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.

Olympic prelude. For many athletes, the Pan American Games became their tickets to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. This has resulted in a high level of competition, according to Lima 2019 spokesperson Carlos Manuel Lazarte. 

“Lima 2019 has a record number of qualifying disciplines for Tokyo 2020. This has appealed to athletes of a higher competitive level, because they have come to Lima to achieve their qualification. Qualification in modern pentathlon is already defined and today, either Brazil or Argentina will qualify for the Olympic Games in handball,” he stated. 

Carlos Manuel Lazarte also highlighted the fact that Peruvian runner Cristhian Pacheco has qualified for the Olympic Games, even setting a new Pan American record for the men's marathon. 

He also congratulated Natalia Cuglievan for her gold medal in water skiing, tricks event. At only 22, this is the second time she has achieved this feat, as she previously picked up the gold medal at Toronto 2015. 

“Now that Peru has set this historical record of four gold medals, we expect more success to keep the trend,” he said. 

It is important to mention that Peru is ranked eighth in the Lima 2019 overall medal tally with four gold, two silver and two bronze medals. The USA leads the table, with a total of 44 medals, 17 of which are gold.

It has been a historic day for Peru, as marathon runners Gladys Tejeda and Cristhian Pacheco and squash player Diego Elías secured the first gold medals.

These were the words of the Lima 2019 spokesperson, Carlos Manuel Lazarte, who described the happy moment he experienced after Cristhian Pacheco crossed the finish line in the district of Miraflores.

“Diego Elías took revenge because he beat the Toronto 2015 squash champion. And he is still competing in doubles,” Lazarte stated during the fifth press conference that he held since the Games started.

Later, the Games spokesperson said the Lima 2019 Organizing Committee keeps calm and does not want to get carried away over the Peruvian delegation performance in the continental event. “Having medals is the best start. They are our heroes,” Lazarte added.

MORE TICKETS SOLD

More than 250 thousand tickets for the ceremonies and competitions of the Lima 2019 Pan American Games have been sold. Carlos Manual Lazarte also encouraged people to buy the available tickets for the closing ceremony and the preliminary events.

Buy your tickets online at lima2019.pe or https://teleticket.com.pe/lima2019.

In addition, you can get your tickets in the ticket booths at Jockey Plaza shopping center in Santiago de Surco or in the 10 points of sale at the Metro and Wong supermarkets in the districts of Chorrillos, Independencia, La Molina, Lima, Miraflores, San Borja, San Isidro, San Juan de Miraflores, San Miguel, and Surco.

From excitement to challenge. One day after winning the gold medal in the marathon event and setting a record in the Lima 2019 Pan American Games, runner Cristhian Pacheco assured that he will fight for a medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

"We can and must give a fight for an Olympic medal. Where there’s a will, there’s a way. Why not dreaming of getting a medal in Tokyo?,” he remarked.

After his victory in the Pan American Games, Pacheco stated that he would continue training for his next competitions and for the Olympic Games next year.

THRILLED

When he talked about the feelings he had while he crossed the finish line, Pacheco reaffirmed that he felt thrilled and grateful for the unconditional support of the Peruvian fans who never stopped encouraging him.

“When I crossed the finish line, I felt very happy... even more when I heard so many people shouting: ‘Pacheco! Pacheco!’,” he confessed.

Cristhian Pacheco said this after taking part in a press conference along with Lima 2019 spokesperson Carlos Manuel Lazarte. It was held in the Main Press Center conference room at the Lima Convention Center in San Borja district.

The journalists from different national and international media welcomed the outstanding runner from Huancayo with a big round of applause. They also applauded him after each of his statements.

Cristhian Pacheco acknowledged his coach Rodolfo Gómez and his brother Raúl, who have helped him to triumph. He will continue training with them to get new sports achievements for Peru.

It should be noted that the exceptional Peruvian runner set a record time of 02:09:33. This happened yesterday after running 42 kilometers from Parque Kennedy in Miraflores and crossing San Isidro, Lince, Jesús María and Lima districts.

