Paris 2024: Gritty Khattab improves world record with massive lift

The La Chapelle Arena witnessed an atmosphere like never before when Jordan's Abdelkareem Khattab carried his coach on his shoulder as the audience gave him a standing ovation, celebrating his incredible show of strength and courage at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games on Saturday (7 September).

Khattab clinched his first Paralympic gold in men's up to 97kg and second after his Tokyo 2020 gold in men's up to 88kg improving his own world record with a massive 270kg in the third attempt. His effort was 10 kilograms more than his previous record of 260 set at Tbilisi 2024 World Cup in June. 

The two-time world champion kicked off his Paris 2024 campaign as he had expected it to be -  going for a 240kg for a new Paralympic record and bettered it in his next attempt with 250kg. He came back to improve his own world record in the third attempt only to leave the evening audience spellbound.

"After three years of hard work, I came to win the gold medal. I hope to win it again in the next season. I'm very, very happy because I won the gold medal in Paris and now I have two gold medals and two world records (in the men's -88kg and -97kg). Thank you very much, Paris, it has been very nice," said a jubilant Khattab.

He admitted that the final lift of 270kg was hard but he was motivated by the cheering crowd to add another 10kg. 

"The third lift (270kg) was very hard for me, so I was very tired when I tried the 280kg. I just took the challenge for the people in the audience. It was a gift for them."

China's Ye Jixiong finished way behind on 229kg for his second Paralympic medal while Colombia's Fabio Torres' effort was just one kilogram behind to take his second Paralympic bronze. 

World record on debut 

Before Khattab's mighty show, China's Han Miaoyu made her Paralympic debut in style improving her world record by one kilogram at 154kg and took the gold in women's up to 79kg.

Miaoyu, who opened her campaigns breaking the Games records at 146 and then 152, lifted nine kilogram above the two-time Paralympic champion Bose Omolayo from Nigeria. Egyptian Safaa Hassan took the bronze to claim her first Paralympic medal on 139kg.

"I'm very satisfied about what I've achieved tonight. Throughout all these years, I've always been challenging myself. I have won the gold medal, broken the world record and challenged myself. I have made my dream come true," said the 36-year-old Asian Para Games champion.

Emotional win

There were emotional moments in the morning session. Tears rolled down as Brazil's Mariana D'Andrea faltered in her attempt to break the world record in the Powerlift. But those were tears of joy - joy of winning the gold medal in successive Games. 

The 26-year-old D'Andrea displayed great power and spirit as she broke three consecutive Paralympic records on 141kg, 143kg and 148kg en route to winning the women's up to 73kg gold at the La Chapelle Arena.  She later dedicated her goal to her late father.

"I needed to bring this medal home at any cost because my father passed away, and I promised myself that I would bring this medal to Brazil, to our house, to myself and, most of all, to my father. He was the greatest motivator of my life. He was with me all the time in this competition. This gives me a lot of strength," said an emotional D'Andrea.

Uzbekistan's Ruza Kuzieva closely followed the Brazilian only to settle for her second Paralympic silver (earlier in women's -61kg at Tokyo 2020) finishing one kilogram behind D'Andrea. Türkiye's Cam Sibel earned the bronze with a lift of 120kg.

Paralympic records for Panpan

Earlier in the day, China's Yan Panpan dominated the men's up to 88kg final only to win his first Paralympic gold in the category. Pan, who has the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic gold and world title in men's up to 97kg, broke the Paralympic record twice with lifts of 235kg and 242 kg.
 
Egyptian Mohamed Elelfat regained the silver won in London 2012 with an effort of 224kg in fifth Paralympic Games. Meanwhile, Yurii Babynets takes the  bronze with a successful lift of 214kg, winning Ukraine's first Para Powerlifting medal at Paris 2024. 

The 29-year-old also the first male Ukrainian Para powerlifter to win a Paralympic medal ever.

The Para powerlifting action concludes on Sunday with the finals of the men's up to 107kg, women's up to 86kg, women's over 86kg and men's over 107kg categories.

Check here where to watch the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.