Mexico wins third powerlifting gold to top medals table
11.08.2015The 2011 Parapan hosts finished with nine medals to finish ahead of Brazil
José Castillo Castillo gets gold for Mexico at Toronto 2015
© • Laura Godenzi
On Tuesday (11 August), the final day of powerlifting at the Toronto 2015 Parapan American Games, Mexico won their third gold in nine events to top the medals table in the sport.
Competing in the men’s up to 97kg, José Castillo Castillo sealed gold for Mexico with an Americas record lift of 225kg. Colombia’s Fabio Torres (192kg) claimed the silver ahead of Chile’s Frank Feliu Ubillas (170kg), who collected bronze.
“I am so happy. After so much effort, I could fulfil one of my biggest dreams,” said Castillo Castillo.
Brazil’s Joseano Felipe lifted 200kg in the first round of the men’s up to 107kg and over 107kg class and held on for gold despite no further successful lifts. Chile’s Cristian Aguirre Mora claimed silver with a 157kg lift. Not one of the four other competitors managed a successful lift.
“It feels really good to have won the gold medal at the Parapan Am. I see myself at the top of the podium at Rio 2016, too, if I continue training hard,” Felipe assured.
Oniger Jesus Drake Vega took Cuba’s third powerlifting gold medal at Toronto 2015 in the men's up to 88kg with a Games record 195kg lift in the second round.
“To reach the highest step of the podium is every athlete’s goal. I claimed silver at Guadalajara 2011 but could win the gold in Toronto. I am very happy and I expect to perform even better at the Rio Paralympics next year,” Drake Vega said.
Venezuela’s Cesar Campo (191kg) claimed silver, his country’s only powerlifting medal at these Games. Brazil’s Rodrigo Rosa De Carvalho (186kg) finished with a bronze thanks to a lower body weight, ahead of USA’s Jacob Schrom.
Argentina’s Lucas Gareca, junior champion at last year’s World Championships in Dubai, failed to break the junior world record (146kg) he set at the Mexico 2015 IPC Powerlifting Open Americas Championships, and ended sixth (144kg).
Mexico finished on top of the powerlifting medal table at Toronto 2015, just like at Guadalajara 2011, with three gold, four silver and two bronze medals.
