Siamand Rahman who clinched the title in powerlifting’s +107kg class, breaking the Games’ record with his first attempt of 270 kilograms.

Iran's Siamand Rahman (R) celebrates with his coach during the men's powerlifting +107kg category at the Paralympic Games in the Riocentro in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on September 14, 2016. ©AFP

He then set new world and Paralympics records with 300 and 305 and 310 kilograms in his 2nd, 3rd and 4th attempts.

Iran's Siamand Rahman celebrates with his coach after lifting 300kg, a world record, during the men's powerlifting +107kg (group A) at the Paralympic Games in the Riocentro in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on September 14, 2016. ©AFP

Athletes from Egypt and Jordan won silver and bronze respectively. </s> Iran’s Siamand Rahman wrote his name into the history books after doing what no man had ever done before – he cleared the bar at 310kg in the men’s over 107kg, setting a new world record and claiming his second consecutive Paralympic gold.

The world’s strongest Paralympian, who had lifted 296kg at a World Cup in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, last February, was widely expected to break the 300kg barrier after years systematically improving his marks.

Rahman won gold at London 2012 with a 280kg lift. Two years later, he registered 285kg at the World Championships in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and 290kg at the Asian Para Games in Incheon, Korea.

In Rio, the 28-year-old proved again that nothing can stop him in front of a noisy crowd that had gathered to witness the historic moment and never stopped chanting “Iran, Iran”.

“I feel very happy and proud for having broken the 300kg barrier and for being the strongest Paralympian in the world,”said Rahman afterwards. “I want to be an inspiration for all people with impairment who stay at home and don’t lead an active life, and especially for the youth."

Egypt’s Amr Mosaad claimed silver thanks to his 235kg lift in the last round, whilst Jordania’s Jamil Elshebli (234kg) sealed bronze.

“Winning silver is like winning gold to me. It is just impossible to defeat Rahman,” said Mosaad.

The other stand-out story of the day at the Riocentro – Pavilion 2 was the success of Josephine Orji. The Nigerian cleared 160kg, adding 7kg to her previous own world record to top the podium in the women’s over 86kg.

The world champion ended far ahead of Poland’s Marzena Zieba (134kg), who collected silver, and the Netherlands’ Melaica Tuinfort (130kg), who sealed bronze.

“It is very special for me to win gold at my first Paralympic Games,” said Orji.

With six golds, two silvers and one bronze, Nigeria topped the final Rio 2016 powerlifting medal tally.

“We eat a lot of good food and that is why we are so strong,” Orji added.

World champion Pavlos Mamalos confirmed he is the strongest in the men’s up to 107kg, breaking the Paralympic record with a 238kg lift on his way to gold, Greece’s second powerlifting medal at Rio 2016 after Dimitrios Bakochristos sealed bronze in the men’s up to 54kg.

Mamalos finished ahead of Egypt’s Mohamed Ahmed (233kg) and Iran’s Ali Sadeghzadehsalmani (226kg), who claimed silver and bronze, respectively. The Greek later tried to break Azerbaijan’s Elshan Huseynov’s world record of 243kg but failed.

“Winning a gold medal is only possible if you are strong, brave and never give up. I am extremely happy,” said Mamalos.

“I have been working very hard to reach my best possible shape ahead of this Paralympic Games, training every day except Sundays in the morning and the afternoon.

“I never think of winning a medal before competing but of giving my best and being as focused on my lifts as possible.

“Next year we have the World Championships in Mexico, where I will try again to break the world record. And then I will start training for Tokyo 2020.” </s> RIO DE JANEIRO, (Reuters) – Iranian cyclist Sarafraz Bahman Golbarnezhad has died after crashing in the C4-5 event at the Rio de Janeiro Paralympics, the first such death at the games since they began in 1960, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has said.

“The IPC confirm that Golbarnezhad, 48, was involved in a crash at around 1040 on the first section of the Grumari loop, a mountainous stretch of the course,” the International Paralympic Committee said.

“The athlete received treatment at the scene and was in the process of being taken to the athlete hospital when he suffered a cardiac arrest.

