Many images will remain in our memory, since that July 24, when the eighteenth edition of the Pan American Games started in the beach volleyball courts of Costa Verde San Miguel. The 6680 athletes that visited Lima 2019 left us beautiful moments of triumph and defeat that will forever carved in the memory of each person that had the chance of being part of this sport celebration of the Americas.

1. The Games opening ceremony was a reunion with our culture and national identity. The most touching moment was the participation of the tenor Juan Diego Flórez, singing live Chabuca Granda´s songs.
2. The first medal for Peru was awarded on July 27, in taekwondo – Poomsae. The silver medal for Hugo del Castillo and the medal awarded to Marcela Castillo ignited the fans at the Callao Sports Center.
3. The first gold medal for Peru was awarded on that same day. Gladys Tejeda, and Christian Pacheco right after, broke Pan American records in marathon to earn their medals.
4. Peru ended that memorable July 27 with a third gold medal, after the victory of Diego Elías in squash. In just one day, Peruvian athletes matched the best gold medal count on Pan American Games. 
5. British Virgin Islands (Chantel Malone in long jump), Grenada (Anderson Peters in javelin throw), Bolivia (in racquetball in teams), Barbados (Shane Brathwaite in 110 meters hurdles) and Paraguay (Fabrizio Zanotti in golf) won their first gold medals in the history of the Pan American Games. An indelible memory for these nations in Lima 2019. In addition, Aruba won its first medal with the bronze obtained by Mack van den Eerenbeemt in sailing.
6. Andrea Vargas became the first Costa Rican women to win a gold medal in athletics for her country. She defeated two Americans in the 100 meters hurdles event.
7. Natalia Cuglievan and Alexandra Grande won their second consecutive gold medal .in Pan American Games. They are the most prize-winning Peruvian athletes in this kind of continental events.
8. Peruvian surf took three golds in an unprecedented session in Punta Rocas. Benoit Clemente, Daniella Rosas and Luca Mesinas reached the top of the Pan American podium.                                       
9. Romantic moments. The Argentinian gymnast Federico Molinari proposes to her fiancée Paula Cancio during a live interview. In addition, Peruvian athlete Paola Mautino was surprised by her fiancé and coach, after competing in the 4x100 m event, when he approached her, a ring in his hand, to ask her to marry him.
10. Men's karate reached a milestone for Peruvian sport: four medals in four finals. The kata men’s team took the gold. Peru won three bronzes in the men’s and women’s individual kata and in the women’s team event.
11. The moving drop-off from Argentinian judoka Paula Pareto because of an injury. She fought with a back pain in Lima 2019, but she did it as a champion. However, she could not fight for the bronze and lost by walk-over.
12. In the 4x100 freestyle relay, Brazil defeated USA and completely destroyed the Pan American record at the Aquatic Center.
13. The uncontrollable crying of Brazilian Ederson Vilela at the top of the podium, after winning the 10000 m event at the athletics stadium of VIDENA. Vilela confessed that he did not think he could win this event, that his hopes were on the 5000 m event where he placed seventh.
14. Brazil won the 1500 meters swimming event, after 68 years, in Buenos Aires 1951. Guilherme Costa dominated the men’s endurance event.
15. The Brazilian women’s handball team won its fifth consecutive gold in Lima 2019 by defeating Argentina, for the third consecutive time in this kind of event.
16. Eve Jobs, Steve Jobs’ daughter, competed in the equestrian jumping event and won bronze in the individual contest. The Apple's co-founder heir was very happy with how Peru welcomed her.
17. Argentina made the podium in every group sport, except in women’s basketball. The women’s team lost its match against Colombia by W.O. because athletes were not wearing the uniform agreed at the technical meeting the day before.
18. Nathan Adrian, one of the biggest USA swimming stars, won two gold and three silver medals in Lima. The American swimmers praised the Games organization and was amazed by the five cuchimilcos he received in the podium.
19. The Mexican diver Paola Espinosa reached an amazing score in Lima 2019 by winning her fifth medal in Pan American Games, something that will be forever carved in Mexico’s sport history.

In Bolivia, there are close to 200 racquetball courts and a similar number of young athletes who practice the sport, with a high competition level. However, despite being one of the powers in the continent, Bolivia had yet to accomplish a resounding achievement. Lima 2019 is the beginning of something great for the Bolivian sport, as this is the first Pan American Games gold medal in Bolivia’s history. 

The men’s racquetball team made up of Conrrado Moscoso and brothers Roland and Carlos Keller defeated Colombia in a series that started during the day and finished at night at the Callao Regional Sports Village. In the morning, Moscoso defeated Sebastián Franco 2-0; however, Mario Mercado evened the score by defeating Carlos Keller 2-1. 

The doubles event was the defining match, which was dominated, from start to finish, by Bolivia. The victory with a score of 15-11 and 15-2 brought the athletes to tears and caused them to unleash their suppressed excitement after the defeat, a couple of days ago, in the doubles final where they faced Mexico. 

“I was completely exhausted after a very long day, but happy, because we won the gold medal that we lost in Toronto and in the doubles event here at Lima 2019, too. But our effort was really worth it. Bolivia deserved the gold medal,” pointed out flag bearer Conrrado Moscoso. 

Bolivia has won five medals at the Pan American Games, four of them in racquetball. The gold medal won tonight, joins the silver medal won in men’s doubles and the bronze medals won in singles, as well as the one won yesterday by the women’s team. Felipe Mercado has been the coach of the Bolivian national team since 10 years ago, and he gave some information regarding this phenomenon. 

“In Bolivia, racquetball is a mass sport, from children to adults, although there is a financial limitation to support athletes during an Olympic cycle. This often complicates the growth of the sport, despite having a good development hub in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Sucre and Cochabamba. Either way, every story of self-improvement of these athletes, who have come to Lima 2019, is admirable,” said the coach. 

For the first time in its history, Bolivia climbed to the highest place in the podium. Lima 2019 will be an unforgettable memory for the neighboring country.