The most important multi-sports event in the Americas is currently in the final stretch, and Peru is looking to remain among the top countries with the most medals. For this reason, the bronze collected by the female duo, consisting of Nathaly Paredes and Mía Rodríguez, after a tight match against Argentina is a noteworthy achievement.

The Peruvians, who have had a remarkable performance during the tournament, went out to the Villa María del Triunfo Sports Center field of play determined to defeat their opponents Lucila Busson and Irina Podversich.

Thus, they won the first set with a wide margin of difference, due to imperfections in the game of their opponents. In the second set, the visiting team tried to match the score but they could not make it because the Peruvian team ended the game with a 2-0 victory in women’s doubles.

It is worth mentioning that, starting at 14:00, the Peruvian basque pelota team will try to increase the number of medals in this discipline. Therefore, they will face the Argentinian team once again in women's doubles fronton rubber ball.

Committed to the fight against doping in sport and the values of fair play, the Pan American Sports Organization, Panam Sports, informs the public that to date, a total of 1197 anti-doping controls have been carried out on the athletes participating in the Lima 2019 Pan American Games. Of these, 670 were taken in competition and 527 out of competition.  
 
These tests represent one of the largest amounts of samples taken in the history of these continental Games, demonstrating the commitment of Panam Sports to uphold the highest standards of fair play as well as the Olympic and Pan American values in all of its competitions.  
 
According to the Medical Commission of Panam Sports, chaired by Dr. Bernardo Chernilo, of the 1197 tests to date, one (1) adverse case has been found, corresponding to the athlete from the Dominican Republic, Audrey Joel Perez, member of the men’s baseball team. The doping control test was positive for Oxandrolone (anabolic).  In the case of adverse analytical findings of athletes competing in team sports, more than two positive cases are required to invalidate the team’s result, so this case does not disqualify the team from the Dominican Republic.  
 
The athlete was informed of the result and his accreditation was immediately withdrawn. 
 
Faced with the potential for more positive cases in the following days of competition, or those that are still under review, Panam Sports is committed to providing information as soon as cases are confirmed and all due process has been complied with according to our regulations. 

ABOUT PANAM SPORTS 
 
Panam Sports is the leader of sports and the Olympic Movement in the Americas. Panam Sports encourages the sports development and supports our 41 National Olympic Committees members of the organization in order to inspire more participation in international competitions as well as the presence of the youth to prepare the next generation of athletes across the continent. 
 
Panam Sports works closely with athletes, National Olympic Committees (NOC), Organizing Committees of all regional Games, Pan American Sports Confederations, International Federations (IFs) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to ensure the success of their main event: the Pan American Games. 

Her child’s smile, with dreams of greatness, gave her away. The cameras at the VIDENA Aquatic Center focused on her face, when she was about to start her first individual competition at the Pan American Games. Also, fans from the grandstands cheered the youngest athlete at Lima 2019 on, in an amazing way.

What Alexia Sotomayor has achieved is truly notable. At only 13 years of age, she has qualified to the B final in her first official event. It will be an unforgettable memory for her. After a day of competition, she broke the children’s record in the 100 m backstroke. The Peruvian breathed deeply and begins to build her own dreams.

At the end of the event, the Peruvian talent in swimming was under the spotlight of international media, such as Globo from Brazil. She told them her feeling of participating at home and especially, highlighted the Peruvian people’s affection, who stood up to give her a round of applause.

 “I feel proud to have represented Peru, and to have participated at home, is a dream come true. The support all the swimmers received has been incredible and that encourages me to keep going. Competing against top-level swimmers in my first official event, is the beginning of going even further. I’ll achieve my goals little by little,” she said.

Alexia had participated in the 4x100 free relay event in which Peru placed fifth. In addition, she will participate in the 50m freestyle and in the 4x100 medley relay events. The Pan American Games is also the beginning of a story full of successes and dreams to fulfill.

Tomorrow, the Costa Verde beach circuit will receive the best 77 cyclists of the continent, who will compete in the individual road cycling event (men and women). In this extreme sport they will execute strategy, speed and endurance.

As a result of an incident occurred yesterday, and to ensure the safety of competitors, Panam Sports, the Municipality of Lima and the Peruvian National Police (PNP) decided to modify the start and finish line, moving it 1.6 km south of the place previously established.