After this victory, Pacheco broke his personal record of 02:11:01 set in the Buenos Aires marathon last November, where he won the South American championship.

More than 5000 people arrived at Parque Kennedy in Miraflores, start and end point for the marathon, and their long wait was well rewarded: they saw long-distance runners Gladys Tejeda and Christian Pacheco cross the finish line and win the gold medal in this 42K competition, the first ones for Peru. Both runners set new Pan American records in this discipline. 

The sports celebration began at 06:30 in the streets of Miraflores, San Isidro, Lince and Cercado de Lima. Entire families approached the marathon route and encouraged each of the competitors running along Lima's main avenues. 

The cheers could be heard throughout the marathon, which started at 08:30 in the women's event. It was all neatly organized: road closures from July 27 at 00:00 to organize the competition route, private and public transportation diversions in the nearby streets, hundreds of Peruvian Armed Forces and National Police members supervising the route, and the unconditional support of the local residents. They simply enjoyed this first-ever sports celebration, without even noticing the street closures. 

“La Blanquirroja”, the Official Peruvian Team Supporters, arrived in the streets of Miraflores a few minutes before the competition started to cheer on the Peruvian athletes. Jaír Villanueva, leader of the fanbase, stated that the Lima 2019 Pan American Games are not just a source of price, but also an opportunity to show that Peruvian fans are really good hosts. “La Blanquirroja isn’t just a football fanbase, it’s for all sports,” he said. 

He added that, to support the Pan American Games, they will be in most of the competitions. “We have agreed that “La Blanquirroja” will be multiplied and we will go to all the venues to root for our athletes, make feel them locals and tell them they are champions, they’re our champions,” he emphasized. 

A few meters away, 77-year-old Marcelina Pucuharanga—Gladys Tejeda’s mother—arrived in Lima in the early morning of July 27 to encourage her youngest daughter (and to see her win). She was together with the Pan American champion's brother and Mayor of the Province of Junín Jorge Tejeda. He recalled how, as children, they used to through the puna to graze the sheep and the livestock. 

“We used to run together and she would always beat me, she always got to the animals before me. In our hometown, she learned how to run and she understood that her dreams could come true, and that triumphs were not just about talent, but also about discipline and effort. Gladys has enough of both of them,” he reminisced. 

Awarded by the President 

Christian Pacheco crossed the finish line at 11:40 after running the 42K of the marathon competition, in the men's event. The people who attended and followed the entire route of the new Pan American champion would not move off the security fences protecting the marathon route until the medal ceremony ended. 

Half an hour later, Peruvian President Martín Vizcarra Cornejo, joined by Panam Sports President Neven Ilic and COPAL President Carlos Neuhaus, awarded both winners with their gold medals and a ceramic model of the Lima 2019 official mascot Milco: a clay statuette made by Ayacucho master craftsmen representing the cuchimilco, an Anthropomorphic image from the Chancay culture. 

Photo gallery (click here) 

In tune with the enthusiasm and joy of the spectators, the Peruvian long-distance runner Christian Pacheco added a new victory for the country and broke the Pan American record in the biggest multi-sports event of the Americas, by winning the gold in men’s marathon. After crossing the finish line, with an incredible mark of 02:09:33, he was received by the President of the Lima 2019 Organizing Committee, Carlos Neuhaus, who congratulate the athlete.

The race of 42 exhausting kilometers was accompanied by the applause and ovation of the spectators. The start line was the Parque Kennedy, and the course crossed San Isidro, Lince, Jesús María and Lima districts.

With this result, Pacheco breaks his personal record at the Buenos Aires marathon held in November 2018, where he was crowned South American champion with a mark of 02:11:01.

In addition, Pacheco adds a new record to Peruvian athletics and puts Peru on the spotlight.

In front of a crowd that gave her a rapturous ovation, renowned Peruvian runner Gladys Tejeda won the gold medal in the marathon, after running 42 exhausting kilometers and setting a remarkable record of 2 hours, 30 minutes and 55 seconds. As she crossed the finish line, she was praised and congratulated by Lima 2019 Organizing Committee President Carlos Neuhaus. 

