Los Juegos Parapanamericanos Lima 2019 demostraron que nada es imposible. ¡Y los nuevos registros parapanamericanos son prueba de esto! Conoce a algunos de los atletas de Para que establecieron los récords más increíbles en estos Juegos.
Lima 2019 awarded over 1500 medalists throughout the 11 days of the largest multi-sports event in the continent. We still get a feeling of nostalgia when we remember the best Parapan American Games in history, in which spectators witnessed the high competition level of the great stars and new talents in the Americas.
Check the best photos of these figures here
The fastest woman of the Paralympic movement made history at Lima 2019 after winning three gold medals at the Parapan American Games for the third time in a row. The Cuban athlete earned the victory in 100, 200 and 400 m. Besides, she broke the Parapan American record in 400 and 200 m events (she even did it twice in the latter).
2. Petrúcio Ferreira (Brazil) Para athletics T47
The Brazilian Para athlete arrived at Lima with two world records in 100 and 200 m, and he did not disappoint at all. He claimed the gold in 100 and 400 m and a silver in mixed relay, repeating his success of Toronto 2015. In the 100 m, he even surprised us all by setting two new records on the same day.
3. Daniel Dias (Brazil) Para swimming S5
The best Para swimmer of all times took home six gold medals at Lima 2019. These new victories added up to the total of 33 golds he has obtained along his four Parapan American Games finals. So far, Dias has won 77 gold medals in his career, including 14 Paralympic medals and 30 world titles. He is, for sure, a true sport legend.
4. Gustavo Fernández (Argentina) wheelchair tennis
The best wheelchair tennis player of the world circuit obtained his third consecutive gold medal in the Games and his second gold in doubles. This way, “Gusti” finished the year on a high note, as he arrived in Lima as the champion of three Grand Slam tournaments: the 2019 Australian Open, Roland Garros and Wimbledon. What a legend!
5. José de Jesús Castillo (Mexico) Para powerlifting
The best Para powerlifter of the Americas rose to the top at Lima 2019 after winning the gold in the -107 kg weight class, his fourth consecutive title in the Games. “Chuy” has now a secure a spot among the top Para powerlifters in this discipline.
6. Amalia Pérez (Mexico) Para powerlifting
She snatched her fourth gold medal at the Parapan American Games in the -55 kg weight class, breaking the Parapan American record. The Mexican is also a five-time Paralympic medalist.
7. Yanina Martínez (Argentina) Para athletics T36
She repeated her success of Toronto 2015, by winning the gold in both 100 and 200 m in Lima. Her next challenge is to defend the 100 m title she claimed at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.
8. Sara Vargas (Colombia) Para swimming S6
The new Para swimming talent of our continent earned four golds and one silver at just 12 years old in her first major event ever. Also, she broke five Parapan American records, becoming one of the best Para athletes in the Americas.
9. Phelipe Melo (Brazil) Para swimming S10
He crowned himself as the Para athlete with the most medals at Lima 2019, with seven golds and one bronze.
So far, he has collected 22 medals in three Parapan American Games.
10. Nelson Crispín (Colombia) Para swimming S6
He broke his own record by taking home five golds, one silver and one bronze, surpassing the number of medals achieved in Toronto (three golds, two silvers and one bronze medal). What is more, he broke the 100 m breaststroke world record.
11. Carlos Serrano (Colombia) Para swimming S7
At Lima 2019, he surpassed his Toronto 2015 achievements with seven medals (five golds, one silver and one bronze), thus breaking five Parapan American records.
His next challenge is to go beyond the three Paralympic medals he obtained at Río 2016 (one, gold, one silver and one bronze).
12. Naomí Somellera (Mexico) Para swimming S7
At age 20, she showed us all she is at the top of her game, by collecting six gold medals at Lima 2019.
This way, she surpassed her Toronto 2015 performance, where she picked up two medals.
13. Alberto Abarza (Chile) Para swimming S2
The Chilean flag-bearer claimed three golds and two silvers, setting the Parapan American record in four events.
14. Wimana Stewart (Trinidad and Tobago) Para athletics F43
She snatched two gold medals, breaking the Parapan American and world record in discus throw, as well as the Parapan American record in javelin throw twice.
15. Matías Pino (Chile) Wheelchair tennis TT6
He claimed two Parapan American titles and helped his country achieve its best performance in the Games.
16. Clara Brown (United States) Para cycling C1-C3
She won three golds (one on track and two on road) and one bronze in track cycling, thus breaking three Parapan American records.
