Three medals for Great Britain on day one as Manchester 2021 World Para Powerlifting World Cup gets underway
Great Britain’s Manchester 2021 World Para Powerlifting World Cup has got off to a fantastic start, with medals for Olivia Broome (silver), Zoe Newson and Charlotte McGuinness (both bronze) on the opening day, after over a year without competition.
Broome took the silver medal in the up to 50 kg category, the 19-year-old from Chorley, Lancashire successfully lifting 100 kg on her second lift of the competition, which is a crucial qualifying event for this summer’s Paralympic Games. Teammate Charlotte McGuinness joined her on the podium, the 19-year-old from Harrogate picking up bronze with a lift of 74 kg. Gold went to Ukraine’s Rio Paralympic champion Lidiia Soloviova, who showed formidable form to lift 105 kg in a flawless display.
Commenting on her lifts, Olivia Broome said: “I think the takeaway [from this event] is the technical aspects, keeping control of the lift really, that’s the main takeaway.
“[On her missed attempt at 104 kg] It’s to do with the chest sequence. I didn’t pause very well, because I knew that I was able to do that on the second lift, but then the third lift was the same. I got too into it!
“Back to training, back to grinding.”
Speaking afterwards, McGuinness said: “That was my first World Cup medal. The lockdown training paid off, the winter training and the cold sessions, so I am happy that it all went to plan.
“On Tuesday I had some openers, testing what I would open with. The last couple of weeks has been some one-reps [rather than sets]. But it is worth it!
“This is my second World Cup so I have more experience now and going to the next event I won’t be as nervous as know what to expect and what’s going to happen. ”
Earlier in the day, in the opening event at Wythenshawe Forum, double Paralympic bronze medallist Zoe Newson took the bronze medal in the up to 41 kg category, her first lift of 88 kg securing her place on the podium.
Great Britain’s Tom Smith will compete later today in the men’s up to 54 kg category.
Results
Women’s up to 41 kg
Gold: Jonah Ben (Nigeria) 100 kg
Silver: Maryna Kopiika (Ukraine) 90 kg
Bronze: Zoe Newson (Great Britain) 88 kg
Women’s up to 45 kg
Gold: Latifat Tijani (Nigeria) 95 kg
Silver: Justyna Kozdryk (Poland) 90 kg
Bronze: Gulim Kurmanbayeva (Kazakhstan) 80 kg
Women’s up to 50 kg
Gold: Lidiia Soloviova (Ukraine) 105 kg
Silver: Olivia Broome (Great Britain) 100kg
Bronze: Charlotte McGuiness (Great Britain) 74kg
The competition continues behind closed doors from Friday 26 – Sunday 28 March. The event is being live streamed on the British Weight Lifting Facebook page.
The National Lottery-funded World Cup has returned to Manchester for the second time, following a successful inaugural event in 2020, and is the first event of its kind to take place in the UK following the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Organisers have worked closely with public health authorities to stage the event, with a number of protocols in place to protect the health and safety of athletes and workforce involved.
Lead photo shows Women’s Up to 50kg medal presentation – 1st Lidia Soloviova of Ukraine, 2nd Olivia Broome of Great Britain, 3rd, Charlotte McGuinness of Great Britain
Courtesy of Conker Communications
