Paris 2024 stars shine at Para Powerlifting World Cup in Santiago 

Written by

admin

in

Paralympic heroes Bettir Hocine from Algeria and El Salvador’s Herbert Aceituno warned their rivals ahead of Cairo 2025 World Championships with gold medals as the final World Cup of the season in Santiago concluded on Sunday (17 August).

The Santiago 2025 World Cup served as preparation for the forthcoming World Para Powerlifting Championships and the stars from the Americas continent performed it like that.

A total of 114 athletes from 16 nations were in action with seasoned stars and newcomers all grabbing the spotlight in the two-day event. 

Paralympic stars 

Algeria came to the World Cup with their only Paris 2024 medallist and Hocine – the two-time bronze medallist in the men’s up to 65kg at both Paris and Tokyo – lived up to the expectations. He lifted 193 kg in his second attempt to take the gold.

Meanwhile, El Salvador looked up to their seasoned star Aceituno – he had given the country the first-ever medal in the Paralympic Games in any sport with his bronze at Tokyo 2020. And he didn’t disappoint. 

The two-time silver medallist at Worlds (Tbilisi 2021 and Dubai 2023) came out with a powerful 187kg in his first attempt to take the men’s up to 59kg gold medal.

Georgia’s most successful athlete Akaki Jintcharadze, the men’s over 107kg bronze medallist at Paris 2024, continued his winning momentum this season. He won his third World Cup gold this season (with a successful lift of 246kg) and stood as a strong medal contender going into the Worlds.

 

Home heroes

The Santiago 2025 World Cup was also an opportunity for the athletes in Americas to gain experience and confidence with some good results. 

There were a few podiums finishes from the host nation – a treat for the local fans at the Paralympic Training Center. While the mixed team gold medal was the icing on the cake, Chile closed out a brilliant show with several gold medals at the Santiago 2025 World Cup on Sunday. 

“I can only say good things: I was able to compete at home, with my people; and we put in a great performance as a team. I’m very happy that this tournament was held in Chile,” said Juan Carlos Garrido, who along with Jorge Carinao and Marion Serrano defeated Ecuador for the gold. Individually, Carlos Garrido claimed the men’s up to 59kg silver behind Aceituno.

Before the mixed team gold, Chile’s first-ever medallist in the Paralympics, Marion Serrano clinched the individual gold in the women’s up to 86kg with a lift of 135kg. Serrano picked up the bronze in the same category at Paris 2024. 

Among other Paralympians, Camila Campos too shone with gold in the women’s up to 61kg after her second lift of 110kg was the best within the weight category. Jorge Carinao finished second in the men’s up to 65kg.

Matias Reveco (men’s -80kg), Aracely Quiroz (women’s -73kg) were the others who took the top places in their weight categories.

 

 

Americas record

Brazil and Venezuela were without their Paris 2024 medallist in Paris but they made sure to make some presence at the final World Cup of the season.

Brazil in fact made the top of the podium eight times thanks to the efforts of their youngsters while there was regional record-breaking shows from Marco Tulio Cruz (men’s up to 49kg) who set a new Americas record with a lift of 169kg. 

Edilandia Araujo also set a new continental record in the women’s over 86kg by lifting 146kg while Rio de Janeiro native Gustavo Amaral broke the Americas record with his lift of 236kg in the men’s over 107kg.

Juniors excel

Elsewhere, there was outstanding performance from Chilean junior teams competing in the Next Gen and Rookie categories.

The promising young Chilean athletes clinched 28 medals, a strong indication of their junior training set-up as they prepare to host the Youth Parapan American Games later this year.

Complete results of the Santiago 2025 World Cup will be posted on the World Para Powerlifting website. 


Continue Reading

More posts