17. Fabricio Barros (Brazil) Para athletics T12
To everyone’s surprise, he earned the victory in the 100 m event, defeating favorites such as Noah Malone from the USA and Leinier Savón from Cuba. Besides, he broke the 100 m Parapan American record in his category with a time of 10.97.
18. Nicholas Bennett (Canada) Para swimming S14
At age 15, he is the new Canadian Paralympic star, and he made it clear to everyone by taking three gold medals and one silver in Lima 2019. He is one of the most well-rounded Para swimmers in the continent, as he has won medals in all four styles.
19. Thiago Paulino (Brazil) Para athletics F57
He broke the world and Parapan American shot put record all in one day, collecting an epic gold medal for his country.
He always had a solid dream: to see a venue crowded with fans supporting the Peruvian athletes and Lima 2019 gave him the chance to make it possible. “Para badminton for everybody” was his ideal years ago and he saw it at the VIDENA Sports Center 2 this afternoon. On the court 1, he qualified to the final in the SL3 class (Para athletes with little balance), while his partner Pilar Jáuregui also took the victory.
The Lima 2019 Ambassador had to push himself to the limit to defeat the Cuban Rolando Bello in two sets (21-14 and 21-15), in a match of highest physical effort that lasted more than 43 minutes. At the end of the match, De Vinatea asked for a round of applause for his opponent, who has been competing with him for several years in the professional circuit.
“I’m very proud to see this audience enjoying Para badminton, which is one of the first sports that evolved strongly in Peru. That’s why we’ve come to Lima 2019 with 5 years of preparation and seasoned players who reach the final stages. The support received before is now yielding results,” he said.
Pedro Pablo will compete for the gold medal against the winner of the match between Brazilian Leonardo Zuffo and Canadian William Roussy. At 15 and 21 years old, respectively, both are the new best Para badminton players in the Americas, with medals in Pan American tournaments. The competition is tomorrow at 15:00.
“I’ll face the final with the same mentality: so focused, without pressure, and fighting point by point, countering the strengths of my opponent. Surely, there will be a similar environment and with the people’s support we will try to win the gold medal,” added the Lima 2019 Ambassador.
The Peruvian Para badminton athlete and Lima 2019 Ambassador, Pilar Jáuregui, qualified to the women’s finals for the WH2 category, after beating the Cuban Maydelin Soriano 21-0 and 21-1.
This morning Pilar Jáuregui had already defeated the same opponent during Group A preliminary rounds, 21-1 and 21-7, after only 17 minutes. The Peruvian Para athlete said in an interview with Lima 2019 that after semifinals, she has taken another step towards winning the gold medal in Peru.
“I am very excited because my family and friends were here, along with ‘La Blanquirroja’ at every game. I am so thankful because they play an important part in pressuring the opponent,” she said.
“La Blanquirroja” and many fans came together to the Sports Center 3 of the National Sports Village (VIDENA) in San Luis to cheer loudly for the different Peruvian athletes competing that day.
This is the case of Héctor Salvá, who never stopped receiving cheers from the stands, despite losing to Brazil’s Tavares during preliminary and semifinal rounds. The same happened before with the Peruvian pair, Robert Fajardo and Ronald Miranda, who gave their all, but lost to the Brazilian pair, Cano and Soares, 21-8 and 21-13 in favor of Brazil.
Something similar happened to our Peruvian Alberto Cadenillas, who also lost to Brazil’s Cavali (21-10 and 21-4). Finally, Pablo Cueto and Jenny Ventocilla in mixed doubles lost to Brazil’s Almeida and Rosso, with scores of 21-19 and 21-18, in a 32-minute game.
Only two days away from the end of the Americas’ top Para sports competition, the Peruvian Para badminton team will fight for a place in the final and on the podium. Outstanding Para athletes Pilar Jáuregui and Pedro Pablo de Vinatea will be Peru’s representatives.
The Lima 2019 Ambassadors, who delivered comprehensive defeats to their USA and Brazil counterparts in singles, will face off the experienced Cuban team featuring Maydelin Soriano and Rolando Bello. The match will take place at VIDENA Sports Center 3 at 9:00. The competition day will also feature Canada, Chile, Guatemala, among other teams. If they win their respective matches, they will advance to the semifinals, to be played in the afternoon. After going through this stage, they will compete for the gold on Saturday, August 31.
