The 2019 World Para Powerlifting Championships are underway this week in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan.
Kelley Humphries, DC, MS, EMT-P, CSCS, ICCSP, CCSP, executive director of Paralympic Operations at Logan University, the high performance management organization for USA Para Powerlifting, is on site with the team along with Devon Ackroyd, DC, CSCS, advance practice clinician at Paraquad; High Performance Manager of USA Paralympic Powerlifting Mary Hodge; and Logan President Clay McDonald who hosted a team dinner.
Paralympic powerlifting competitionis open tomale and female athletes with physical disabilities such as dwarfism, amputation/limb loss, spinal cord injury/wheelchair-users and cerebral palsy/brain injury/stroke.
All athletes are categorized within the 10 different weight classes (male and female) and each have the opportunity lift three times. The heaviest “good lift” (within the weight class) is the lift used for final placing in the competition.
So far, Team USA is faring well at the 2019 World Para Powerlifting Championships. Para Powerlifter Jonathan Coots scored a bronze medal in the up to 54kg men’s weight category. Jonathan was born with spina bifida and is on his way to becoming one of the top powerlifters in his weight and age group. He has his sights set on attending the 2024 Paralympics in Paris.
Para Powerlifter Christian Largo competed in the up to 65kg open division, securing 12th place (with a best attempt of 137kg) among 30 lifters. “This is quite an accomplishment for his first World Championships in the open division,” said Dr. Humphries.
Prior to this Largo won a silver medal in the Junior’s division at the 2017 World Championships in Mexico City and a gold medal in the Junior’s division at the 2018 America’s Championships in Bogota, Columbia.At the 2018 event, Largo set a new regional record in his weight class.
Additionally, Para Powerlifter Luis (Alex) Gonzalez-Poma competed in the men’s Up to 72kg open division and hit a personal record at 103kg.
Here’s the line-up for the rest of the week:
- Ahmed Shafik – Men’s Up to 86kg Category – Thursday, July 18 at 12:30 a.m. CST
- Jacob Schrom – Men’s Up to 107kg Category – Thursday, July 18 at 4:45 a.m. CST
- Ashley Dyce – Women’s over 86kg Category – Friday, July 19 at 11:30 p.m. CST
- Antonio Martin – Men’s over 107kg Category – Friday, July 19 at 2 a.m. CST
All sessions can be viewed here. Tune in and cheer on the USA Para Powerlifters!