg category, surpassed the existing world and Paralympic records. *Zoé Newson of Great Britain and Turkey’s Nazmiye Muratli finished second and third, respectively.
Looking Ahead
The Para Powerlifting competition at Paris 2024 continues until 8 September, with more thrilling events expected. Highlights include the women’s over 86kg and men’s over 107kg categories, where more records and inspiring performances are anticipated.
Paralympics 2024: Google Doodle Celebrates Powerlifting
On September 5, 2024, Google marked the start of the Para Powerlifting event at the Paris Paralympics with a playful and creative Google Doodle. The Doodle featured animated birds lifting a baguette as a barbell, playfully celebrating the strength and determination of Paralympic powerlifters. The background depicted various types of bread, highlighting the fun and imaginative nature of the tribute. The Doodle’s message read, “The wait is over, the weights are on. Get prepared for today’s Para Powerlifting occasion at Aréna Porte de La Chapelle! signaling the beginning of this highly anticipated event.
History of Para Powerlifting
Para powerlifting has come a protracted manner considering its inception. The sport debuted at the Tokyo 1964 Games as a demonstration event and was officially included in the Paralympic Games in 1984. Initially limited to male athletes, women’s powerlifting was introduced at the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games, opening up the sport to female competitors and significantly expanding its reach. Over the decades, para powerlifting has evolved into a dynamic and highly competitive sport, showcasing the strength and determination of athletes with disabilities across various weight categories.
Competition Details and Categories
At the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, the Para Powerlifting event runs from September 4 to September 8 at the Aréna Porte de La Chapelle. Athletes compete in different weight categories based on their gender and weight class. For men, categories include 49 kg, 54 kg, and 59 kg, while women compete in 41 kg, 45 kg, and 50 kg weight classes, among others. Athletes eligible for this sport include those with various impairments such as cerebral palsy, orthopedic disabilities, neurological conditions, paraplegia, and tetraplegia.
Notable Athletes
The event features some of the most remarkable powerlifters from across the globe. Mariana D’Andrea from Brazil, the reigning Paralympic champion, is a standout in the competition. Other notable athletes include David Degtyarev from Kazakhstan, who secured gold in the men’s 49 kg category, and Sherif Osman from Egypt, a multiple-time gold medalist. Jordan’s *Abdelkareem Mohammad Khattab, China’s **Lingling Guo, and Mexico’s *Amalia Perez are also key competitors in this year’s powerlifting events.
Record-Breaking Performances
On the first day of competition, China’s Lingling Guo set a new world record in the women’s 45 kg category with a lift of 123 kilograms, earning her a well-deserved gold medal. Zoé Newson from Great Britain and Nazmiye Muratli from Turkey took silver and bronze, respectively. In the men’s 49 kg category, Omar Sami Hamadeh Qarada from Jordan secured the gold medal with a commanding performance, while Turkey’s Abdullah Kayapinar took silver, and Vietnam’s Le Van Cong claimed bronze.
Google Doodle: Celebrating the Paralympic Spirit
Google’s Doodle, with its lighthearted depiction of powerlifting birds, captures the spirit of Para Powerlifting while celebrating the strength, determination, and perseverance of athletes. The whimsical nature of the Doodle aligns with the core values of the Paralympic Games—showcasing not only the intensity and competitive spirit of the sport but also its inclusiveness and the joy of competition.
Evolution of Para Powerlifting
Para Powerlifting has evolved from a sport with limited participation to a globally recognized discipline that highlights the remarkable abilities of athletes with disabilities. The sport’s growth is evident in the increasing number of countries participating and the improvement in athletes’ performances. The Paralympic powerlifting event today stands as a symbol of resilience, determination, and excellence in sport, with athletes pushing the boundaries of what is physically possible.
Google’s Doodle serves as a tribute to these athletes, honoring their strength and dedication while bringing global attention to the significance of Para Powerlifting in the Paralympic movement. From its modest beginnings in 1964 to its current status as a premier event at the Paralympic Games, Para Powerlifting continues to inspire and captivate audiences worldwide.