Powerlifter Lê Văn Công (right) celebrates winning a bronze medal in the men's up to 49kg category at the 2024 Paris Paralympics in France on Wednesday. — Photo Paralympics

HÀ NỘI — Powerlifter Lê Văn Công secured a bronze medal in the men's up to 49kg category at the 2024 Paris Paralympics in France on Wednesday.

Công achieved this feat by lifting 171kg on his first attempt. Unfortunately, he was unsuccessful in his next two attempts to lift heavier weights.

His main competitor in this category was Omar Sami Hamadeh Qarada from Jordan. Qarada successfully lifted 175kg on his first attempt, while Công managed 171kg. For his second attempt, Công aimed for 176kg but could not complete the lift. Meanwhile, Qarada raised the stakes by successfully lifting 177kg, adding pressure on the Vietnamese powerlifter.

In his third attempt, Công registered a weight of 181kg but despite his best efforts, he was unable to lift it. Qarada, however, succeeded with the same weight to claim the gold medal. Afterward, the Jordanian athlete attempted to break Công’s world record of 183kg by lifting 185kg but was unsuccessful.

Turkish lifter Abdullah Kayapinar also performed admirably, successfully lifting 172kg, 176kg and 180kg across his three attempts to earn the silver medal.

Although this result fell short of Lê Văn Công's goal to complete a hat-trick of medals at the Paralympic Games, it marks the first medal for the Vietnamese sports delegation at the 2024 Paralympics. This achievement highlights Công's determination to overcome recurring injuries.

Công previously held the world record in the 49kg category with a lift of 183.5kg, set at the world championship in Mexico in 2017. He also holds the Paralympic record of 183kg, which helped him win a gold medal at the Rio Paralympics in 2016. Additionally, he brought home a silver medal from the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.

Công exemplifies resilience and the ability to rise above adversity. Born in 1984, he has juggled training with various jobs to support himself, facing interruptions in his sporting and working career due to daily life accidents, but always making a strong comeback. VNS