Larisa Marinenkova

Started: She took up the sport in 2004 at age 35 in Chisinau, Republic of Moldova. (Athlete, 13 Jul 2019; rfi.ro, 07 Sep 2016) Reason: "If I choose another type of sport, I would need a companion [guide]. I chose one [powerlifting] where I can do it by myself. By lying on the horizontal bench, I could lift a maximum of 100 kilograms. My body was accustomed to the physical effort and the desire to train comes from within. I felt I needed that physical effort. Training is as exciting as the competition itself. The process captivated me and I came to a state where I cannot leave the sport." (rfi.ro, 07 Sep 2016) Awards: She and athletics competitor Gheorghe Spinu were flag bearers for the Republic of Moldova at the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. (medias.paris2024.org, 28 Aug 2024) In 2018 she received a Civic Merit Medal from the Moldovan government in recognition of her sporting achievements. (allmoldova.com, 31 May 2018) She was flag bearer for the Republic of Moldova at the opening ceremony of the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. (myinfo.rio2016.com, 06 Sep 2016)