It has been a long wait for Britney Ardense to wait for her moment of these Paralympics. She was the last of 35 Team Ireland athlete to compete, and she did not disappoint in the Para Powerlifting (up to 79kg) Final, coming fourth. Her fourth-place result surpassed her performance in Tokyo where she came seventh.
The Cavan native, nicknamed Spartacus by all who know her, put in a valiant effort with three clean lifts which were all personal bests. Her previous PB was set in Dubai in 2023 with a lift of 124kg.
Her lifts were as follows:
Lift 1 – 129kg placed her in fifth place
Lift 2 – 131kg placed her in fifth place
Lift 3 – 133kg placed in an fourth place overall
There was stiff competition for the other seven competitors with included both the World Record holder Miaoyu Han of China (set in Tbilisi this year, June 2024) with a lift of 153kg. Han went on to set a new World Record and ultimately won the competition with a lift of 154kg.
Britney’s Dad, Denver was on the stage with her as a spotter, whose role is to keep the weightlifter safe and prevent them from injuring themselves or others.
Britney played Wheelchair Basketball with Irish Wheelchair Association’s Club, Northeast Thunder based in Louth, before taking up Para Powerlifting. Britney has been taking the Para Powerlifting world by storm since she started Para Powerlifting at the age of 16 and has gone on to inspire many other young women to get into the sport.
She said, ”I’m really happy with that. The plan was for two clean lifts so to get three clean lifts and three personal bests, I couldn’t have asked for anything more. I’m really happy with where I have placed.”
“It has been an agonising wait to compete, I was ready a week ago and now I’m ready to spend some time with my family and friends. I am hugely grateful to my other Team Ireland athletes, family and friends who are all her today to cheer me on. The noise from the Irish fans in the crowds really encouraged me.”
Speaking of her dad, Denver Ardense’s, appointment to the Paralympic Team for these games as spotter, she said; “It has been great to have my Dd by my side throughout these Games. Dad has been my coach on a day-to-day basis and Roy (Guerin) is my coach at international level and without the two of them I would not be here today. I am hugely grateful to them.”
This brings to a close Team Ireland’s competition in the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris.
Day 10 Paralympics Games Evening Result (Saturday 7th September)
| Britney Arendse | Para Powerlifting | Up to 79kg Final | 133kg – 4th place |
