Brazil Takes 7 Golds at Para Powerlifting Games

Brazil's Paralympic powerlifting stars proved they're still at the peak of their game, claiming seven gold medals and topping the table at the Para South American Games in Colombia.

Double Paralympic champion Mariana D'Ándrea lifted 142kg to secure gold in the women's up to 73kg category, thrilling crowds at the newly built Gymnastics Coliseum in Valledupar. Her teammate Tayana Medeiros went even further, lifting 150kg and setting a new Americas record in her category.

The competition marked a special milestone for the region. After a 12-year break since the inaugural 2014 games in Chile, athletes from across South America gathered to celebrate the return of this important sporting event.

Brazil brought all four of its Paris 2024 Paralympic medalists to Colombia, and the strategy paid off beautifully. The team finished with 19 total medals, with their women athletes leading the charge. Paris 2024 bronze medalist Lara Aparecida de Lima added a silver medal to Brazil's tally in the women's up to 41kg category.

Mateus de Assis Silva made history by becoming the first Brazilian powerlifter to medal at two editions of the South American Para Games. The 28-year-old won gold in the men's up to 107kg with a 218kg lift, a remarkable progression from his bronze medal as a 16-year-old newcomer in 2014.

The Ripple Effect

The games showcased how investing in Para sports creates regional excellence. Host nation Colombia built the venue in 2022 and watched their athletes claim four gold medals, including a regional record from Bryan Steven Balanta Barona. Ecuador's 19-year-old reigning junior world champion Kerly Lascano set another Americas record with her 118kg lift, showing the depth of talent emerging across the continent.

Venezuela's Clara Fuentes, a reigning Paralympic and world champion, added another Americas record with her 122kg lift in the women's up to 50kg category. Four regional records fell during the competition, proof that Para powerlifting in South America keeps reaching new heights.

Eighteen individual events brought together the region's best athletes, with home crowds celebrating every lift. Veteran Colombian Fabio Torres, a two-time Paralympic medalist, gave fans what they came for with a winning 220kg lift in the men's up to 97kg category.

The return of these games after more than a decade shows something powerful: Para sports in South America are thriving, records are falling, and the next generation of champions is already lifting alongside their heroes.