“The ambulance diverted to the nearby Unimed Rio Hospital in Barra da Tijuca where he passed away soon after arrival.”

An investigation into the accident has been launched.

“As far as we’re aware it is the first fatal accident in a Paralympics,” the IPC’s director of communications Craig Spence told Reuters in an emailed response.

It was Golbarnezhad’s second race in Rio. He finished 14th in the C4 time trial on Wednesday.

The cyclist took up the sport in 2002 and also participated at the London 2012 Paralympics.

“He was an exemplary Paralympic sportsman who, with love and energy, tried his best to promote the name of Iran and to make all of us proud and at the end he gave his life for this,” said Golbarnezhad’s national Paralympic Committee.

“All members of the Iranian cultural and sports camp here express condolences to his family and the Iranian nation. The name of Bahman Golbarnezhad will be inscribed in the proud history of Iranian Paralympics.”

The Iranian flag has been lowered to half-mast in the Athletes Village.

The Paralympic flag will also be flown at half-mast in the village and at the Riocentro venue where Iran play Bosnia in the sitting volleyball final today.

“This is truly heart-breaking news and the thoughts and condolences of the whole Paralympic movement are with Bahman’s family, friends and team mates as well as the whole of the National Paralympic Committee of Iran,” said IPC president Philip Craven.

“The Paralympic family is united in grief at this horrendous tragedy which casts a shadow over what has been a great Paralympic Games here in Rio.”

A moment of silence will be held during Sunday’s closing ceremony. </s> Rio de Janeiro (AP) — An Iranian cyclist died after crashing in a road race at the Rio de Janeiro Paralympics on Saturday.

He was Bahman Golbarnezhad, aged 48, the International Paralympics Committee said.

It said he received emergency treatment on the course and was transported to a Rio hospital where officials said he died.

“This is truly heart-breaking news, and the thoughts and condolences of the whole Paralympic Movement are with Bahman’s family, friends, and teammates, as well as the whole of the National Paralympic Committee of Iran,” IPC President Philip Craven said in a statement.

The IPC said it believes this is the first death in a Paralympics.

The IPC said Golbarnezhad crashed about 10:40 a.m. local time on a mountainous stretch of the road cycling course. The IPC said he suffered cardiac arrest on the way to the hospital.

The cause of the crash was not clear, and officials said it was being investigated.

“The Paralympic family is united in grief at this horrendous tragedy, which casts a shadow over what have been great Paralympic Games,” Craven added.

The Iranian flag was lowered to half-staff in the Paralympic Village, and at the venue where Iran faces Bosnia and Herzegovina in a men’s sitting volleyball final on Sunday.

A moment of silence will also be held at Sunday’s closing ceremony in Maracana Stadium.

“This is very sad news for sport and for the Paralympic movement.” Carlos Nuzman, head of the Rio Olympic organizing committee, said in a statement. “Our hearts and prayers are with Bahman’s family, his teammates and all the people of Iran.”

A Paralympic biography said Golbarnezhad was born in Shiraz, Iran. He also competed in the London Paralympics but didn’t medal. He was competing in the C4-5 races for athletes with lower limb impairments or amputations.

This was his second race in Rio. On Wednesday, he finished 14th in a time trial. </s> An Iranian cyclist has died after a crash in a men's road race at the Rio Paralympics.

Bahman Golbarnezhad, aged 48, was competing in the C4-5 event for athletes with lower limb impairments or amputations.

The cyclist was descending a steep hill on a mountainous stretch of the course when he crashed at around 10:40am local time, according to the International Paralympics Committee.

Mr Golbarnezhad received emergency treatment on the course and suffered cardiac arrest while he was being transported to a Rio hospital, where he died.

The IPC said it believes this is the first death in a Paralympics and officials said the cause of the crash, which remains unclear, was being investigated.

“This is truly heart-breaking news, and the thoughts and condolences of the whole Paralympic Movement are with Bahman's family, friends, and teammates, as well as the whole of the National Paralympic Committee of Iran,” IPC President Philip Craven said in a statement.

“The Paralympic family is united in grief at this horrendous tragedy, which casts a shadow over what have been great Paralympic Games.”

