Herbert Aceituno

Herbert Aceituno (born 1 November 1985) is a Salvadoran Paralympic powerlifter of short stature. He is a bronze medalist at the 2020 Summer Paralympics held in Tokyo, Japan, a silver medalist at the 2021 World Para Powerlifting Championships held in Tbilisi, Georgia and a gold medalist at the 2019 Parapan American Games held in Lima, Peru.

Career

Aceituno competed in the men's 72kg event at the 2016 Summer Paralympics held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil without a successful lift. He was also the flag bearer for El Salvador during the Parade of Nations at the opening ceremony of the event.

Aceituno won the bronze medal in the men's 59kg event at the 2020 Summer Paralympics held in Tokyo, Japan. It became the first ever medal achievement for El Salvador at the Paralympics. He was also one of the flag bearers for El Salvador during the Parade of Nations as part of the opening ceremony of the 2020 Summer Paralympics. A few months later, he won the silver medal in his event at the 2021 World Para Powerlifting Championships held in Tbilisi, Georgia. This was the first ever medal achievement for El Salvador at the World Para Powerlifting Championships. In July 2019, he competed at the World Para Powerlifting Championships held in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan. A month later, at the Parapan American Games held in Lima, Peru, he won the gold medal in the men's 65kg event. He also set a new Parapan American record of 182 kg. In December 2019, at the inaugural Panam Sports Awards, Aceituno won the award of Best Male Para Athlete for his achievement at the 2019 Parapan American Games.

Aceituno also won the gold medal in the men's 59kg event at the 2023 Parapan American Games held in Santiago, Chile.

Results

Year Venue Weight Attempts (kg) Total Rank 1 2 3 Summer Paralympics 2016 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 72 kg 185 185 185 — 2021 Tokyo, Japan 59 kg 182 184 187 184 World Championships 2017 Mexico City, Mexico 65 kg 165 165 165 165 8 2019 Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan 65 kg 179 179 182 179 6 2021 Tbilisi, Georgia 59 kg 182 182 183 183 Parapan American Games 2019 Lima, Peru 65 kg 178 180 182 182