Paris 2024: Ones to Watch in Para powerlifting

The 10 Para powerlifters you should be looking out for when the next Paralympics kick off in France 10 May 2024

By IPC

With the countdown to the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games well and truly in the final stages, our Sport Weeks provide you with the perfect guide to each of the competitions being contested in France. To round off this week, here are the Para powerlifters to look out for this summer.

Mariana D’Andrea (Brazil)

A female Para powerlifter poses for a photo after receiving a gold medal. — @Al Bello/Getty Images

Brazil’s first-ever Paralympic powerlifting champion smashed the women’s up to 79kg world record on her way to her first world title at Dubai 2023. Paris will be her third Games.

David Degtyarev (Kazakhstan)

A player celebrates after a successful lift — @Christopher Jue/Getty Images

The dominant force in the men’s up to 54kg since his first world title in 2021, the Kazakh is aiming to defend his Paralympic gold in Paris to maintain his 100 per cent Games record.

Sherif Osman (Egypt)

A man sitting on a bench looking up with his arms raised. — @Hiroki Nishioka/World Para Powerlifting

Simply a legend in Para powerlifting circles, the Egyptian will be contesting his fifth Paralympics at Paris 2024. He is targeting a fourth Paralympic gold in the men’s up to 59kg to add to his collection.

Mark Swan (Great Britain)

A male Para powerlifter yells in front of the barbell with his arms wide. — @Hiroki Nishioka/World Para Powerlifting

The 2022 European and Junior world champion is a rising star in the men’s up to 65kg and ready to make a big impact at his debut Paralympics.

Bonnie Bunyau Gustin (Malaysia)

A man on a bench press looking at the discs — @Hiroki Nishioka/ WPPO

Malaysia’s first-ever Paralympic powerlifting champion and three-time world champion set a new world record of 231kg on his way to defending his men’s up to 72kg world title in 2023. 

Abdelkareem Mohmmad Khattab (Jordan)

A man stretching his arm in celebration surrounded by other four men on a stage — @Hiroki Nishioka/ World Para Powerlifting

The reigning Paralympic and world champion in the men’s up to 97kg memorably broke his world record three times in a row at the Dubai World Cup in 2022.

Lingling Guo (China)

A female Para powerlifter celebrated on stage with five people around her — @Joe Toth/OIS

The reigning Paralympic and four-time world champion broke her own world record twice on the way to retaining her women’s up to 45kg title at Dubai 2023.

Amalia Perez (Mexico)

A woman smiling and raising her arm in a wheelchair chair being pushed by a man — @Hiroki Nishioka/World Para Powerlifting

An icon of female Para powerlifting, the five-time world champion is going for her fifth Paralympic gold in Paris, 24 years after winning silver on her women’s up to 67kg Games debut in Sydney.

Souhad Ghazouani (France)

A female powerlifter lies on the bench and looks up at the bar. — @Hiroki Nishioka/World Para Powerlifting

The French women’s up to 73kg veteran hasn’t missed a Paralympic podium in her five Games appearances and will be boosted by home support at Paris 2024 as she fights for a second gold to add to her two silver and two bronze medals.

Folashade Oluwafemiayo (Nigeria)

A female Para powerlifter reacting after a lift — @Al Bello/Getty Images

The defending women’s up to 86kg Paralympic champion - and three-time world champion - is aiming to return to gold medal-winning ways in Paris after ending the Dubai 2023 Worlds with bronze.

Book your tickets for the Paralympic Games by visiting the Paris 2024 ticketing website.