The Iranian flag has been lowered to half-mast in the athletes' village and Mr Golbarnezhad's family, who are in Iran, were informed this afternoon, according to the IPC.

A moment of silence will be held for the cyclist during Sunday night's closing ceremony.

According to a Paralympic biography, Mr Golbarnezhad was born in Shiraz, Iran's sixth most populous city.

This was his second race in Rio, where he was the only cyclist on the Iranian team.

On Wednesday, he finished 14th in a time trial. He also competed in the 2012 London Paralympics, but didn't win a medal.

“This is very sad news for sport and for the Paralympic movement," Rio 2016 Organising Committee President Carlos Nuzman told Associated Press.

“Our hearts and prayers are with Bahman's family, his team-mates and all the people of Iran.”

Saturday's race was won by Daniel Abraham of Holland, with Brazil's Lauro Chaman second and Andrea Tarlao of Italy third.

The road races began at Pontal and included the Grumari circuit incorporated in the Rio Olympics cycling road races. </s> An Iranian Paralympic cyclist died Saturday after an accident in the road race on the penultimate day of the Rio Games, officials said.

Bahman Golbarnezhad, 48, fell during the event and died of his injuries despite an attempt to take him to the hospital for treatment, officials said.

"He unfortunately passed away," International Paralympic Committee (IPC) spokesman Craig Spence told AFP.

Golbarnezhad's accident occurred during the more than two-hour C4-5 road race for athletes with varying disabilities but still able to bicycle.

He was in the first section of a mountainous descent when he fell.

"The athlete received treatment at the scene and was in the process of being taken to the athlete hospital when he suffered a cardiac arrest," the IPC said in a statement.

"The ambulance then diverted to the nearby Unimed Rio Hospital in Barra where he passed away soon after arrival."

Paralympic officials said Golbarnezhad's family in Iran had been informed and the Iranian team was also told the news during a meeting at the Athletes' Village.

The cyclist, who wore a prosthesis on his left leg, took up the sport in 2002 and competed at the London 2012 Paralympics.

"This is truly heart-breaking news," IPC president Philip Craven said.

"The Paralympic Family is united in grief at this horrendous tragedy, which casts a shadow over what have been great Paralympic Games here in Rio."

Brazil's top official for the Rio Olympics and Paralympics, Carlos Nuzman, called it "very sad news for sport and for the Paralympic movement. Our hearts and prayers are with Bahman’s family, his teammates and all the people of Iran."

The Iranian flag was lowered to half-mast in the Paralympic Village, while the Paralympic flag was to be at half mast during Sunday's sitting volleyball gold-medal match between Iran and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

A minute of silence will be held during Sunday's closing ceremony.

Iranian Paralympic officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The British Paralympic team tweeted: "We are devastated by the news of Bahman Golbarnezhad's passing. Our thoughts are with our friends and colleagues from NPC Iran." </s> RIO DE JANEIRO — An Iranian cyclist died after crashing in a road race at the Rio de Janeiro Paralympics on Saturday.

He was Bahman Golbarnezhad, aged 48, the International Paralympics Committee said.

It said he received emergency treatment on the course and was transported to a Rio hospital where officials said he died.

"This is truly heart-breaking news, and the thoughts and condolences of the whole Paralympic Movement are with Bahman's family, friends, and teammates, as well as the whole of the National Paralympic Committee of Iran," IPC President Philip Craven said in a statement.

The IPC said it believes this is the first death in a Paralympics.

The IPC said Golbarnezhad crashed about 10:40 a.m. local time on a mountainous stretch of the road cycling course. The IPC said he suffered cardiac arrest on the way to the hospital.

The cause of the crash was not clear, and officials said it was being investigated.

"The Paralympic family is united in grief at this horrendous tragedy, which casts a shadow over what have been great Paralympic Games," Craven added.

The Iranian flag was lowered to half-staff in the Paralympic Village, and at the venue where Iran faces Bosnia and Herzegovina in a men's sitting volleyball final on Sunday.

A moment of silence will also be held at Sunday's closing ceremony in Maracana Stadium.

