Cuba Adds Two Silvers and a Bronze in Para Powerlifting at Chile 2025

Cuba won two silver medals and one bronze on the second day of the para powerlifting tournament, increasing its total to nine (2 gold, 5 silver, 2 bronze) at the VI Youth Parapan American Games Chile 2025, with only the team events remaining.

Santiago's Bárbara Samantha Rivera secured the silver medals in the 61-kilogram (kg) category—one for the total combined from her three attempts and the other for the second-best individual lift.

On a mostly warm day, the 16-year-old para powerlifter lifted 57, 60, and 62 kilos in that order, totaling 179 kg and earning a place on the podium among nine competitors from six countries.

"My goal was to give at least one medal to my country, as I said when we arrived in Chile, and I am doubly happy to be able to contribute to the medal count," recalled Samantha, who this past August won gold and silver at a World Cup held in this South American capital, where she also qualified for these Games.

"I hope to continue preparing and to have a fruitful Olympic cycle. We strive in every training session under the direction of Ramón Martínez, to whom we are grateful for his concern for each one of us and for ensuring we achieve good results," she stated.

Her compatriot, Yoidel Queralta Muchuli, secured the bronze in the new generation 72 kg division with a final lift of 114 kg on his last attempt, after missing his first attempt at 110 kg, a weight he successfully lifted in the second round to accumulate a total of 224 kg.

The athlete from Matanzas improved his personal best by 14 kg, demonstrating significant progress, especially positive considering he has not yet turned 20.

With these latest medals, Cuba's total now stands at nine. Previously, the team had earned two gold medals from Amalia González (45 kg) on Friday, a pair of silvers from Daynelis Vázquez (41 kg), as well as a silver and a bronze from Daniuvis Díaz (55 kg).

Tomorrow, Amalia, Daynelis, and Samantha will compete in the women's team event. Yoidel will join the mixed team, replacing Samantha.

This will conclude Cuba's participation after competing in para table tennis, para athletics, and para judo, though the delegation still has opportunities to increase its current overall tally of 27 medals (10 gold, 13 silver, 4 bronze) before the official closing ceremony tonight at the Parque Estadio Nacional.