Mariana D'Andrea

Started: She took up the sport at age 16 in Itu, Brazil. (Athlete, 29 May 2019; caixa.gov.br, 03 Aug 2016) Reason: She was noticed by coach Valdecir Lopes while she was at the gym and was also encouraged by her parents. "I fell in love with the sport." (cpb.org.br, 01 Jun 2019; Athlete, 29 May 2019; caixa.gov.br, 03 Aug 2016) Ambition: To win gold at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. (paralympic.org, 18 Nov 2021) Milestones: She became the first Para powerlifter representing Brazil to claim gold at the Paralympic Games by winning the women's 73kg category at the 2020 Games in Tokyo. (SportsDeskOnline, 06 Dec 2023) She became the first Para powerlifter representing Brazil to win a world championships gold medal when she claimed victory in the women's 79kg category at the 2023 edition of the tournament in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (SportsDeskOnline, 06 Dec 2023) Awards: In 2023 she received the People's Choice Award from the Brazilian Paralympic Committee. (gov.br, 15 Dec 2023) She and athletics competitor Claudiney Batista were flag bearers for Brazil at the opening ceremony of the 2023 Parapan American Games in Santiago, Chile. (jbanoticias.com.br, 20 Nov 2023) She was named Para Powerlifter of the Year by the Brazilian Paralympic Committee in 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, and 2023. (olimpiadatododia.com.br, 13 Dec 2023; Instagram profile, 08 Feb 2023; prefeitura.sp.gov.br, 11 Feb 2022; cpb.org.br, 16 Dec 2019)