LIMA 2019 AMBASSADOR DUNIA FELICES CHEERED IN HER DEBUT AT THE GAMES

The Lima 2019 Ambassador Dunia Felices thanked this morning the unceasing people’s support at the Aquatic Center in VIDENA, during the first of the five events she will compete in the Lima 2019 Parapan American Games, in the beginning of Para swimming competitions.

She competed in the 50m, backstroke. Placed in the lane 2, the Peruvian athlete swam while people shouted “Peru... Peru... Peru”, reaching the finish line in after one minute, 29 seconds, and 58 hundredths.

“It has been an spectacular experience.  It is not exactly my event, but I am happy to be able to swim at the beginning of the competition; to be the first Peruvian. I wanted to feel this, to participate and receive the applause from the public, to swim in these Games, the truth is, it has been spectacular”, she said.

Heat 2, category S5, was won by the American Alyssa Gialamas (48,80s), followed by the Brazilian Tishe De Souza (54,48s) and Esthefany De Oliveira (57,40s).

MISSION COMPLETED

“The Parapan American Games have just begun, but I was able to seethe achieved goal which is to highlight the Para athletes and show everyone that people with impairments can find in sport a big opportunity to excel, just as I found it two years ago when I started in ANPPERU (The National Paralympic Association of Peru); look at me now, I am swimming here in front of all Peruvian”, she said.

In the afternoon session, another Peruvian will compete. Juan León Durán will compete in the 400m final, freestyle S7, his opponent will be Facundo José Arregui from Argentina who has the Parapan American record in the event with a time of 5min05s93h obtained fours years ago in Toronto.