Souhad Ghazouani is one of the world’s stars in her discipline, para powerlifting. At these Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, she is looking more than ever to lift her sixth Olympic medal. Here’s what you need to know about the French athlete who doesn’t back down from anything…
At 42 years old, it is in great shape and more determined than ever under the bib of France that Souhad Ghazouani hopes to win gold during these Paralympic Games in Paris 2024. Medalist more than once in her discipline, para powerlifting, and active since the Athens Games in 2004, she is one of the hopes of this competition.
Where does Souhad Ghazouani come from?
It was in the North of France, more precisely in Beuvrages, near Valenciennes, that she grew up with a large family of two brothers and seven sisters. Now, it is in Lille that Souhad Ghazouani lives and trains assiduously in her discipline. She was also one of the bearers of the Olympic flame on July 2, 2024 in Lille. A symbolic gesture for the one who has been doing the Paralympic Games since 2004, always collecting a medal.
What is his disability?
The French athlete was born with spina bifida, a spinal malformation that paralyzed both of her legs. However, although she has always been in a wheelchair, Souhad Ghazouani has kept a central place for sport in her life. After trying athletics and basketball, it was a vocation that emerged for her when she discovered para powerlifting, a strength sport through an educator who saw in her a great Olympic hope.
What is para powerlifting?
This bench press test consists of lifting the heaviest weight by arm strength and in three attempts maximum. A sport that plays with the mental and physical load and that the female athlete sees as a challenge, “My opponent is the bar. Either it crushes me, or I lift it!” she confides. The Paralympic events will take place from September 4 to 8, 2024. Here, there are no disability categories; competitors are separated only by weight categories. To see!
What is her track record? Does she hold a world record?
For the athlete who is preparing to compete in these sixth Olympic Games, the pressure is immense, but the dream of winning gold at home is even greater. Although she held a world record until 2023 with a load of 150 kg, she has no reason to be ashamed of her incredible record: she has won 4 Paralympic medals, 3 medals at the World Championships and 5 medals at the European Championships. The one who advocates a discipline “which is not a sport reserved for men” is already a great hope for the Los Angeles Games in 2028. She confirms that “As long as I’m healthy, I’ll keep going. Injury is not a disease.”
