Records Galore on First Day of Parapan Powerlifitng

The first day of Powerlifting at the 2011 Parapan American Games witnessed two events and many records on Thursday (17 November).

In the first event of the day, the men’s 48-56kg category, Cuba’s Cesar Rubio claimed gold scoring 169.96 points after a lift in competition of 147.0kg.

Subsequently, in the fourth round, which does not count towards the final medals scores, Rubio went on to lift 151.0kg, more than three times his 50kg bodyweight, and a Games record.

Silver and bronze went to Brazil through Bruno Carra who scored 155.09 points after a lift of 132.0kg and Alexandre Gouveia who scored150.86 points after a 132.0kg lift.

The second event of the day saw many records broken in the men’s 60kg to 67.5kg class.

Colombia’s Janier Cantillo took gold amassing 197.22 points after an in competition lift of 193.0kg, an Americas record for the -67.5kg class.

He improved his record further in the fourth round which did not count towards his final points by lifting 196.0kg.

Cuba’s Luis Perea took silver with 183.29 points (180.0kg) while bronze medallist Joan Carlos Garrido of Chile also broke records. His second lift of 160.0kg broke the Games record for the -60kg class, a result he improved further in his next lift of 165.00kg to secure 176.87 points.

There are four further Powerlifting events between now and Saturday (19 November).

This is the fourth edition of the Parapan American Games and has attracted 1,500 athletes from 24 countries who will compete in 13 different sports.