Mexico City 2017: Siamand Rahman knows no limits

"It had great meaning to prove that the Paralympic athletes of our country can also be brilliant and proud of their own success.”

Being the world’s strongest Paralympian and having won multiple titles on the powerlifting international stage does not help Siamand Rahman feel satisfied. On the contrary, the Iranian seeks to make history again at the Mexico City 2017 World Championships.

“My main goal is to win the gold medal and relying on the Almighty God once again to break the world record and to hoist the flag of my dear country,” he said.

In Mexico City, Rahman will compete in the men’s over 107kg, facing the likes of Egypt’s Amr Mosaad and Jordania’s Jamil Elshebli.

If he is in top form, there is nothing his opponents can do to beat him. Last year, Rahman cleared the bar at unprecedented 310kg at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, winning his second successive Paralympic gold.

A testament to his dominance was the fact that Mosaad won the silver medal with a lift of only 235kg.

Rahman believed he was capable of lifting over 300kg, but he thought of it as an eventuality, not as a possibility.

“I had a good feeling. The fact is that everyone was waiting for my 300kg record and I had undergone very hard training to be able to keep my promise,” he said.

“I was very delighted and happy that I could have the flag of my country hoisted at such important competition and to make the people of my country happy. It had great meaning to prove that the Paralympic athletes of our country can also be brilliant and proud of their own success.”

Rahman has become one of the most recognised faces in Paralympic sports and credits his family and coaches for helping him along the way.

“The people around encouraged me, especially my father and mother. They had the greatest role for encouraging me to be active in powerlifting,” he said.

“The kindness and respect from the people of my country made me continue, despite the barriers on my way, and try achieve my goals all these years.”

The Mexico City 2017 World Para Powerlifting Championships will take place between 30 September-6 October..