The women's competition will begin at 09:00 and will count on the participation of  33 athletes who will make 5 laps (80.5 kilometers) to the circuit that will begin, as a start and finish line, near the Av. Brasil access, in Magdalena, to Los Pavos beach, in Barranco, where they will return to the San Martin access (San Isidro, close to the LUM museum), and continue by Av. Del Ejército, where they will make another lap, and return to the beach circuit until the finish line.

This event is a mass start road race, in which the athletes start in group and the first rider to cross the finish line wins. At 13.00, four hours later, the competition of 44 male athletes will begin. However, who will make 11 laps (177.1 km) to the same circuit.

In this event, the public will be able to cheer on the athletes during the route that will cover from the district of Magdalena to the district of Miraflores, as well as witness world-class athletes, among which are the silver medalist in Rio 2016 in pursuit, Chloe Dygert, and the 2018 Pan American champion of individual road cycling, Cuban Arlenis Sierra.

The Peruvian team is represented by 11 athletes who will participate in both events.

Streets Closure

The Costa Verde beach circuit will be closed to vehicles, from 22:00 on Friday, August 9, to 24:00 on August 10, from Av. Universitaria to Av. Huaylas and all its accesses. 

Also, Av. Del Ejército will remain closed, from Av. Coronel Portillo to the Manuel Bonilla Sports Center. Meanwhile, the stretch from Av. Brasil to Av. Huaylas will be available at 18:30 on August 10.

Three days away from the Pan American Games closing ceremony, the Peruvian rowing delegation wants a medal in one of the most competitive aquatic sports of the Lima 2019 Games and find a place at the top of the continent.

Fans going from 09:00 to Albufera Medio Mundo, in Végueta–Huaura, will witness the effort of the Peruvian squad in their search for the gold in men's and women’s lightweight double sculls.

Meanwhile, the Peruvian team also wants to leave its mark in basque pelota, when fighting for bronze in two matches against Argentina, starting at 09:00 at the Villa María del Triunfo Sports Center.

Likewise, Peruvian riders Noé Ben Lamin and Alonso Valdez Prado will compete in an arduous preliminary round against Argentina, Uruguay and Mexico, among others. They will be looking for the gold in individual jumping, one of the most emblematic events of equestrian sports, at the Army Equestrian School.

Judo and Karate, two of the most famous martial arts of the Lima 2019 Games, will decide their medalists at the VIDENA Sports Center 1 and at the Villa El Salvador Sports Center. Peru has high hopes in men’s and women’s kata, where its athletes have good chances to place in the podium.  Juan Postigos and Alonso Wong are Peru's best cards in judo.

On the other hand, starting at 15:05, the National Sports Village will be the stage of athletics gold medal events, such as 10,000 m, 5000 meters, 4x100 m relay, javelin, and others, where the physical endurance of the America’s most outstanding athletes will be tested.

On the other hand, the Aquatic Center of VIDENA will stage an intense session starting at 11:00 and until 22:34, where the greatest swimmers of the Lima 2019 Games will compete for gold in events such as 50 m freestyle , 400 m medley, 4x200 m free relay, etc.

Starting at 11:00 at the BMX cycling competition course at Costa Verde, two spectacular gold medal finals will take place in men’s and women’s racing events. 

At the Lima Convention Center, the greatest fencers of the Lima 2019 Games will battle for the podium, in the different events such as sabre and foil, starting at 09:00.

In women’s football, Argentina will compete face Colombia for the gold.  The bronze medal will be disputed between Paraguay and Costa Rica.  Matches will start at 17:30 at San Marcos stadium.

SAILING IN PARACAS

The most skilled sailors of the Lima 2019 Games will try to conquer the Bahía de Paracas waves to win the gold. The competition will start at 12:00 and will offer a wide range of nautical challenges that will test the boats balance.

Racquetball semifinals will be held at the Callao Regional Sports Village, where teams from Mexico, United States, Argentina, Colombia and Bolivia will compete for the bronze in men’s and women’s categories.

At the Costa Verde, skaters will show their speed and balance on the track, in the 300 m time trial speed skating event, for the gold medal, at 10:00.

Likewise, the best wrestlers of the Americas will compete in the freestyle event, starting at 10:00 at the Miguel Grau Coliseum.

In Hockey, Chile and United States will compete for the bronze medal at 15:00 at the Villa María del Triunfo Sports Center. Later, Argentina and Canada will compete for the gold medal.

Finally, women’s basketball, golf, water polo, softball, table tennis, archery, and women’s volleyball disciplines, the delegations will fight to secure their place in the competition and advance to the final stages.

