Peruvian President Martín Vizcarra highlighted that organizing and carrying out the Lima 2019 Pan American and Parapan American Games was an immense challenge that was finally overcome.  

A cheering crowd chanted “We can do it” during the opening of new road infrastructure at Avenida La Esperanza, joining former Fundo Barbadillo and Valle Amauta, in the district of Ate Vitarte. The president replied by saying, “Of course we can!” and recalled when “two or three years ago, pessimists would tell us that we wouldn’t be able to carry out the Games. They’d say, ‘We can’t do it.’”  

He stressed that the Government and the people have shown that it is possible. “When there is determination, honesty and transparency, we can do it,” he insisted.  

Meanwhile, he explained that Peruvians can take pride and feel satisfied with Lima 2019 for two reasons, both in terms of public management and sporting achievements.  

“First, because this shows that we can carry out a world-class competition. Not only those athletes competing, but also those who came to watch the competitions. They’re amazed by the quality of the sports premises.” 

He also remarked that, although the Pan American Games are about to end, all the infrastructure built will remain for the people, in order to continue working and promoting sports. “Besides, these Pan American Games have brought us the pride of seeing Peruvian men and women who compete and keep winning medals day after day.”  

Finally, he reflected upon the record number of medals claimed by Peru at Lima 2019 compared to the previous Games, Toronto 2015. He stressed that this achievement reflects the unity and drive of all Peruvians.  

“Only four years ago, at the previous Pan American Games, Peruvian athletes made a huge effort, yet they only managed 12 medals. We already overtook that number, and there’s still more to come, so we’ll end up with more than 20, even 30 medals on this occasion. This means we are improving because we are working together. There are no limits for us if we keep working together.”  

Now he has made history after clinching the gold medal at Lima 2019 and qualifying for the Olympic Games. 

The life of Luca Mesinas has always been linked to the sea. He learned how to surf in his hometown, Máncora, and has not stopped ever since.

Now aged 23, the surfer from Piura has made history after winning the gold medal in the main surfing event: Open surfing. This medal has ensured that Mesinas will participate in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, which will feature surfing for the first time.

The Peruvian surfer faced a dramatic competition for the gold against Argentinian Leandro Osuna. The latter fought until the very last wave, but was ultimately unable to outperform he Peruvian.

Mesinas claimed the seventh gold medal for Peru in the Pan American Games so far; the country’s medal tally has now reached 23 in the most important multi-sports event in the Americas. This figure is far higher than Peru’s medal count in past similar competitions.

She is only 17 and now she will have the opportunity to participate in the Olympic Games. Daniela Rosas won the gold medal in the women's open surfing event, the main women's competition. 

Trained by the world champion surfer Sofía Mulanovich, Daniela won the gold in a dramatic final that was decided in the last wave. 

Rosas won the sixth gold medal for Peru after beating a more experienced surfer, Ecuadorian Dominic Barona, who believed she had already won the gold medal at one point. 

By winning the open surfing event, Daniela Rosas obtained the quota place for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and joined the Peruvian athletes who have already qualified, such as Cristhian Pacheco in marathon, Alessandro de Souza Ferreira and Nicolás Pacheco in shooting, Stefano Peschiera in sailing, Kimberly García and Mary Luz Andía in race walking. 

With Daniela Rosas' gold medal, Peru's medal tally at Lima 2019 has reached 22. 

Benoit ‘Piccolo’ Clemente, proud Lima 2019 ambassador, made history winning the first gold medal for Peru in surfing.

‘Piccolo’ Clemente confirmed he was the favorite to win gold for Peru, by giving a surf master class in the longboard event.

The Lima 2019 ambassador defeated the Uruguayan Julian Schweizer at the grand final and took the gold medal in a competition attended by the President of Peru Martín Vizcarra and thousands of fans.

With this medal, Peru adds a fifth gold medal to its count. Gladys Tejeda and Christian Pacheco in marathon; Diego Elias in squash, also a Lima 2019 ambassador, and Natalia Cuglievan in water ski won the previous four. Peru has collected 21 medals so far in the Lima 2019 Pan American Games.

A LIFE IN SYNC WITH THE SEA

Although he was born in Cajamarca, the surfer Benoit ‘Piccolo’ Clemente has become a dear son of Trujillo, where he has been living since he was a child and where he started practicing water sports at the age of seven.

