World Cup Day 1: Senior Medals For Broome, Newson & Mcguinness In Manchester

Great Britain’s Manchester 2021 World Para Powerlifting World Cup has got off to a fantastic start, with senior medals for Olivia Broome (silver), Zoe Newson and Charlotte McGuinness (both bronze) on an opening day which also saw Ukraine’s Mariana Schevchuck set a new world record in the up to 55 kg category.

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. Gold was won by Nigeria’s Jonah Ben who equalled her own African record of 100 kg, but was later unsuccessful at her world record attempt at 105 kg.

Ukraine’s world number one Mariana Shechuk smashed her own world record to lift a staggering 132 kg in the women’s up to 55 kg category while Nigeria enjoyed more success in the women’s up to 45 kg and men’s up to 49 kg categories as Latifat Tijani and Yakubu Adesokan took gold with lifts of 95 kg and 140 kg respectively.

France’s Axel Bourlon was victorious in the men’s up to 54 kg, with a lift of 157 kg.

Great Britain’s Thomas Smith took junior gold in the same category, hitting 125 kg on his third lift.

A delighted Smith said afterwards:

“So pleased with how it went today. I had a few targets in mind so to get three out of three and the target that I want I’m over the moon.  

“[On beating his 2020 total by 28kg] Honestly looking at the last year it is crazy. Where it’s gone, how it’s gone. It’s just about staying consistent and turning up to every training session with the same mentality to train and recover.  

“I knew it was going to be tough today, but to walk away with three out of three. Target archived I’m lost for words.  

“To get the bronze last year in the 49’s, then to get the gold this year in the 54’s. I’m lost for words to be honest. Such a good reward for quite a difficult year I think with there being no competitions.”

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

Women’s up to 55 kg

Gold: Mariana Shevchuck (Ukraine) 132 kg (New World Record)

Silver: Onyinyechi Mark (Nigeria) 120 kg

Bronze: Ruza Kuzieva (Uzbekistan) 118kg

Men’s up to 49 kg

Gold: Yakubu Adesokan (Nigeria) 140 kg

Silver: Tetsuo Nishizaki (Japan) 138 kg

Bronze: Slawomir Szymanski (Poland) 132 kg

Men’s up to 54 kg

Gold: Axel Bourlon (France) 157 kg

Silver: Kostiantyn Panasuik 147 kg

Bronze: Mitsunori Ichikawa 138 kg

The competition continues behind closed doors from Friday 26 – Sunday 28 March and you can watch every lift live on the British Weight Lifting Facebook page.

Don’t forget to share you pictures of yourself supporting the team using #StreamForTheTeam for your chance to win an awesome bundle of prizes including a Pulseroll massage ball and water bottle, and an online training session from a GB coach!