Paris 2024: Third time lucky for Rehab Ahmed, Clara Fuentes makes ...
Egyptian takes her elusive Paralympic gold at La Chapelle Arena after two consecutive silver medals, Venezuelan powerlifter put her country on the top of the podium for the first time in the sport, China’s Zou Yi and Egypt's Mohamed Elmenyawy take Games title in the men's events on Thursday 05 Sep 2024
Rehab Ahmed and her first Paralympic gold at La Chapelle Arena after her win in the women's up to 55kg final
ⒸHiroki Nishioka/WPPO
By World Para Powerlifting
Rehab Ahmed proved that the third time’s the charm. After winning silver in her first two Paralympic Games, the Egyptian powerlifter finally tasted gold on Thursday (5 September), during day two of Para powerlifting at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.
A four-time world champion, Ahmed made a statement right in her first attempt in the women’s up to 55kg final at La Chapelle Arena. The 117kg-lift would have been enough to secure gold but she bettered that with 121kg-mark in the second round.
"To get a gold medal at the Paralympic Games has been my aim and dream since I started powerlifting,” Ahmed said. “This is the third Paralympic Games for me. I went to Rio 2016 and got a silver medal. I went to Tokyo 2020 and got a silver medal. Now, in Paris, I won a gold and I am very, very happy.”
Besra Duman gave Turkiye their third Para powerlifting medal at Paris 2024 taking silver (113kg). Kamolpan Kraratpet’s bronze medal (108kg) was Thailand’s first medal in the sport since Beijing 2008.
The last event of Thursday’s programme was also one of the most hard-fought events of the day. Five athletes went to the final round of the men’s up to 65kg fighting for the top three spots.
Third place after the second round, Nigeria’s Thomas Kure failed his last attempt and settled for fifth. Iran’s Amir Jafari Arangeh then moved briefly moved to third (206kg) until Algeria’s Hocine Bettir set a 209kg-mark in his third lift.
Great Britain’s Mark Swan climbed to first place in his Paralympic debut with a lift of 213kg but that was not enough for gold when China’s Zou Yi achieved 215kg. The Chinese world champion then tried to break his own world record in the power lift but failed at 223kg.
"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.
Clara Fuentes made history again for Venezuela in the opening event of the day, the women’s up to 50kg. The first athlete from her country to win a Paralympic medal in powerlifting with her Tokyo 2020 bronze, she set a new Paralympic record (124kg) on her way to gold at La Chapelle Arena
"I'm out of words, I'm emotional. My hands are still trembling. I don't know when they will stop,” Fuentes said. “I'm very satisfied and happy to give this triumph to Venezuela."
Xiao Jinping of China took the silver medal, while Olivia Broome secured the bronze.
Mohamed Elmenyawy was another athlete to put Egypt on top of the podium on Thursday, claiming the Paralympic title in the men’s up to 59kg in his Games debut. Silver went to China’s Qi Yongkai, with bronze to Iran’s Mohsen Bakhtiar.
The Para powerlifting action continues on Friday with the finals of the men's up to 72kg, women's up to 61kg, women's up to 67kg and men's up to 80kg categories.
Check here where to watch the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games
