ROSBIL GUILLÉN WON HIS PLACE IN THE TOKYO 2020 PARALYMPIC GAMES AND IN THE DUBAI 2019 WORLD PARA ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS

Rosbil “The Wonder” Guillén never imagined being recognized in such short time. He has been roughly for a year in Para athletics and he has already won a gold medal at the Parapan American Games, the greatest competition in the Americas.

But it is not the only thing the Para athlete born in Huaytará, Huancavelica, has achieved. Thanks to his victory in Lima 2019, he will have the chance to compete against the best in the world at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games and at the Dubai 2019 World Para Athletics Championships. Something he never imagined when the year began, and he decided to fully dedicate himself to high level competition.

The name “Rosbil Guillén is new in Para sports. He could not have guessed, two years ago, that he would be on the spotlight. He never though getting such important awards so fast, because he has just started training seriously since January last year, when he decided to travel to Huancayo and work along with Sunil Herrera, who was training Efraín Sotacuro. Rosbil Guillén had his revenge and won the first gold medal for Peru.

In few months they noticed his aptitude and earn his right to participate in the Parapan American Games where he surprised everyone after winning the 1500 m T11 competition (Para athletes running with visual impairment and with guides) in Lima 2019. He won the first gold medal for Peru, and that brought the best of news for the runner from Huancavelica, who also lived in Ica.

Thanks to the times he made in the competition, The National Paralympic Association of Peru, chaired by Lucha Villar, informed him that his next challenges would be the Dubai World Para Athletics Championships, to be held next November and that he will be competing in the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, the most important sport event of the world. “Thank God they told us we will be participating in the Dubai World Championships and the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. I’m going to compete in the 1500 m and 500 m, with my guide Rio Ferdinand Cerceda, but this time, we will hold each other until the end,” said the Peruvian Para athlete.

Rosbil Guillén is very happy for winning gold so soon. “I’m very happy, and I was even more when they told me I won gold in the 1500 m. I was waiting for this a year ago. I dreamed about winning a medal and it happen. We work really hard to recover the medal we lost in the 5000 m, even I don’t think of this as a revenge. Entering Para sports was a tough call, I didn’t imagine myself doing this, two years ago. It wasn’t my goal, but I began to make better times and getting a good level,” said the Para athlete.

“All these victories are thanks to my guides (he runs with Carlos Gálvez and Rio Ferdinand Cerceda, with whom he won the 5000 m and 1500 m events.) I like Para athletics and that’s why I decided to train (he also played football-5-a-side.) I’m really proud to represent my country and I’m really happy for winning a medal. I’m thankful to God and I’m happy for being recognized by my countrymen. Thanks to all who supported me. Thanks to Gladys Tejeda, Efraín Sotacuro, Luis Sandoval for their advice, they had always encouraged me to be where I am now,” said Rosbil Guillén.

Thanks to Rosbil Guillén, Peru won a gold medal again at Parapan American Games. Twelve years ago. Jimmy Eulert had won three gold medals in 50 m freestyle, 100 m freestyle and 50 m backstroke Para swimming events in Rio 2007.

Guillén's gold adds up to the medals won by Carlos Felipa (silver), Carlos Sandoval (silver), Efraín Sotacuro (bronze) in Para athletics. Jorge Arcela (silver) in shooting Para sport, Rodrigo Santillán (bronze in Para swimming) and Fred Villalobos (bronze in judo.)

TICKETS ON SALE

To see the brilliant Para athletes of the Americas in action at the Parapan American Games, buy your tickets starting at PEN 10. There will be a 50 % discount for minors, senior citizens and people with an impairment. Tickets can be bought at tickets booth at VIDENA (gates 1 and 10) and at the 11 points of sale in Lima.

Tickets can also be purchased online at lima2019.pe/tickets, where you will also find the sports calendar with detailed competition schedules. In the case of e-tickets, printing will no longer be necessary since customers can show their e-ticket from their mobile phones at the entrance of the sports venue.