With her time, Tejeda has set a new Pan American record.  

The athletes ran through the districts of Miraflores, San Isidro, Lince, Jesús María and Lima, in front of large crowds of spectators who did not stop cheering on the athletes.  

It should be noted that Gladys Tejeda became Peru's main representative in the discipline, as Inés Melchor could not participate due to injury.  

This way, Tejeda’s victory reclaims Peru’s position as the host of the most important multi-sports event in the Americas, as well as leaving a remarkable record in the Pan American all-time medal table. 

Six days before the marathon event, Miraflores is already in #PanAmericanMode and ready to receive the best 36 runners of the Americas in one of the most expected athletics competitions. The marathon event rehearsal was held today and it included the security measures, such as the closure of streets and detours of vehicles, which will be adopted on Saturday 27. 

The Peruvian National Police and the Peruvian Armed Forces, responsible for protecting the marathon route on the day of the competition, deployed their strategic and tactical units along the streets and avenues, while the Transit Department worked on the detours of vehicles along the alternate route indicated previously.    

This recognition race, organized by Peru Runners, was included by the Organizing Committee in the "Lima 2019 Test Events Calendar", which allowed to test how the safety and road plans will be executed on the day of the competition. 

Furthermore, this activity helped to communicate the neighbors about the plan that will be carried out on July 27: the hours they can go out, where they can move around and the emergency routes. However, the most important was to invite them to support our national athletes on the streets as marathon is one of the road sports that will be free of charges, as stated by Gustavo San Martín, the Sports Director of Lima 2019.  

The test was held on Sunday, July 21 from 06:00 and it included the closing of the transversal roads of avenues José Larco, Arequipa, Garcilaso de la Vega to the Paseo de los Héroes Navales, in front of the Palace of Justice. Officers were located along the route to monitor the normal development of this competition that had the facade of the Municipality of Miraflores as starting and finishing point. The Pan American marathon event will be held in the same place. 

Additionally, the Municipality and the Pan American Games personnel handed out leaflets with information that included the road closure map, alternatives routes, pedestrian crossings and vehicle entrance.  

The marathon circuit in the Pan American Games will cover 42.195 kilometers, for both women and men. The women's race starts at 08:30 and the men's event, one hour after. It will start at Av. Larco, near the headquarters of the Municipality of Miraflores, and will travel along Av. Arequipa and Garcilaso de la Vega towards Lima downtown. 

The return will be by the same avenues until arriving at the crossroads between Av. José Pardo and Av. Arequipa, in the Óvalo de Miraflores, to deviate towards the Malecón de la Reserva and the Malecón Cisneros and the Av. Armendáriz and Av. Larco to finish off at Parque Kennedy. The route will cross the districts of Miraflores, San Isidro, Lince and Lima. 

Among the participants are renowned Peruvian athletes such as Gladys Tejeda, Inés Melchor, Cristhian Pacheco, and Willy Canchanya. 

Recommendations 

The Lima 2019 Pan American and Parapan American Games Organizing Committee has some recommendations for the spectators that will attend the competitions: 

• Do not throw objects to the competition track. 

• Do not water water at the athletes. 

• Do not interfere with the marathon circuit. 

• Do not bring pets as they can run way and can burst in the competition. 

• Respect the closure of roads that will be executed during the competition. 

• Be tolerant of the implications of the event. 

About Lima 2019 

The Lima 2019 Games Opening Ceremony will be held at the National Stadium of Peru on July 26, 2019. This continental event will gather 6680 athletes from 41 countries and delegations from the Americas. 

There will be 17 days of competitions and ceremonies between July 26 and August 11, which will take place in 14 districts of Lima and Callao at various venues like VIDENA, Villa María Sports Center, Callao Regional Village, Villa El Salvador Sports Center, Punta Rocas, among others. 

The Lima 2019 Pan American Games will include 39 sports and 61 disciplines, in which athletes will compete for gold, silver and bronze medals. A total of 21 disciplines are qualifiers for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.