He raised his hands, as if he had reached an incredible dream. At the top of the podium, Brazilian Renán Torres remembered so many moments, like when he had to move with his family to Sao Paulo at the age of 10 to start a career in Judo, one of the most competitive sports in his country. Tonight, he carved his name in the sport history of his country by winning gold in the Pan American Games.

Nobody expected it. Torres defeated the Ecuadorian Lenin Preciado, current champion in the 60 kg category. A goal that not even Felipe Kitadai and Eric Takabatake, top ranked athletes of his team, could achieve. However, this young 20-year-old athlete took the gold after many years of training on the tatami.

“I was confident during the bout. Preciado is a very strong judoka, but I concentrated on taking advantage of his mistakes and defeat him by ippon. Winning well is different and it was a revenge for the Brazilian Judo, because we could not defeat him last time. This victory makes me believe that I can reach higher, now that I have advanced from the junior to the senior category,” said Renán.

The Argentinian Paula Pareto, Rio 2016 Olympic champion, was another surprise since she lost against the Cuban Vanesa Godínez in the -48 kg category. The “Peque” did not show up, after the match for the bronze medal, reporting a back pain because of a hernia. “My very soul aches, but the Tokyo 2019 World Judo Championships is in fifteen days, so I think I made the best decision,” said the Argentinian judoka.

On this first day, Dilmer Calle from Piura lost the match for the bronze medal in the -60kg category against the American Adonis Díaz. Likewise, Brillith Gamarra from Ayacucho lost to Panamanian Kristine Jimenez in the -52 kg category. In both cases, one hold decided the fights.

“Dilmer has very good defense and defeating him was not easy. He is very skilled in defensive techniques. However, I was able to grab him when I realized his arms were getting tired. It was a great fight, surrounded by a very respectful crowd who supported their favorites with a lot of energy,” said Adonis.

On July,26, Edith Noeding did not run into the National Stadium. She entered at a slow pace carrying the Pan American Torch that would start the celebration of the Lima 2019 Games.  

The awarded athlete, Pan American champion in 1975 and considered the best Peruvian athlete of the 20th century, had been chosen to start the party with the torch, which ended when Cecilia Tait lit the cauldron. 

“It was a very special moment, I entered at a slow pace because I was afraid to fall with the torch, could you imagine what would have been happened?” said Edith excited and with a smile when she remembered the moment.  

She was at the Athletics Stadium in VIDENA enjoying the modern facilities and the speed show. “It’s a world-class, spectacular stage that helps to improve times and get new records,” she added.  

She also highlighted the marks obtained by Kimberly Cardoza and Diana Bazalar, who set new national records in these Games. “The girls made new marks, but the tension and the pressure in this type of competitions can make you lose a race, but it’s important compete with athletes that have a good competition level, because that will allow them to get better times. Also, with a scenario like this it is even more possible,” emphasized Edith. 

About the Games, the "Gacela de Oro" (Gold gazelle) mentioned that "everything is working well, the events are on time, the Opening Ceremony was spectacular and we expect the Closing Ceremony is even better.” 

With calm words but also a sense of dissatisfaction for not obtaining the gold medal she had set her mind on since 2015 when Mallqui was awarded the silver medal at Toronto 2015. From that day on, Thalía Mallqui worked really hard, thinking of bringing joy to her people. That joy that she felt at the Callao stadium.

This time she did not capture gold but had the privilege to step onto the podium to receive the bronze medal that could be her last one at the Pan American Games.

How do you feel after competing?

That I have given my best. I know that I gave it my all on the mat and this is the evidence (showing the bronze medal).

You were saying that you are 32 years old. Do you think that this is the end of your career or there is something else?

No, I need to qualify for Tokyo. I want to participate in the Olympic Games. This is a goal that I have not achieved yet, and I do want to be at Tokyo. I want to end my career with an Olympic qualification. After Tokyo, I will know what is like, the complete picture, because I am 32 years old. I also want to enjoy spending time with my family, my son, my career and see how I feel after. It depends on that.

Now, you also represented everyone because you are a Lima 2019 ambassador. Is that also rewarding in your career?

Yes, it definitely is. All of it is important. The truth is that I felt the support of all people who were encouraging me from the beginning. They know I worked hard for all of this. We all know that competing in your own country is not easy at all, and I knew that I had to prepare very hard because the rivals I have faced were tough. Fortunately, I got a positive result with a bronze medal.

