With seven gold medals, Brazil leads the Open of the Americas in weightlifting

Brazil has dominated the weightlifting Open of the Americas, a tournament held in Mexico City that is worth points in the classification ranking for the Paralympics in Los Angeles (United States), in 2028. After three days of competition, which continues until this Thursday (8), the delegation has already accumulated 14 podiums, occupying the top seven times and leading the overall medal table.

This Tuesday's performance (6) was decisive for the Brazilians to shoot at the top of the table. There were four gold medals and three doubles - when two athletes from the same country reach the podium together.

Mariana D'Andrea from São Paulo, current two-time Paralympic champion, lived up to her favoritism and won among the athletes up to 73 kilograms (kg). As a bonus, she set the new record for the Americas in the category, lifting 146 kg, one kilo more than her own mark in 2024. Caroline Fernandes from Minas Gerais, with 119 kg, took silver.

"My coach [Valdecir Lopes, head coach of the weightlifting team] always says that it's difficult to reach [the top], but the most difficult thing is to stay, because we become everyone's target. So, we have to be very disciplined, that makes a difference when it comes to seeking a medal. And when you feel the taste of gold, of being a Paralympic champion, it motivates you to want more and maintain your space", said Mariana, who has dwarfism, in an interview with TV Brasil earlier departure to Mexico.

In the up to 80 kg category, best for Ailton de Souza. The man from Paraíba, who suffered from infantile paralysis after a medical error at birth, lifted 201 kg and won gold, with a good advantage over Ecuadorian Sebastian Ayala (166 kg) and Mexican Jairo Santiago (161 kg), who completed the podium.

Bronze medalist at the Paralympics in Paris (France) in 2024, among weightlifters up to 67 kg, Maria de Fátima Castro started to compete with athletes up to 79 kg. At the Open, the Amazonian woman won in the new category by lifting 135 kg, four more than Gabrielle Lima from Brasilia, second place in another Brazilian double.

Brazil also repeated the gold-silver partnership in the old Maria de Fátima category. Laira Guimarães from São Paulo secured first place with a 109 kg mark, surpassing Naira Cruz from Pará (106 kg). Both competed among athletes up to 61 kg and changed weight in this new Paralympic cycle.

Golden start

On Monday (5), Maria Rizonaide da Silva from Rio Grande do Norte won gold in the up to 50 kg category. Ana Paula Marques from Rio Grande do Sul (up to 61 kg) and Cristiane Reis from Minas Gerais (up to 55 kg) took bronze. Kauê Motta, from Rondônia, a debutant in international tournaments after switching from bodybuilding to weightlifting, came in fourth place among competitors under 65 kg, one kilo away from the podium.

Brazilian participation began last Sunday (4), with four medals. Marco Túlio Cruz (up to 49 kg) from Minas Gerais and Lara Lima (up to 45 kg) won gold, while João Maria França (up to 59 kg) from Rio Grande do Norte won silver and Brenda Pepe (up to 41 kg) from São Paulo won bronze.

The Open of the Americas is one of the mandatory competitions for athletes from the continent looking for a place in Los Angeles. Next year, the Parapan American Games in Lima (Peru) and the World Championships in Mexico City will be the two events necessary to fulfill the requirements of the World Para Powerlifting (WPPO), the arm of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) that takes care of the sport.

In 2028, when the ranking closes, athletes must participate in at least two stages of the weightlifting World Cup. The top eight in each weight category who have met the WPPO requirements qualify for the Paralympics.