Para powerlifter grabs gold, smashes own world record

BY: Patrick Beech

National para powerlifter Bonnie Bunyau Gustin smashed his own world record in the men’s over-72kg category at the Dubai 2023 World Para Powerlifting Championship in the United Arab Emirates recently. 

He also clinched the gold medal when he successfully lifted 231kg, breaking his own world record of 230kg he set at the 11th Fazza Dubai 2021 Para Powerlifting World Cup. 

The 24-year-old Bonnie clinched the country’s first-ever gold medal in the men’s 72kg event at the 2020 Summer Paralympics in Tokyo, breaking the Paralympic record in the process. 

He then went on to set a new Paralympic record of 228 kg and earned Malaysia’s first gold medal of the Tokyo Paralympics Games in powerlifting in 2021. 

A few months later, he won the gold medal in his event at the 2021 World Para Powerlifting Championships held in Tbilisi, Georgia. 

A total of 610 para powerlifters from 79 countries are competing at the Dubai 2023 World Para Powerlifting Championship which will be held until August 30.