Amalia Pérez Vázquez (born 10 July 1973) is a Mexican powerlifter in the 44 kilograms (97 lb) - 60 kilograms (130 lb) bracket.[1][2][3] She has four times been a Paralympic champion and is the only powerlifter in the world to have Paralympic champion in three divisions.[4]

Amalia Pérez
Personal information
Full nameAmalia Pérez Vázquez
Born (1973-07-10) July 10, 1973 (age 51)
Mexico City, Mexico
Sport
Country Mexico
Sportpowerlifting
DisabilityParaplegia
Event44kg - 60kg
Coached byJosé Enrique Alvarado Paiz
Medal record
Women's powerlifting
Representing  Mexico
Summer Paralympics
Gold medal – first place 2008 Beijing 52 kg
Gold medal – first place 2012 London 60 kg
Gold medal – first place 2016 Rio de Janeiro 55 kg
Gold medal – first place 2020 Tokyo 61 kg
Silver medal – second place 2000 Sydney 48 kg
Silver medal – second place 2004 Athens 48 kg
Bronze medal – third place 2024 Paris –61 kg
Parapan American Games
Gold medal – first place 2007 Rio de Janeiro 52kg
Gold medal – first place 2011 Guadalajara lightweight
Gold medal – first place 2015 Toronto 52kg
Gold medal – first place 2019 Lima 55kg

Pérez has been a member of the Mexican delegation to the Paralympic Games since 2000.[2] It was her participation of 2000 Summer Paralympics that won Pérez her first silver medal in the 52 kilograms (115 lb) powerlifting event,[5] and she would again win a silver medal in the 2004 Summer Paralympics in Athens, but this time in the 48 kilograms (106 lb) event.[6] At the 2008 Summer Paralympics, Pérez won her first gold medal in the 52kg event and surpass the Pan-American record with a lifted weight of 127.5 kilograms (281 lb).[7] She would do this again four years later at the 2012 Summer Paralympics, this time with a lifted weight of 135.5 kilograms (299 lb).[8][9] In 2016, she won the gold medal in the women's 55 kg event at the 2016 Summer Paralympics held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. She also won the gold medal in the women's 61 kg event at the 2020 Summer Paralympics held in Tokyo, Japan.[10][11]

At the continental level, Pérez won a gold medal 2007 Parapan American Games in Rio de Janeiro in the 52kg event and broke the world Paralympic powerlifting record with 130.5 kilograms (288 lb) on 14 August 2007.[12][13] At the 2011 Parapan American Games held in Guadalajara, she received the gold medal in the women's 44kg - 60kg event.[14]

In 2008, Pérez received the National Mexican Sports Award.[15]

In 2021, she won the gold medal in her event at the 2021 World Para Powerlifting Championships held in Tbilisi, Georgia.[16][17]

References

edit
  1. ^ "Amalia Pérez: mexicana y superpoderosa". BBC World (in Spanish). 3 September 2012. Retrieved 30 May 2013.
  2. ^ a b Reséndiz, Mac (13 October 2012). "Amalia Pérez: vulnerable y fuerte" (in Spanish). ESPNdeportes. Retrieved 30 May 2013.
  3. ^ "Amalia Perez - Para powerlifting | Paralympic Athlete Profile". www.paralympic.org. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
  4. ^ "¡Récord mundial y tercer oro consecutivo!". sportspedia.com.mx (in Spanish). Sportspedia México. Archived from the original on 2016-09-20. Retrieved 21 September 2016.
  5. ^ "Women's Up To 52 kg". paralympic.org (in Spanish). International Paralympic Committee. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 19 May 2013.
  6. ^ "Women's Up To 48 kg". paralympic.org (in Spanish). International Paralympic Committee. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 19 May 2013.
  7. ^ "Women's Up To 52 kg". paralympic.org. International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved 19 May 2013.[permanent dead link]
  8. ^ "Women's Up To 52 kg". paralympic.org (in Spanish). International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved 19 May 2013.[permanent dead link]
  9. ^ "Women's Up To 60 kg". paralympic.org/ (in Spanish). International Paralympic Committee. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 19 May 2013.
  10. ^ Houston, Michael (28 August 2021). "Pérez wins fourth Paralympic gold with women's under-61kg powerlifting victory". InsideTheGames.biz. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
  11. ^ "Women's 61 kg Results" (PDF). 2020 Summer Paralympics. Archived (PDF) from the original on 28 August 2021. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
  12. ^ "Records Iniciales". parapan.guadalajara2011.org (in Spanish). Guadalajara 2011, Juegos parapanamericanos. Archived from the original on 2013-08-06. Retrieved 24 May 2013.
  13. ^ "Segunda gran jornada de México en Parapanamericanos". La Jornada (in Spanish). 15 August 2007. Retrieved 30 May 2013.
  14. ^ "Amalia Pérez". info.parapan.guadalajara2011.org.mx (in Spanish). Guadalajara 2011, Juegos parapanamericanos. Archived from the original on 2012-08-12. Retrieved 24 May 2013.
  15. ^ del Río, April (5 November 2008). "El PND, orgullo, satisfacción y justicia, señala Amalia Pérez". La Jornada (in Spanish). Retrieved 30 May 2013.
  16. ^ "Tbilisi 2021: Amalia Perez and Sherif Osman cement legendary status". Paralympic.org. 30 November 2021. Archived from the original on 30 November 2021. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
  17. ^ Morgan, Liam (30 November 2021). "Paralympic gold medallist Shevchuk stars at World Para Powerlifting Championships". InsideTheGames.biz. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
edit
Paralympics
Preceded by Flagbearer for   Mexico
(with Diego López Díaz)

Tokyo 2020
Succeeded by