Meanwhile, the Peruvian Para cycling road team—featuring world’s Top Ten Israel Hilario—will be put to the test in the exciting races to be held at Costa Verde San Miguel, starting at 9:00.
In addition, Peruvian Para athlete Carlos Raymundo Cano will attempt to win in front of the home crowd in a fascinating boccia competition against Argentinian Mauricio Ibarbure, to take place at Villa El Salvador Sports Center at 10::00. The Chile, Mexico, Canada, Ecuador, Brazil and Colombia teams will also compete in this session, starting at 9:00.
The wheelchair basketball semifinals will feature Canada, Colombia, Argentina and the USA in thrilling games taking place at VIDENA Sports Center 1, starting at 10:30.
With regard to Para swimming, tough competitions for the gold medal will take place at VIDENA Aquatic Center, starting at 9:00. They include 50m freestyle, 200m freestyle, 200m medley, 100m breaststroke, 100m butterfly, among others.
The Para taekwondo competitions are scheduled to start at 9:00. It is worth noting that the Para athletes qualified for the second session finals, starting at 15:00, will compete for the gold, silver and bronze medals in the K44 -49 kg, K44 -61 kg, K44 -58 kg and other categories. This competition will also feature Peruvian representative Angélica Espinoza.
Meanwhile, the final events for wheelchair tennis will take place at Lawn Tennis Club, starting at 11:00. These will decide the winners of the men’s and women’s quad singles and doubles events.
As for Para powerlifting, the gold medal winners will be defined in the 59 kg, 61 kg, -73 kg, -65 kg and -72 kg events at the VIDENA Sports Center 1. The events will feature the Americas’ best Para powerlifters, who will seek to go down in Para sports history.
The Miguel Grau Coliseum in Callao will house the women’s goalball semifinals, starting at 15:00. Last but not least, the gripping football 5-a-side final will take place at Villa María del Triunfo Sports Center, starting at 14:30.
Confirming that she is the best sprinter in the world, the Cuban Omara Durand closed her participation at the Lima 2019 Parapan American Games with a third gold medal, as well as a new Parapan American record in the 400 m event, which was her last competition in Peru.
Durand will always be remembered in the country because she left her name engraved at the Athletics Stadium in VIDENA, where her handprints will be placed next to the ones of Usain Bolt, the fastest man in history. Omara, in her participation at Lima 2019, won all of her competitions without much resistance from her opponents in category T12 (Para athletes with a visual impairment who run with a guide).
In her last competition in Peru, Omara Durand, along with her guide Kindelán Vargas, finished in 52s51c in the 400 m event, breaking her own Parapan American record of 54s22c, achieved a day before in the qualification round.
Omara Durand, considered the fastest Para athlete in the world, won her first gold medal at Lima 2019 in the 200 m event in category T12, and then she did it again in 100 m, just to finish her amazing journey in the country with her third gold medal by winning in the 400 m event.
The Cuban athlete has now eleven Parapan American medals: three won at Rio 2007 (100, 200 and 400 m), two at Guadalajara 2011 (100 and 400 m), three at Toronto 2015 (100, 200 and 400 m) and three at Lima 2019 (100, 200 and 400). Plus, we have to add her five Paralympic gold medals won at London 2012 (two) and Rio 2016 (three).
If you want to see the amazing Para athletes who are participating at the Parapan American Games, you can buy your tickets starting at PEN 10. In addition, there will be a 50% discount for children under 18, senior citizens and people with an impairment. Tickets are available at the tickets offices in VIDENA (gate 1 and gate 10) and also at the 11 authorized points of sale throughout the city.
Tickets can be also purchased online at lima2019.pe/tickets, where you will also find the detailed competition schedules. In the case of e-tickets, printing will no longer be necessary since customers can show their e-ticket on the screen of their mobile phones at the entrance of the sports venue
One of the stars who came to shine at the sixth edition of the Parapan American Games imposed a new mark. The brilliant Cuban Para athlete Omara Durand won her second gold in Lima 2019 and her tenth Parapan American title.
She is looking for a third gold to close her participation in our Games on the highest point, as she will still be competing in the 400 m class T12 category (Para athletes with visual impairment running with guides).
The Para athlete was close to beating her best mark, but she finished the competition with a time of 11.76 s. Nevertheless, it was her best time in the season.
Omara Durand, considered the fastest Para athlete in the world, had won her first gold in Lima 2019 in the 200 m T12 category event, and now she is only waiting to compete in the 400 m, as the favorite to win a new gold medal. It is important to mention that she is running along with her guide Kindelán Vargas.
