Big beasts of the Paralympic world to battle for Rio 2016 places at powerlifting test event
About 60 athletes from 20 nations will compete at Carioca Arena 1, aiming to top qualification lists which close in February
Felipe Joseano, a Parapan-American Games gold medallist, will contest the test event (MPIX/CPB/Fernando Maia)
Fresh from staging the basketball test event last weekend, Carioca Arena 1 is being prepared to host the big beasts of the Paralympic world, with places at the Rio 2016 Games at stake. The newly-opened venue in Barra Olympic Park will host the powerlifing test event between Thursday and Saturday (21-23 January).
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The Rio stage of the 2016 IPC Powerlifting Word Cup will feature about 60 athletes from 20 countries. Along with the other two stages of the World Cup (in Dubai and Kuala Lumpur, both in February) the Rio event will offer competitors the chance to record qualification standard lifts and put themelves in line to compete at the Paralympic Games. According to the IPC qualification criteria, the top-eight ranked men and the top-six women in each weight category on 29 February 2016 will book their spots at the Rio 2016 Games.
Among the big names set to compete in Barra are Colombia’s Jainer Cantillo, who won gold in the -72kg catergory at the Toronto 2015 Parapan-American Games, and Brazilian Parapan medallists Maria Rizonaide (gold in -50kg), Márcia Menezes (silver in -79kg), Evânio da Silva (gold -80kg), Felipe Joseano (gold -107kg) and Bruno Carra (silver -54kg).
“In powerlifting, athletes are not divided according to disability types”
Pedro Meloni, Rio 2016 weightlifting and powerlifting manager
Márcia Menezes became the first Brazilian woman to win a world championship medal in 2014, silver in the -79kg
The event will provide Rio 2016 with the chance to test a variety of areas, such as venue operations, sporting equipment, national referees and anti-doping proceedures. Meloni said: “It will be a great test for the whole team while also providing the athletes with a chance to get an understanding of the venue and facilities.”
