Cristián Escalante

Who is Cristián Escalante?

Cristián Escalante is a Chilean a weightlifter competing in the +105 kg category. Escalante has competed in three Pan American Games starting in 1999. Escalante in 1996 became the first weightlifter to qualify for the Olympics from Chile.

After placing silver at the 1999 and winning the silver medal at the 2003 Pan American Games, Escalante finally won a gold medal at the 2007 Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro. In this process he broke the Pan American Games record in the overall competition by lifting a total of 401 kg.

In September 2011, Escalante was named the flag bearer for the Chilean team at the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico. Escalante was scheduled to compete in his forth Pan American Games, however he did not carry the flag or compete after testing positive for steroids.