What do you think these Games will leave to Peru? For athletes in general, how much of this will this be useful?

To tell you the truth, a lot. The infrastructure that has been built for these Games is top level, and I am sure that any kid that has seen or all young people that have been following the Pan American Games will be encouraged to participate or train in a first-class place.

I am sure that parents, who are their main support, will encourage them to continue doing what they like and what they are passionate. Also, this is the first step. Wanting to do something and then, being fully focused on that because the truth is that sports help us a lot.

The last thing is very exciting. The support of fans who cheer you on in Callao.

Yes, honestly I felt it at the beginning before fighting and at the end because when I was on the mat, I was really focused. I preferred to give all my attention to the match, and that’s exactly what I did. After that, people made noise. They screamed a lot. The truth is that I was not paying attention so much because I was in my business, and I had to be 100% focused. Well, I’m grateful to everyone because of the support I received. I wanted to get a gold medal, but the opponents were so tough.

The Lima 2019 ambassador earned the bronze medal in the women’s wrestling 50 kg repechage round after beating her rival Jacqueline Mollocana 3-1 by points. That was the 11th bronze medal that adds to the seven gold and six silver medals, with a total of 24 that the Peruvian athletes have achieved shortly after finishing the biggest multi-sports event in the continent.

The remodeled Miguel Grau Coliseum witnessed a very emotional day this afternoon, when the Lima 2019 ambassador Thalía Mallqui won the 24th medal for Peru at the Pan American Games, being held at different venues of our country.

The Lima 2019 ambassador won bronze in the women’s 50 kg wrestling category, beating the Ecuadorian Jacqueline Mollocana 3-1 in the repechage round. This was the 11th bronze medal, in addition to the seven gold and six silver medals won by Peruvians three days before the closing of the most important multi-sport event in the Americas.

The participation of the Peruvian athlete ignited the coliseum that never stopped cheering her, chanting “Peru” and her name. This encouraged Thalía Mallqui to achieve the victory that awarded her a medal. The ambassador had won the silver medal in her category at the Toronto 2015 Pan American Games. This time, the competitors’ level was very high, with world champions, which complicated her chances of reaching the gold.

Spectators that went to Callao rewarded the effort of the athlete who fulfilled her dream of competing in front of her people and in an international competition like Lima 2019, of which she is a proud ambassador. The other Peruvian who competed for the bronze, Justina Benitez, lost to the Cuban Lianna Montero, in the 53 kg category.

It was a short but meaningful conversation. The American bronze medal winner of the team jumping event, Eve Jobs, Steve Jobs’ daughter, talked to the volunteers of the Army Equestrian School in la Molina. She thanked them all for their support to competitors.

Easy going, Jobs took pictures with this group of young volunteers who wanted a memento of the event. They got around the security staff that accompanies her in these Pan American Games and took the pictures that she shared in her social media, showing the exciting experience of the Games in our capital city.

Jorge Farfán (20), volunteer and student of communication sciences, said that they hesitated at first to approach the athlete, because of her security. Then, he said that they relaxed a bit, and talked to her. Eve Jobs was really easy going and was took her time to share with them.

As an anecdote, he said that the day he was chosen as a volunteer he didn’t know what equestrian sports were about. A few minutes earlier, a message was sent to his e-mail confirming he was chosen as a volunteer for the Lima 2019 Pan American Games and assigned to this competition.

In March 2019 he could not imagine that five months later, at the team jumping event,  he would be talking to Eve Jobs, the daughter Steve Jobs, the creator of Apple.  Beside this experience, Jorge highlighted that the organization has considered every detail to successfully deliver the most important multi-sport event of the region.

He has muscular sclerosis, an irreversible condition, a disease that blocks the orders that go from the brain to the muscles and makes him unable to walk. To move around, he uses an electric wheelchair, which allows him independently to undertake his daily tasks.

“That is what I think is the most important, because if the Organizing Committee had not thought about delivering inclusive Pan American Games, where people with impairments could be part of this unique event in the country, I would not be here. There are wheelchair accesses, special areas at each of the competition venues for people with impairments. These actions are a way of telling us that we are belong, that we can do things and that we are important,” he said.

The Pan American Games, as Jorge says, are not just the most important multi-sport event of the Americas, but the organization managed to include all Peruvians, without distinction, because we are all hosts. Let's all play!