Bogota 2018: Triple gold for Chile

Juan Carlos Garrido, Jorge Carinao and Camila Campos gave Chile their first three gold medals on the second day of competition (7 December) at the 2018 World Para Powerlifting Americas Open Championships in Bogota, Colombia.

Reigning Parapan American champion Garrido did not have major problems in topping the podium in the men´s up to 59kg. The 38-year-old lifted 177kg to take gold and secure a slot for his country at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.

“I want to thank God for helping me finish the year this way, with gold. Thank you to all for their support, especially to my daughter Ivanna Belen,” said Garrido.

Colombian Omar Garcia Correa (133kg) claimed silver and Neil Garcia Trelles (132kg) won bronze, Peru´s first medal at a major international competition with less than a year to go until the Lima 2019 Parapan American Games.

Two sets of medals are awarded in each event at the Championships. The top three Americas powerlifters win medals for being the best in their region. As well as that, the top three powerlifters overall also receive gold, silver and bronze.

China´s Qi Yongkai (160kg) ended second behind Garrido in the overall podium, with Garcia Correa taking bronze.

Carinao gave Chile the second gold medal in the men´s up to 65kg after clearing the bar at 175kg in his last attempt.

El Salvador´s Herbert Aceituno also lifted 175kg but had to settle for silver due to a higher body weight (63.30kg against 59.50kg). Colombia´s Bryan Balanta Barona (156kg) collected bronze.

Campos, who ended fifth at last year´s World Championships, was also in great form as she won the women´s up to 55kg title with a 106kg lift.

She was followed onto the podium by Mexico´s Miriam Aguilar Jimenez (92kg) and Brazil´s Rene Silva Souza (82kg).

In the overall podium, China´s Xiao Cuijuan (113kg) sealed gold ahead of Campos and Aguilar Jimenez.

Amalia Perez delivers

Mexico´s three-time Paralympic champion extended her winning-streak by setting an Americas record of 134kg on her way to gold in the women´s up to 61kg. Perez has not lost at a major international competition since 2013.

The Brazilian pair of Terezinha Santos (87kg) and Naira Gomes (86kg) completed the podium.

Brazilian dominance

Mariana D´Andrea and Maria De Oliveira added two gold medals to Brazil´s haul.

D´Andrea cleared the bar at 116kg in the women´s up to 67kg, establishing a new Americas record and breaking the junior world record she had set at the 2018 European Open Championships in France.

Two Colombians followed her into the podium: Bertha Fernandez Arango (97kg) and Ana Pinto Ochoa (78kg).

De Oliveira lifted 86kg to win the women´s up to 50kg. Colombia´s Nohemi Carabali (85kg) and Venezuela´s Wiunawis Hernandez (84kg) completed the top-three.

In the overall podium, Spain´s Loida Zabala Ollero (95kg) won gold and India´s Sakina Khatun (89kg) silver. De Oliveira ended third.

Competition continues on Saturday (8 December) with the men's up to 72kg and 80kg, and the women’s up to 73kg, 79kg, 86kg and over 86kg.

Bogota 2018 is being shown live on World Para Powerlifting’s website and Facebook page.

Live results are available on the Bogota 2018 website.