Paris 2024: China’s Guo Mighty Lingling wowed a jubilant crowd on the opening day of para powerlifting action at the Porte de la Chapelle Arena, breaking the world record twice to win her first Paralympic gold medal in the women’s up to 45kg event.
It was a show of strength, confidence, and sheer determination.
Lunging, the world record holder in both the women’s 41kg and 45kg events, delivered as expected on the bench – she broke the Paralympic record when she opened with 113kg before she took two Barr bettered the world record – lifting 122kg and 123kg en route to winning gold.
Great Britain’s Zoe Newson took silver at 109kg, her second Paralympic medal in the category after Rio 2016 bronze.
Nazmia Muratali, the Rio 2016 -41kg and London -40kg champion couldn’t be happier to have bagged her first Paralympic medal in the women’s -45kg.
“The atmosphere from the audience is great, and I feel very excited about setting the world record,” said an excited Lingling after his record-breaking show.
“The secret is to just stick with powerlifting and be consistent with it.
“If someone breaks my Paralympics and world records, that will be fine because it’s good for the competition. It means we can progress.”
Later, Kazakhstan’s David Degtyarev retained the men’s 54kg gold medal with three successful attempts at the La Chapelle Arena. The Kazakh took gold with a lift of 188kg, three kilos ahead of Cuba’s Pablo Ameriz Barrientos, the Parapan American Games silver medalist who won his first Paralympic medal at the Paris 2024 Games.
“I am very happy. After Tokyo (2020 Paralympic Games) I prepared myself non-stop for three years, aiming to win again. God was with me and with his help I was able to win today,” Degtyarev said. said
China’s Yang Jinglong impressed with her silver medal showings at the Dubai 2023 and Tbilisi 2021 worlds and on Wednesday, she won her first Paralympic medal – a bronze in the 179kg lift.
Competition at the Porte de la Chapelle Arena continues on Thursday with four finals – women’s up to 50 and 55kg, men’s up to 59kg and 65kg.