Records tumble as Europe’s strongest shine in Tbilisi 

 The Tbilisi 2026 European Open Championships came to a close in the Georgian capital after six action-packed days of competition at the Hotels & Preference Hualing hotel. 

In total, 14 of the 25 European National Paralympic Committees participating in Tbilisi won medals at the Championships. Russia topped the medals table with eight gold medals and 19 medals overall, while Türkiye finished second with six golds and 10 medals in total. 

Great Britain completed the top three with seven medals, including three golds. Host nation Georgia claimed three medals, two of them on the final day of individual events on 10 March, when Akaki Jintcharadze and Giorgi Latsabidze secured gold and silver respectively in the men’s over 107kg category. 

Jintcharadze, a Paralympic and World Championships medallist, successfully defended the title he won four years ago, also in Tbilisi, with a lift of 230kg in the third round. 

European records for Swan and Telesca 

Great Britain's Mark Swan and Donato Telesca of Italy both set new European records in their respective weight categories. 

Swan achieved the feat in the men’s up to 72kg category with a lift of 220kg, while Telesca lifted 215kg to break the continental record in the men’s up to 80kg category. 

Even the camera couldn’t handle the powerlift 😅

Watch as Mark Swan lifts 220kg to break the European record in the men’s up to 72kg category... 🔥🏋️#Tbilisi2026 #ParaPowerlifting @Paralympics pic.twitter.com/Be2Ues81xm

— Para Powerlifting (@Powerlifting) March 10, 2026

“I am happy because I became a new European champion while also breaking the European record twice, but I am a bit disappointed,” said the Italian. 

“My third attempt was not perfect, but I was still pushing when the referee stopped me. Maybe it would have been a good lift in the end. Nevertheless, it’s sport, it’s normal that these things happen and next time I will do better.” 

Swan, who defended the title he also won four years ago in Tbilisi, was not entirely satisfied with his performance. 

“It was good. I wasn’t pleased with what I got, but it was good and I’m not taking that away from myself,” he said. 

“There was something a bit off when I went on the bench. I don’t know what it was, I’m still trying to figure it out, but you could see it in my first lift, it was a bit down.” 

Swan is expected to face two-time Paralympic champion Bonnie Bunyau Gustin of Malaysia later this year at the Bahrain 2026 World Para Powerlifting Championships. 

Turkish lifters shine 

Türkiye’s representatives secured two gold medals in the lighter weight categories. Current world champion Abdullah Kayapinar triumphed in the men’s up to 49kg category with a lift of 171kg, while compatriot Muhammet Kaan Akturk lifted 172kg to win the men’s up to 54kg category. 

It’s the third gold medal of the day for Türkiye! Reigning world champion Abdullah Kayapinar reigns in the men’s up to 49kg category!

🥈 Alex Adelaide (156kg) 🇫🇷
🥉 Maksim Boitsov (150kg) 🇷🇺 #Tbilisi2026 #ParaPowerlifting @paralympics pic.twitter.com/4TYYK9l6GP

— Para Powerlifting (@Powerlifting) March 6, 2026

Kayapinar became European champion for the first time, while Akturk successfully defended his title. The result marks a significant milestone for Akturk, who broke his hand at the Dubai 2023 World Para Powerlifting Championships and has been working to regain his best form ever since. 

Five other men’s titles were won by freshly reinstated Russian athletes, while their compatriots in the women’s competition claimed three gold medals. 

Sugden’s comeback lift 

Louise Sugden and Olivia Broome of Great Britain triumphed in the women’s up to 86kg and up to 55kg categories respectively. Turkish athletes Nazmiye Muslu (women’s up to 45kg), Ozlem Becerikli Kurt (women’s up to 50kg), Besra Duman (women’s up to 61kg) and Sibel Cam (women’s up to 67kg) also stood on top of the podium, with Cam claiming her third European title in a row. 

Souhad Ghazouani of France lifted 130kg in the women’s up to 79kg category to secure her seventh European title. 

Among the standout performances of the Championships was Sugden’s 133kg lift. The Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games medallist set a new personal best and claimed her first major title in six years, considering the Paralympic Games, World Championships, European Championships and Commonwealth Games. 

Louise Sugden wins her second European Championships title. What a performance by the British Para powerlifter who lifts 133kg in the last round! 🥇🇬🇧

Women’s up to 86kg:
🥈 Vera Muratova (127kg) 🇷🇺
🥉 Britney Arendse (121kg) 🇮🇪#Tbilisi2026 #ParaPowerlifting @paralympics pic.twitter.com/L9UbtJv65H

— Para Powerlifting (@Powerlifting) March 9, 2026

“It couldn’t have gone better for me,” Sugden said. 

“I knew what my target was and that was what I was chasing. It brought me a gold medal and it is the best outcome I could have imagined.” 

The former wheelchair basketball player has battled several injury setbacks in recent years. 

“I had a lot of problems, so to come back from all of that and produce my best ever lift feels absolutely incredible,” she said. 

“Four years ago, I missed the European Championships because of a shoulder injury. After that I had a couple of other issues that set me back, but I’ve had a really good, consistent training block and this sport is all about consistency.” 

Russia and France take team titles 

The final day of competition in Tbilisi was reserved for the team events. Russia claimed gold in the men’s team competition ahead of Cuba and Ukraine, while France triumphed in the mixed team event, finishing ahead of Cuba and Russia. 

The regional championships calendar continues with the Bangkok 2026 Asia-Oceania Open Championships from 7 to 12 April. The next European Championships are scheduled to take place in Türkiye in 2028. 

Full results from the Tbilisi 2026 European Open Championships can be found at the following link.