Kenya’s Hellen Wawira Kariuki bagged a gold medal at the 2022 World Para Powerlifting American Open Championships on Saturday July 9 in Missouri, United States.
The powerlifter shared the gold medal with Brazil’s Lara Aparecida de Lima. The latter had to dig deep to match Wawira’s lift of 98kg. Colombia’s Cristina Pablador Granados registered a third-place finish.
In men's up to 80kg category, Chile’s Matias Caravel clinched gold while his compatriot Jonathan Guillermo Rozas and Italy’s Donato Telesca settled for bronze and silver respectively.
Wawira who was born with a spina bifida defect twenty nine years ago, studied at Embu Urban and Dagoretti Children’s Home before joining Thika-based Joy Town high school for her post primary education.
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Kariuki made history in 2021 by becoming the first Kenyan woman to take part in Paralympics Games in the powerlifting category. She posted impressive results at her Paralympics debut in Tokyo, Japan, finishing fifth behind China's Guo Lingling.
In a recent interview with one of the local dailies, Kariuki who is also a farmer revealed that powerlifting has helped her become independent.
“Powerlifting has enabled me to become independent. I have bought a piece of land in Embu where I am farming maize and beans,” Kariuki told Nation Sports.
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Twenty seven athletes from over one hundred and fifty countries took part in the championships staged at Logan University, St. Louis.
Kariuki who could not further her studies due to financial challenges was introduced to powerlifting by Kenyan international Gabriel Magu while undergoing a medical check up in Kijabe Hospital.
Her focus now shifts to the 2022 Club Games slated for July 28 to Monday August 8 this year in Birmingham, United Kingdom. She came close to registering a podium place finish at the 2018 edition held in Gold Coast, Australia.
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