Rio 2016 preview: Women’s up to 55kg

Multi-Paralympic and world champion Amalia Perez will go for her third successive gold medal at a Games.

At the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, the Mexican will take on a new weight class – the women’s up to 55kg – where she is currently ranked No. 1 in the world. Perez’s rise back to the top of the rankings took an unfortunate turn following London 2012, when she nursed a serious shoulder injury throughout the 2013 season. But she has looked strong leading up to Rio, especially following a lift of 122kg from the World Cup in Malaysia.

Perez, however, will have to push more than that.

Nigerian reigning world champion Esther Oyema cleared 124kg – a world-record lift then – en route to World gold in 2014. Then last September, she went on to lift 133kg in Brazzaville, Congo for an unofficial world record.

China’s current world record holder Cuijuan Xia can also spoil Perez’s gold-medal hopes.

You can catch the women’s up to 55kg on 10 September at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. All Para powerlifting events will be contested at the Riocentro – Pavilion 2.