Cuba's Leydis Rodriguez, Brazil's Maria Rizonaide and Chile's Jorge Carinao Cárdenas all claimed gold on the first day of powerlifting at the Toronto 2015 Parapan American Games on Saturday (8 August).
Competing in the women's up to 41 and 45kg class, Rodriguez improved her own Americas record by 17kg to take the gold with a 77kg lift (90.49 points). The 31-year-old improved her regional record each round, starting with an opening lift of 67.0kg. She then lifted 72.0kg in the second, before extending her lead in the final round to 77.0kg. Mexico's Laura Cerero Gabriel (68.0kg/77.03 points) and Mayra Hernández Godinez (65.0kg/73.35 points) finished with a silver and a bronze medal respectively.


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