PARALYMPICS /
Newsmakers
Power to the women
By Cui Xiaohuo
China Daily/The Paralympian Staff Writer
Updated: 2008-09-11 14:22
Nigerian Lucy Ejike was not the only one stealing the show at the BUAA Gymnasium Wednesday -- two other female powerlifters were also unstoppable.
Coached by her husband, Mexico's veteran 35-year-old Amalia Perez ended her gold medal drought by winning the women's -52kg, setting a new Paralympic record with 128kg. Perez, who took up the sport in 1991, had to settle for silver at the Sydney and Athens Paralympics.
"During the competition I didn't concern (myself with) the weights of my competitors," said Perez. "I just tried my best to follow the strategy devised by my husband."
Silver and bronze went to two-time Russian gold medalist Tamara Podpalnaya, who lifted 125kg, and Thai Samkhoun Anon, who lifted 95kg.
Egyptian world record holder and two-time Paralympic champion Fatma Omar also smashed records Wednesday in the women's -56kg category. On her second attempt, she broke her own record, and on her third, she set a new world record of 141.5kg.
Silver went to Irina Kazantseva of Russia with 97.5kg, and bronze to Siow Lee Chan of Malaysia with 95kg.
The final gold medal of the evening belonged to China's silver medalist from Athens and 45-year-old veteran Wu Guojing, who lifted 175kg.
Egyptian Osama Elserngawy was awarded silver and Thai Narong Kasanun, the bronze.