The Cuban athlete has won 10 Parapan American titles so far, three in Rio 2007 (100 m, 200 m and 400 m), two in Guadalajara 2011 (100 m and 400 m), three in Toronto 2015 (100 m, 200 m and 400 m) and two in Lima (100 m and 200 m). She also has five gold medals won in Paralympic Games in London 2012 (two) and Rio 2016 (three).
To see brilliant Para athletes like the Cuban Omara Durand participating 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.
She came here to win three medals and already has one. Cuba Omara Durand won her first gold medal in the Lima 2019 Parapan American Games, where she is one of the stars who came to compete alongside the best Para athletes of the continent.
Considered the fastest Para athlete in the world, Omara won by far the 200 m competition, category T12 (people with visual impairment), and added the first medal of the three she came looking for in Peru, since she still has to compete in the 400 m and 100 m events.
Omara Durand won the competition along with her guide Yuniol Kindelán, with a time of 23s67c, which equaled the Pan American record. “I am very happy to win this medal. The truth is that I looked for this first medal, but I feel that I could have done it in less time. We’re not used to run with a temperature as cold as the one in Lima, but Cubans can do anything,” said the champion very excited. The Cuban Para athlete will compete tomorrow in the 400 m competition with the illusion of winning her second gold medal.
The Sports Center 3 of Callao dressed up for the celebration of the first medal ceremony of the Lima 2019 Parapan American Games. Para table tennis was the sport that granted the first medals to the delegations that, in this way, leave a mark and will be remembered forever for their passage in the Peruvian capital.
In this act, the President of the National Paralympic Association of Peru, Luisa Villar; and the IPC Head of Protocol, Hospitality and Events, Stephanie Keller, presented the first gold medal of Lima 2019 to the Chilean Para athlete, Tamara Leonelli.
The Chilean Para athlete stated that she is proud of obtaining this first triumph for her country. “Lima 2019 has given me the opportunity to obtain this first medal for my country and the feeling is indescribable,” expressed Tamara with great effusiveness.
Another of the winners was Yunier Fernández, Cuban Para athlete. From his neck hung the medal that gave him an almost mythical aura. “I feel like the happiest man in the world right now, because this is an achievement I have been tirelessly seeking for the last three Parapan American Games,” he said, overflowing with joy.
Both distinguished Para athletes, who embody the Paralympic values, also took with them an emblematic souvenir of the Peruvian culture: a cuchimilco made of clay.
These figures of the pre-Hispanic culture of Chancay, which represent the symbolic official mascot of the Games, have marked an unprecedented gesture that has touched these Para athletes. “For Peru, this is a memory of its millenary past, and for me, it represents an unforgettable moment in my sports career,” expressed with gratitude the Cuban Para athlete.
Thus, Lima 2019 is not only becoming the epicenter of excellence in continental Para sports, but also the space where the cultures of the Americas converge, under the protection of the guiding Paralympic principles.
The Sports Center 2 of the National Sports Village vibrated with excitement in the opening of the judo competitions for people with a visual impairment.
The sport venue was packed with fans that from rooted for their favorite teams from start to finish in this intense combat. This Para sport started at 09:00 and carried on until 14:00.
The cheers of the spectators of Lima on the foreign judokas were loud at all times. The effervescence, which would erupt from the stands, was at a par with the strength all Para athletes showed on the tatami, while putting on brave martial movements.
Some of the most exciting moments of the day took place during the semifinals by noon. In this context, Henry Borges gave a great performance. He defeated the Venezuelan Marco Blanco, by accumulated penalties, after immobilizing his opponents in the elimination rounds.
Therefore, the Uruguayan claimed the gold medal in the men’s 60 kg category, taking the first medal for Uruguay.
With that same courage, the Cuban Yordani Fernández fought against the Brazilian Antonio Tenorio and moved to the finals. Then, he took the gold home in a titanic final against the American Benjamin Goodrich, claiming the crown in the B3 category.
The last award of the day in this tough discipline was disputed by the Puerto Rican Luis Pérez and the Argentine Eduardo Gauto in the 66 kg B1 category. The Argentine was the absolute winner of the combat as he scored an ippon that finished off his opponent.
This way, the first session of judo for people with a visual impairment ended on a high note, filled with splendid martial performances. All participating Para athletes are giving it their all hoping to reach a spot on the Parapan American Games podium.