Santiago 2023 Parapan Am Games: Everything you need to know about Para Powerlifting!

The Santiago 2023 Parapan American Games will host four days of Para powerlifting events at the Gimnasio Chimkowe from Saturday to Tuesday (18 to 21 November). A total of 104 powerlifters from 16 countries are set to compete in Chile.

Para powerlifting joined the Parapan Am Games programme in the third edition at Rio 2007. Mexico leads the all-time medals table with 27 medals, but Brazil topped the ranking in the last edition at Lima 2019 with 16 medals, including six golds.

Here below is all you need to know about Para powerlifting at Santiago 2023.

The programme

There are 17 medal events, two more than at Lima 2019. This year’s Parapan American Games will mark the debut of the team events which will wrap up the programme on Tuesday. 

The action kicks off on Saturday with six finals. The men’s up to 49kg opens the session followed by the women’s up to 61kg. The combined women’s up to 73kg & up to 69kg comes next. The evening session will see the men’s up to 59kg, the women’s up to 41kg and the men’s up to 72kg.

Sunday will crown five Parapan Am champions in the men’s up to 54kg, women’s up to 67kg, men’s up to 97kg, women’s up to 45kg and the combined men’s up to 107kg & over 107kg.

The last day of individual events on Monday will see other five champions on the podium. Three in men’s events (up to 65kg, up to 80kg and up to 88kg) and two in women’s events (combined up to 50kg & up to 55kg and combined up to 86kg & over 86kg). 

The venue

The Gimnasio Chimkowe was opened in 2008 and has capacity to 4,500 spectators. It hosted weightlifting and breaking at the Parapan American Games which took place from 20 October to 5 November.

Chimkowe means “a place for coming together” in Mapudungun, the native language of the Mapuche people. The venue is located in Penalolen, in the Santiago Metropolitan Area. It was also used at the 2014 South American Games in Santiago hosting futsal.

Ones to watch

One of the all-time greatest in the sport, Mexico’s Amalia Perez will be targeting a fifth gold in as many participations at the Parapan Am Games. The four-time Paralympic champion will be competing in Chile for the first time in the women’s up 67kg on Sunday.

The other two Mexican champions from Lima 2019 will also be in Santiago: Jose de Jesus Castillo Castillo (men’s up to 107kg) is aiming for a fourth title while Perla Barcenas (over 86kg) will be eyeing a fifth gold as Perez.

All of Brazil’s six Lima 2019 winners will be returning to the Parapan Am Games in Chile. Paralympic and world champion Mariana D’Andrea (women’s up to 73kg) leads the team. 

Bruno Carra will be defending his up to 54kg-title and, among others, will face compatriot Joao Franca Junior, who won the up to 49kg category in Lima. Paralympic medallist Evanio Souza (up to 88kg), Ezequiel Correa (up to 72kg) and Maria Luzineide Santos (up to 50kg) are the other 2019 champions in the Brazilian team.

El Salvador’s flag bearer in the opening ceremony in Santiago, Herbert Aceituno (men’s up to 54kg) made history when he won his country’s first-ever Parapan Am gold medal four years ago. Two years later he became the first Salvadoran to take a medal in the Paralympic Games at Tokyo 2020.

Local stars

Chile will be represented by 12 athletes at Gimnasio Chimkowe. The hosts finished fourth in the Para powerlifting medal standings at Lima 2019 with one gold, three silver and two bronze. 

Juan Carlos Garrido is a three-time Parapan Am Games champion and one of the stars of Team Para Chile who will be competing in the men’s up to 72kg. Camila Campos (women’s up to 55kg) and Jorge Carinao (up to 65kg) will have the support of the home fans as they will try to improve the colour of their medals after the silver in Lima. 

How to follow

The Santiago 2023 Parapan American Games will be streamed live on the PanAm Sports Channel.

Complete schedule and results are available here. 

Follow World Para Powerlifting channels on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for more information and exclusive images from Santiago 2023.