Hellen Wawira © Courtesy
Hellen Wawira © Courtesy

Commonwealth Games: Wawira targets world record after Birmingham heroics

Reading Time: 2min | Fri. 05.08.22. | 21:30

She finish fifth at the Tokyo Paralympics.

Para lifter Hellen Wawira handed Kenya a first medal off the track as she clinched bronze in the women’s lightweight final on Thursday evening.

The Paralympian managed a massive 97kg lift to finish behind English duo of Zoe Newson and Olivia Broome who took gold and silver with an average of 102.2 and 100.0 respectively.

“Getting a medal in this event is not easy so I am very happy. I wanted a commonwealth Games medal and getting it feels good. The plan was to start at 99 but we reviewed that when we got here and begun at 95kgs.

This is a great improvement form the Olympics where I could not lift the 95kgs. I had to work on my technique and work on my power for pushing heavier weights,” said an elated Wawira. 

The David Waore-coached athlete started off her attempts with 95kgs which she before topping up to 97kgs, lifting both with ease. Her third attempt was on 99kgs was unsuccessfully and she finished off with a mean weight of 98.5kg.

“Having achieved my target of a medal in Birmingham, there is no stopping. I am now targeting a 100kgs lift with ease and I am not far off. When I break into the 100’s the target will be a 115kg lift for a world record that hopefully no one gets to break,” added Wawira.

The soft-spoken Waore said their attention now shifts to preparations for the 2024 Paralympics where they will be going for gold adding that Wawira’s mindset will need to bet at its best if she is to upgrade her medal in Paris.


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