Kenya’s powerlift Hellen Wawira finished 5th in the power lifting category at the ongoing Paralympic Games in Tokyo, Japan today at the Tokyo International Forum.
Wawira Weighing in at 40.37 kilogrammes and competing in the below 41 kilogrammes category, Wawira asked for 90kgs for the start and made a successful lift.
She then raised the bar, adding three more kilogrammes for her second lift and, again succeeded, rising to fourth overall, a touching distance from the medals podium.
Then Venezuela’s Clara Sarahy Fuentes Monasterio conjured up 97kgs to move up to silver medal place, pushing Wawira down to fifth on the log.
This meant that Wawira had to target an ambitious 97kgs and above to get into the medals reckoning, but she opted to listen to her body and go for a safe 95kgs
However, the red “no lift” lights on the board meant that she had to settle for fifth which was an outstanding achievement given the pedigree of her opponents coupled with the fact it was the first time she was competing at this highest level.
1. Lingling Guo (China) Best lift: 108kgs (gold)
2. Ni Negah Widiasih (Indonesia) 98kg (silver)
3. Clara Sarahy Fuentes Monasterio (Venezuela) 97kgs (bronze)
4. Zoe Newson (Great Britain) 94kgs
5. Hellen Wawira Kariuki (Kenya) 93kgs
6. Cristina Poblador Granados (Colombia) 92kgs
7. Lara Aparecida de Lima (Brazil) 88kgs
8. Moura Baddour (Syria) 82kg
9. Maryna Kopiika (Ukraine) (no lift, three attempts)
10. Leidy Rodriguez Rodriguez (Cuba) (no lift, three attempts)