“Paris Paralympic 2024: Gustin, Rostami, Mark, and Yujiao Break World Records”
Malaysia’s Bonnie Bunyau Gustin improves own world record enroute to retaining Paralympic gold so does China’s Tan Yujiao and Iran’s Roohallah Rostami; Nigeria’s Onyinyechi Mark win gold in debut Games; Mexico’s Amalia Perez becomes most medalled athlete in Para powerlifting history with seven medals at La Chapelle Arena of day four
Malaysia’s Bonnie Bunyau Gustin reacts after improving his world record en route to taking the men’s up to 72kg gold medal at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.
World records in all four events!
It was an extraordinary day at the La Chapelle Arena as powerlifters exhibited an incredible show of strength, grit and technique to leave the audience spellbound on day three of Para powerlifting action at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.
Malaysia’s Bonnie Bunyau Gustin began the action on Friday (6 September) improving his own world record before Nigeria’s Onyinyechi Mark and China’s Tan Yujiao followed it up with incredible shows of strength, while Iran’s Roohallah Rostami finished it off in style.
Gustin, the Paralympic and world record holder coming into the competition, put up a show he would have expected of himself at the Paralympics – a flawless campaign signing off with a new world record 232kg. He lifted a weight more than three times his body weight.
“I’m very happy to be a two-time Paralympic champion and also to break the world record. I didn’t expect it. I just wanted to make it in the first and second (lift) to win the gold medal,” said Gustin who celebrated his second consecutive Paralympic gold by raising his fist, waving the fans and taking a bow.
“I just keep telling myself to get stronger and stronger, and to go for the gold medals.”
Italy’s Donato Telesca was hoping to fetch Italy its first ever medal in the sport as a silver, but had to be content with the bronze after an unsuccessful third attempt. China’s Hu Peng, however, took the silver with a lift of 214, one kilogram above Telesca.
Mark gets her first
Nigeria’s reigning world champion Onyinyechi Mark lived her dream of winning the gold at her debut Paralympics in Paris on Friday (6 September).
The 23-year-old Mark put up another show of strength and confidence dominating the bench with new Paralympic and world records – she indeed improved her own world record twice at 147kg and 150kg en route to taking the gold medal in women’s up to 61kg.
“I feel so excited and happy. I’ve worked so hard for this, to win this game today. My expectation was to win a gold and I won it, so I am happy.
“It means a lot for me. I am proud of myself,” said Mark promising to train more to get her gold back at the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympic Games.
China’s Jianjin Cui settled for the silver medal with a successful third attempt lift of 140kg ahead of Mexican legend Amalia Perez whose second attempt of 130kg earned her the bronze medal.
Perez’s bronze also made her the first athlete with most number of medals in Para powerlifting history with seven medals (four gold, two silver and a bronze). “To get a medal here was a wish and a dream for me. Despite the colour it is, I wanted to make para sport history. This (medal) is a symbol for enthusiasm, discipline, power and perseverance, and most of all, for the passion I have for the sport,” said Perez.
Golden treble for Yujiao
China’s Tan Yujiao yet again showed why she is the best in the women’s up to 67kg category, winning her third Paralympic gold in Paris. She unleashed her power after performing her traditional scream on the bench, getting 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 is 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 is also the world champion for four consecutive times.
Egypt’s Fatma Elyan surprised everyone with one of her best shows – lifting 139kg in her final attempt to take the silver, nine kilogram more than Brazilian Maria de Fatima Costa de Castro. Both the players clinched their first ever Paralympic medals.
Rostami reign supreme
The final event of the day too surpassed the expectations as Iranian reigning Paralympic and world champion Roohallah Rostami improved his own world record by one kg with his third successful lift of 242kg.
China’s Xiaofei Gu once again had to settle for the silver after three silvers in
Tokyo 2020, Rio 2026 and London 2012. Iraq’s Rasool Mohsin settled for the bronze on 215kg.
The Para powerlifting action continues on Saturday with the finals of the women’s up to 73kg, men’s up to 88kg, women’s up to 79kg and men’s up to 97kg categories.
