Heavyweights dominate Brazil’s nationals

“I began with a low weight to get over the stress of the competition"

Two Brazilian records were smashed in the heavyweights category in Sao Paulo at the Circuito Loterias Caixa last Sunday (9 June) – an event which served as the country’s powerlifting national championships.

Christian Porteiro broke his own record set in March, in Manaus, when he lifted 163 kg, with a new record of 170 kg in the - 97 kg category.

“I began with a low weight to get over the stress of the competition, he said. “Then I increased it to 165kg to gain confidence and then concluded the competition with a top performance.”

Ten years ago, the athlete’s right leg was amputated, but prior to that he had already been competing in able-bodied powerlifting.

Another athlete who broke a record was Joseano dos Santos Felipe, lifting 190kg in the -107 kg category, defeating his opponents Jose Ricardo da Silva and Alcides Geraldo.

In the +107kg category, Emerson Barbosa, also known as Sargento, lifted 190kg, beating his colleague Mario Cergio da Rocha, who managed 170 kg.

The national event was a good way for athletes to test themselves with less than a year to go until the 2014 IPC Powerlifting World Championships, which will take place next April in Dubai, UAE.