Amalia Pérez is not only one of the outstanding weightlifters in Mexico, she is a specialist in Paralympic powerlifting , and has mastered her discipline like no one else.
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Pérez is one of the best Paralympic athletes in history. She has been an example for overcoming disabilities, not only for Mexicans, but for the whole world by defying adversity and winning the gold medal as a four-time Paralympic champion.
If you don’t dare, you will never fly: Amalia Pérez
Day after day, the Mexico City native fights with a congenital arthrogryposis , a condition diagnosed at birth, which causes contracture in her limbs, mainly in her legs; however, Pérez knew how to turn this situation around and found her greatest strength: power in her arms.
Her upper limbs, but above all the strength of her heart, have made Amalia Pérez one of the historical figures of the Paralympic Games.
Pérez, confident and sure of her ability, qualified for the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games, where she won a silver medal, a feat that she repeated four years later in Athens 2004 Paralympics.
The throne is hers
Pérez already had a seat among the greats, but her consecration came in Beijing 2008 with her first gold medal at 35 years old, in the -52 kg category, when she set a world record by lifting 127.5 kg. Her career continued full of successes as she ruled the discipline for four consecutive Paralympic Games, including London 2012 (-60 kg), Rio 2016 (-55 kg) and Tokyo 2020 (-61 kg) .
Her persistence and resilience both in sport and in life have made her one of her most respected and loved athletes. She is also an activist who fights for gender equality, salaries and opportunities on the sport.
“I look forward to empowering other women and other generations that come after me in Paralympic sports. We can do absolutely everything”, stressed the power lifting queen , who seeks to continue to win more medals and seek her fifth Paralympic title in Paris 2024.