Over the years, China have emerged as a dominant force in Para Powerlifting at the Paralympic Games and Paris 2024 wasn’t any different.
Chinese powerlifters claimed six gold medals from the 20 on offer in Paris, one less than Tokyo 2020, to top the medals table in the sport. Iran and Egypt followed China with three and two gold medals, respectively.
Star powerlifters Guo Lingling (women’s up tp 45kg), Cui Zhe (women’s up to 41kg), Tan Yujiao (women’s up to 67kg) and Han Miaoyu (women’s up to 79kg) put up a powerful show in their respective women’s event. China’s men also impressed with two gold medals.
Zhe finally broke her Paralympic Games second place jinx with the women’s up to 41kg gold medal at La Chapelle Arena. This was Zhe’s first gold medal after four silver medals since her Paralympic debut at Beijing 2008.
“I’ve felt that I’ve had a mission that I’ve never completed,” Cui said. “To become a Paralympic champion has always been my target and I’ve always had faith in getting it done,” added the 37-year-old Chinese who broke Paralympic record twice – at 113kg and 119kg – only to take her first ever gold.
Later, Lingling did what she is best at, shattering the world record twice to win her first Paralympic gold in women’s up to 45kg event.
Lingling, the world record holder in both women’s up to 41kg and up to 45kg events, delivered as expected on the bench breaking the Paralympic record and then the world record twice – lifting 122kg and 123 kg on way to winning the gold.
“The secret is just sticking to powerlifting and being persistent with it,” Lingling shared her secret to success.
“If someone would break my Paralympic and world record, it would be fine because it is good for the competition. That means we can make progress.”
Meanwhile, it was a golden treble for China’s Tan Yujiao in the women’s up to 67kg category when she won her third Paralympic gold in Paris. She got three clear lifts and improved her own world record with 142kg in the powerlift (fourth attempt).
“This is my third Para powerlifting gold medal and this time it’s different because my performance was perfect. I had injuries in the past, but this gold medal is proof to the world that I still can do it,” said the 33-year-old who has also been crowned world champion on four consecutive occasions.
China’s Han Miaoyu made her Paralympic debut in a scintillating manner – she broke the world record by one kilogram (154kg) en route taking the gold in women’s up to 79kg.
Miaoyu, who opened her campaign by breaking the Games records at 146kg and then 152kg, lifted nine kilograms more than the two-time Paralympic champion Bose Omolayo from Nigeria.
“Throughout all these years, I’ve always been challenging myself. I have won the gold medal, broken the world record and challenged myself. I have made my dream come true,” said the 36-year-old Asian Para Games champion.
In the men’s events, China’s Yan Panpan dominated the men’s up to 88kg final to win his first Paralympic gold. Panpan is the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic gold medallist and world champion in men’s up to 97kg.
Meanwhile, China’s Zou Yi overcame a strong challenge from Great Britain’s Mark Swan (213kg) before taking the gold with an effort of 215kg. He finally settled for 223kg (after attempting a world record).
“Compared to the world title, I feel more excited for this one. The meaning is different. I’ve won the World Championships, and I was missing the Paralympic gold. I’m thankful to the people around me who have been supporting me and encouraging me to keep going,” Yi said.