At the age of 12 he won his first competition. Then, he went to Lima to improve his skills and he qualified to the highest longboard category. Only a year later he became world champion in China, a title he confirmed in Huanchaco.

"I’ve represented Peru in many different countries, and I can tell that there are amazing beaches in our coastline, where you can easily surf, such as Huanchaco, Helio, Chicama, Máncora, Lobitos, Órganos, the Costa Verde in Lima and Punta Rocas (Lima 2019 venue)," he said.

María Fernanda Reyes picked up the sixth silver medal for Peru in the surfing final, held in Punta Rocas.

The Peruvian athlete reached the second place after being beaten by Brazilian Chloe Calmon, who scored more points in the final round.

The new silver earned by “Mafer” Reyes is the sixth out of the 20 medals so far claimed by Peru in this international competition, which brings together the best athletes in the Americas.

A LIFE CONNECTED TO THE SEA

Maria Fernanda Reyes' life has been linked to the sea since she was born. Maria Fernanda has been surfing since she was five years old. Makaha beach in Miraflores became her second home. Something that shocked everyone was the fact that she surfed without knowing how to swim.

“Mafer” smiles as she tells us her story. Now, her performance at Lima 2019 has drawn smiles on our faces as well. She remembers learning to swim at Makaha beach and at Terrazas Club with the help of some members who have known her since she was little.

“Surfing has given me many opportunities to travel and learn about new cultures. Until I was 13 years old, I'd never traveled to the north. My coach took me to Máncora in Piura. I fell in love with that place. It´s paradise,” she recalled.

Peru added its 19th medal thanks to the surf competition. Peruvian athlete Tamil Martino won silver in men’s SUP surfing.

The Peruvian athlete had a great performance as he qualified early in the morning to the final at the repechage stage. Later, in the final for the gold medal, Martino had a tough competition against Colombian Giorgio Gómez, who finally took the gold home.

With this medal won by Tamil Martino, Peru collects its fifth silver. Other silvers were conquered by Marcela Castillo and Hugo del Castillo in taekwondo, Kimberly García in race walk, and Vania Torres in surf. Peru has collected 19 medals so far during Lima 2019, and historical mark for the country in the Pan American Games

HIS BOARD, HIS DEAREST FRIEND

Tamil Martino said that he was always in contact with the sea, and surfing has been a part of his life since he was 11, when he received his first board. “Those were my beginnings,” he said.

He mentioned his uncle Alonso, who was surfer, was the one that inspired him and that he taught him the first secret of this sport.

The traditional cajon performance of the 12th International Cajon and Percussion Festival, “Rafael Santa Cruz”, took place yesterday as part of Culturaymi. It was attended by thousands of participants among amateur and professional musicians who performed many Peruvian rhythms.

Milco, the Lima 2019 Pan American Games official mascot, was the guest of honor at this emblematic meeting. He shone brightly at the Fun Fest stage of Parque de la Exposición and impressed the audience. Through a tutorial posted on social media, Milco showed a sequence of panalivio, landó, afro and festejo rhythm patterns, genres that were performed last night.

The participants of the great cajon performance listened carefully to Cris Aquije’s instructions. He introduced the percussionists Edu Campos, Eduardo Balcázar, Pepe Santa Cruz, Andree Liendo, Cata Robles and Jair Santa Cruz (Rafael’s son). All these performers, as well as Marco Oliveros, Leslie Patten, and Rocío Nicasio, guided the participants to play synchronously.

Kimbafá and Ensamble Perú Fusión dance crews brought along a surprise to the festival by performing at the stands of the amphitheater.

The public attendance to Culturaymi is increasing, there were almost 16,000 people last Saturday at the cultural festival. Culturaymi offers an attractive cultural and entertainment program, alongside the Pan American Games, drawing the attention of various spectators. Culturaymi, and all its activities, is completely free of charge.

Photo Gallery (click here)

The Lima 2019 Pan American Games continue to offer the most impressive multi-sports event in the Americas on its twelfth competition day. The most successful delegations in this continent will compete for the gold in 12 sports to reach the top of the medal table. Peru will aim for a new medal in the 20-kilometer race walk to become the Americas’ leading country in this sport. In Punta Rocas, the Peruvian delegation could make history as it faces the chance to win six medals.

