Bogota 2018: Leidy Rodriguez vs. Clara Fuentes

Women’s up to 41kg features clash of generations 03 Dec 2018

female Para powerlifters Leidy Rodriguez and Clara Fuentes sitting on the bench

Leidy Rodriguez (L) will face stiff competition from Clara Fuentes in the women's up to 41kg at Bogota 2018

ⒸGetty Images

By World Para Powerlifting

Parapan American champion Leidy Rodriguez will meet rising star Clara Fuentes in an expected head-to-head at the World Para Powerlifting Americas Open Championships in Bogota, Colombia, between 6 and 9 December.

The Cuban will try to outdo her performance from the last edition of the regional event in 2015, when she claimed silver in the women’s up to 41kg.

Rodriguez followed that up with gold at the Toronto 2015 Parapan American Games. At her maiden Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 2016, she ended sixth. She again reached the podium at the 2017 World Championships, finishing second.

At just 21 years old, Venezuelan Fuentes has already made a name for herself. She burst onto the international scene at the 2017 Youth Parapan American Games, taking gold.

In 2017, she won the junior world title in Mexico City and ended fifth in the senior competition behind Rodriguez among others.

Head to Head

PERSONAL INFO

Rodriguez: Nationality: Cuba. Age: 35

Fuentes: Nationality: Venezuela. Age: 21

PARALYMPIC GAMES

Rodriguez: Games: 1 (2016)

Medals: 0

Fuentes: Has not yet made her debut at a Paralympic Games

DID YOU KNOW?

Rodriguez: Was named among the Top 10 Outstanding Paralympic Athletes in Cuba by the Cuban Sports Institute in 2015.

Fuentes: Aims to become first Venezuelan powerlifter to win a Paralympic medal.