Paris 2024

Paralympic Games

28 August - 8 September

Paris 2024: Best Para powerlifting moments

Nigeria’s Onyinyechi Mark makes stunning debut to take gold, breaking world record twice on the way Mohamed Elmenyawy of Egypt upsets Tokyo 2020 gold medallist Qi Yongkai of China French star Souhad Ghazouani makes her sixth Paralympic Games appearance on home soil 07 Oct 2024
Imagen
A female Para powerlifter reacts after her lift
Para powerlifting featured about 180 athletes from around the world competing in 20 medal events
ⒸNaomi Baker/Getty Images
By IPC

The Paris 2024 Paralympic Games were packed with memorable moments, including athletic feats and historic firsts, that took place at stunning venues in front of a vocal crowd.

We will share three moments from each sport that made the Games very special.

 

Top moment

Para powerlifting featured about 180 athletes from around the world competing in 20 medal events.

Nigeria’s Onyinyechi Mark made a stunning Paralympic debut. She won the women’s -61kg category after breaking the world record twice back-to-back at La Chapelle Arena.

Her final regular lift was 147kg, breaking her own world record by 1 kg, before a 150kg Power Lift just moments later.

Mark won gold after breaking the world record twice. @Naomi Baker/Getty Images

 

“I feel excited and so happy. I’ve worked so hard to be in these Games today, my expectation was for me to win my gold,” Mark said. “I’m here today to win, I did it. I’m so happy.”

China’s Cui Jianjin secured silver with a lift of 140 kilograms, while Mexico’s Amalia Perez Vazquez lifted 130 kg for bronze at her seventh Paralympic Games.

 

Biggest surprise

Mohamed Elmenyawy of Egypt won his maiden Paralympic gold medal in the men’s -59kg event with a 201-kg lift at La Chapelle Arena.

Elmenyawy lifted 201 kg to win his maiden gold medal.  @David Ramos/Getty Images

 

He beat Tokyo 2020 Paralympic gold medallist Qi Yongkai of China, who lifted 200kg for silver. Mohsen Bakhtiar of Iran took bronze.

“I’m very happy because it is the first medal for me. I thank my coach, the Egyptian people and my family. I dreamed about doing it and I did it,” Elmenyawy said after the competition on 5 September.

“I was confident in myself at the first Paralympic Games for me. I deserved the gold medal.”

Qi was competing at his second Paralympic Games. @David Ramos/Getty Images

 

Qi said he was surprised to see Elmenyawy’s performance in Paris.

“I felt pretty surprised, because in the (Paralympic) cycle after Tokyo (2020 Paralympic Games), he never managed to lift that weight. So I’m quite surprised he did it today,” he said.

“I’ll try to do better in training so that I’ll be more confident in competition. I will also work harder and hopefully I’ll be able to win a gold medal.”

 

Home hero

Souhad Ghazouani made her sixth Paralympic appearance in the French capital. The London 2012 Paralympic gold medallist lifted 125 kilograms, more than double her weight, in the women’s -67kg category.

Ghazouani competed in front of an enthusiastic home crowd at La Chapelle Arena. @Hiroki Nishioka/World Para Powerlifting

 

Ghazouani took silver on her Paralympic debut at Athens 2004. In Paris, China’s Tan Yujiao topped the podium, with Egypt’s Fatma Elyan securing silver and Brazil’s Maria de Fatima Costa de Castro bronze.