The race walking event will start at 8:00 in Parque Kennedy. The race will start at Parque Kennedy, to continue along Av. José Larco as far as Calle Tarata, and will return on the same street up to Óvalo de Miraflores. The Peruvian representatives in the women’s event are Kimberly García and Mary Luz Andia. In the men’s event, José Carlos Mamani from Puno will be the Peruvian representative. As for García and Andia, they already qualified for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

The surfing final, one of the most expected events, will start at Punta Rocas High Performance Center at 9:00. Surfers Benoit ”Piccolo” Clemente, Daniela Rosa and Luca Mesinas, as well as Vania Torres, will represent Peru in the finals. Maria Fernanda Reyes and Tamil Martino will compete in the repechage final phase, meaning a potentially historic result for Peru. A Peruvian victory would grant Peru a leading position in this sport at an international level.

In the first round of men’s football group B, the Peruvian team will face Jamaica at San Marcos stadium. The remaining matches are Panama-Argentina; Ecuador-Mexico and Honduras-Uruguay.

Moreover, Eduardo Dibós Coliseum will host the men’s basketball finals at 18:00.

Meanwhile, the final games of baseball, one of the most popular sports in the continent, will start at 11:05. The Puerto Rico, United States, Argentina and Dominican Republic teams will be ready to hit the home runs that will give them the chance to win the gold, silver and bronze medals.

In the National Sports Village velodrome, the fastest cyclists in the Americas will compete in the track cycling finals, which will be divided in two sessions, starting at 11:05. The Peruvian team will compete in the event, as well as the United States, Chile, Venezuela, Mexico, among other teams.

LUNAHUANÁ AND BUJAMA

The best athletes in the Americas will seek to swiftly cross the fast-moving waters of the Cañete River to win the gold medal in the canoe slalom event. The final event will start at 9:00.

Likewise, Brazil, United States, Argentina, among other teams, will compete to obtain the gold, silver and bronze medals at the Club Lawn Tennis. The exciting end of the tennis events will start at 11:00.

In the Callao Sports Center, the Brazil, Cuba, Chile and Argentina teams will fight for the gold, silver and bronze medals in men’s volleyball at 9:00.

In Laguna Bujama, the Americas' top swimmers will showcase their skills and endurance in the challenging 10-kilometer open water swimming final at 9:00. Meanwhile, the most skilled gymnasts of the Americas will try to clinch gold in the different rhythmic gymnastics competitions to take place at the Villa El Salvador Sports Center at 16:00.

VIDENA

On the penultimate day of diving competitions, two events will be held at the VIDENA Aquatic Center at 10:00. In this event, the athletes will fight for the gold, silver and bronze medals in an intense series of competitions. Additionally, riders will compete for the gold in the jumping event at 8:00 in the Army Equestrian School.

Finally, the final rounds of handball, racquetball, softball and hockey will determine which teams will reach the podium. As for trampoline gymnastics, Basque pelota, water polo, table tennis and sailing, these events will start their qualification stages at Lima 2019, on the way to their finals.

To get more information about the competition schedule and results, you can visit the website: https://www.lima2019.pe/resultados.

Spectacular jumps and obstacles in the water and ring were performed at the equestrian sports venue in La Molina, where many families gathered to see the best athlete/horse combinations in the continent in the eventing individual (cross-country) and team competitions.

This venue had moments of excitement and tension when the Colombian rider Mauricio Bermúdez fell into the “Titicaca Lake” water obstacle in the cross-country ring.

The Peruvian combination delivered an excellent performance in the ring, and three of four riders qualified. They are Diego Farje with Qouter; Marcelino Cárdenas with Vento, and Juan José Luis Francia with Alpacino Z.

In the team event, the Peruvian representatives also qualified together with the United States, Brazil, Canada, Argentina, and Mexico. The international competition continues tomorrow starting at 10:00 with the eventing individual (jump finals) and team (jumping qualifier) competitions, where medalists will be determined.

The Army Equestrian School has an eventing circuit (cross-country), with 4600 m of new grass.

Besides, the main stage for jumping and dressage: three tracks for competition, warm-up and training, made of silica sand, with a total of 19,500 m2, built according to the standards and requirements of the International Equestrian Federation.

To get more information about the competition schedule and results, you can visit the website: https://www.lima2019.pe/resultados.

Photo gallery (click here)