Paris 2024: Medeiros snatches gold in dramatic final, record show from Oluwafemiayo

Just when everyone thought Zheng Feifei had secured the gold in the women up to 86kg, Brazilian Tayana Medeiros snatched the gold from the Chinese in the very last seconds with a Games record on the final day of competition at the La Chapelle Arena on Sunday (8 September).

Feifei, the reigning world champion and the title favourite coming into the event, broke the Games record by three kilograms on 155kg in her second attempt and almost sealed the gold medal. But the Medeiros returned for a powerlift attempt of 156kg only to grab the gold with a new Games record.

The 31-year-old Parapan American Games champion also became the second Brazilian Para powerlifter to win a Paralympic gold after Mariana D’Andrea's  gold in women's up to 73kg on Saturday.

"Last night I dreamed that I was on the podium and started to dance. But the dancing stayed in the dream, thank God.

"It's a joy that I don't know how to explain. It hasn't dawned on me yet. I came here prepared to win a silver medal, but then we saw that the competition was a bit different and that we'd have a chance to win a gold medal," said Medeiros, adding that D'Andrea is her biggest inspiration.

"I've learned a bit from Mariana, who is an old friend. I'll have to ask her, 'Mariana, you have won twice, you'll have to teach me how to be a Paralympic champion.' She is a huge inspiration for me."

Oluwafemiayo steals show

Likewise, the evening session was dominated by Nigeria's Folashade Oluwafemiayo who depicted a show of impeccable strength and courage to break the world record twice before taking the gold in women's over 86kg finals. 

In doing so, Oluwafemiayo clinched her second Paralympic gold and first in women's over 86kg, surprising reigning Paralympic and two-time world champion China's Xuemei Deng who managed 155kg in her third attempt.

Egypt's veteran Nadia Ali won her first Paralympic medal in 16 years after taking the bronze with a lift of 145kg. 

"I was so nervous this morning, but I said, 'God, I put everything in your hands'," said Oluwafemiayo, who is also a two-time world champion. 

"My first attempt, as you could see, I was not balanced, but I had to get myself together. I did this and the second one, I had the confidence. I said I would go there and do this."

"The first one gave me the confidence to go for another one. I wanted to test my ability."

Thrilling contest

The men's events too witnessed an amazing show of power and thrill. Two-time world champion from Iran, Aliakbar Gharibshahi and Mongolia's Sodnompiljee Enkhbayar were engaged in a intriguing battle of Paralympic records before the former pulled it off in style.

Gharibshahi lifted 247kg for the first Paralympic record before Enkhbayar broke it by one kilogram. The Iranian however came back to snatch the record again and his first Paralympic gold medal. 

"Everybody wants this medal. They want to come to this competition. Now, thank God, I take this gold medal. I've been training so hard for more than 10 years, just for this competition and this medal," said Gharibshahi, the two-time world champion.

"I'm never going to forget this medal. I missed one competition before Tokyo (2020 Paralympic Games) so I couldn't go. Now I'm so happy for this medal. It is for my family."

Mexico's Jose de Jesus Castillo Castillo took his second bronze after Rio 2016 with a lift of 222kg.

The legacy continues 

Later, the men's over 107kg was dominated by another Iranian Ahmad Aminzadeh as he continued the legacy of legendary Siamand Rahman. 

Aminzadeh won his first Paralympic gold medal after two world championship titles with three successful lifts - 263kg the final one. 

Ukraine's Anton Kriukov too clinched his first after a powerful show of 251 kg lift, just one kilogram ahead of Goergia's Akaki Jintcharadze who won historic first medal for Georgia with three successful lifts.

In the medals table, China led the medals with 15 medals including six gold medals, followed by Iran with three gold while Egypt and Nigeria got two gold medals each.