Mexico City 2017: Amalia Perez vs. Mariana Shevchuk

Home crowd hope to celebrate gold through three-time Paralympic champion 21 Nov 2017
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two female powerlifters prepare to lift

Shevchuk (L) will push Perez all the way for gold at Mexico City 2017

By IPC

Amalia Perez is one of the biggest stars competing at the Mexico City 2017 World Championships, from 2-8 December. With the home crowd behind her, the three-time Paralympic champion seeks to regain the world title.

The 44-year-old has not topped the podium at a Worlds since Busan 2006. Perez claimed silver at both Kuala Lumpur 2010 and Dubai 2014. But as Nigeria´s Esther Oyema and China´s Xiao Cuijuan withdrew from Mexico City 2017, everything seems set for the Mexican to return to the top spot on home soil.

Her main opponent will be 21-year-old Mariana Shevchuk, who finished fourth at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games with a 107kg lift. Still, the Ukrainian needs to perform way above her expectations and wait for Perez, who holds the world record of 130kg, to have a bad day in order to snatch gold.

Head to Head

PERSONAL INFO

Perez: Nationality: Mexico. Age: 44

Shevchuk: Nationality: Ukraine. Age: 21

PARALYMPIC GAMES

Perez: Games: 5 (2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016)

Medals: 5 (3 golds, 2 silvers)

Shevchuk: Games: 1 (2016)

Medals: 0

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

Perez: Championships: 5 (1998, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014)

Medals: 5 (2 golds, 3 silvers)

Shevchuk: Will make her debut at Mexico City 2017

DID YOU KNOW?

Perez: Is coached by her husband, Jose Enrique Alvarado Pais

Shevchuk: Received the title of Master of Sport of International Class in Ukraine

More information can be found on Mexico City 2017’s website.