"This is very sad news for sport and for the Paralympic movement." Carlos Nuzman, head of the Rio Olympic organizing committee, said in a statement. "Our hearts and prayers are with Bahman's family, his teammates and all the people of Iran."

A Paralympic biography said Golbarnezhad was born in Shiraz, Iran. He also competed in the London Paralympics but didn't medal. He was competing in the C4-5 races for athletes with lower limb impairments or amputations.

This was his second race in Rio. On Wednesday, he finished 14th in a time trial. </s> RIO DE JANEIRO — An Iranian cyclist died after crashing in a road race at the Rio de Janeiro Paralympics on Saturday.

He was Bahman Golbarnezhad, aged 48, the International Paralympics Committee said.

It said he received emergency treatment on the course and was transported to a Rio hospital where officials said he died.

“This is truly heart-breaking news, and the thoughts and condolences of the whole Paralympic Movement are with Bahman’s family, friends, and teammates, as well as the whole of the National Paralympic Committee of Iran,” IPC President Philip Craven said in a statement.

The IPC said it believes this is the first death in a Paralympics.

The IPC said Golbarnezhad crashed about 10:40 a.m. local time on a mountainous stretch of the road cycling course. The IPC said he suffered cardiac arrest on the way to the hospital.

The cause of the crash was not clear, and officials said it was being investigated.

“The Paralympic family is united in grief at this horrendous tragedy, which casts a shadow over what have been great Paralympic Games,” Craven added.

The Iranian flag was lowered to half-staff in the Paralympic Village, and at the venue where Iran faces Bosnia and Herzegovina in a men’s sitting volleyball final on Sunday.

A moment of silence will also be held at Sunday’s closing ceremony in Maracana Stadium.

“This is very sad news for sport and for the Paralympic movement.” Carlos Nuzman, head of the Rio Olympic organizing committee, said in a statement. “Our hearts and prayers are with Bahman’s family, his teammates and all the people of Iran.”

A Paralympic biography said Golbarnezhad was born in Shiraz, Iran. He also competed in the London Paralympics but didn’t medal. He was competing in the C4-5 races for athletes with lower limb impairments or amputations.

This was his second race in Rio. On Wednesday, he finished 14th in a time trial. </s> An Iranian cyclist died after crashing in a road race at the Rio de Janeiro Paralympics on Saturday.

He was Bahman Golbarnezhad, aged 48, the International Paralympics Committee said.

It said he received emergency treatment on the course and was transported to a Rio hospital where officials said he died.

“This is truly heart-breaking news, and the thoughts and condolences of the whole Paralympic Movement are with Bahman’s family, friends, and teammates, as well as the whole of the National Paralympic Committee of Iran,” IPC President Philip Craven said in a statement.

The IPC said it believes this is the first death in a Paralympics.

The IPC said Golbarnezhad crashed about 10:40 a.m. local time on a mountainous stretch of the road cycling course. The IPC said he suffered cardiac arrest on the way to the hospital.

The cause of the crash was not clear, and officials said it was being investigated.

“The Paralympic family is united in grief at this horrendous tragedy, which casts a shadow over what have been great Paralympic Games,” Craven added.

The Iranian flag was lowered to half-staff in the Paralympic Village, and at the venue where Iran faces Bosnia and Herzegovina in a men’s sitting volleyball final on Sunday.

A moment of silence will also be held at Sunday’s closing ceremony in Maracana Stadium.

“This is very sad news for sport and for the Paralympic movement.” Carlos Nuzman, head of the Rio Olympic organizing committee, said in a statement. “Our hearts and prayers are with Bahman’s family, his teammates and all the people of Iran.”

A Paralympic biography said Golbarnezhad was born in Shiraz, Iran. He also competed in the London Paralympics but didn’t medal. He was competing in the C4-5 races for athletes with lower limb impairments or amputations.

This was his second race in Rio. On Wednesday, he finished 14th in a time trial.
Iranian powerlifter Siamand Rahman cleared the bar at 310kg in the men's over 107kg, setting a new world Paralympic record and claiming his second consecutive Paralympic gold.