Muchos momentos quedarán en nuestros recuerdos, comenzando el 22 de agosto, cuando comenzaron las competiciones de los Juegos Parapanamericanos Lima 2019 . Un total de 1890 atletas para para de 30 países que nos visitaron en Lima 2019 nos dieron hermosos momentos de victoria y pérdida; Permanecerán para siempre en los recuerdos de todos.

1. La chilena Tamara Leonelli ganó la primera medalla de oro en Lima 2019 en el segundo día de competencia y se convirtió en la primera en clasificarse para los Juegos Paralímpicos de Tokio 2020.
2. El Estadio Nacional estuvo abarrotado durante la Ceremonia de Apertura de los Juegos Parapanamericanos de Lima 2019, que impresionó a todos con la inclusión emocional de las personas con discapacidad en el espectáculo. El campeón paralímpico peruano Jimmy Eulert fue elegido para encender el caldero.
3. La para atleta Rosbil Guillén ganó la primera medalla de oro para Perú en la clase T11 de 1500 metros. Con esta victoria, el atleta Para de Huancayo se vengó, ya que días antes había perdido la medalla de oro en los 5000 metros después de ser descalificado por separarse de su guía en la línea de meta.
4. Perú alcanzó un número histórico de medallas de oro en los Juegos Parapanamericanos con las victorias de Pedro Pablo de Vinatea y Pilar Jáuregui en el bádminton Para. Para ciclista Israel Hilario y la atleta de Para taekwondo Angélica Espinoza también encabezaron el podio para un total de cinco medallas de oro. Además, Perú reclamó tres medallas de plata y siete de bronce, lo que representa un total de 15 medallas.
5. Brasil encabezó la mesa final de medallas por cuarta vez consecutiva en los Juegos Parapanamericanos. Con la mayor delegación en su historia, Brasil también superó el mayor número de medallas en un solo evento continental: 124 de oro y 308 en total. Un récord impresionante.
6. México, Argentina, Chile, Ecuador y Colombia también superaron sus mejores actuaciones en la historia de los Juegos Parapanamericanos.
7. El judoca mexicano Eduardo Ávila entró en la historia del deporte en su país después de ganar su cuarto título parapanamericano consecutivo. Con sus dos medallas de oro en los Juegos Paralímpicos de Beijing 2008 y Río 2016, y otros dos títulos mundiales, es considerado como uno de los judokas más exitosos de América.
8. La para atleta brasileña Verónica Hipólito es el mejor ejemplo de que todo es posible en la vida. Después de superar dos cirugías en la cabeza que la dejaron en cama durante dos años, llegó al último lugar de la cuota unos días antes del inicio de Lima 2019. Los médicos le dieron pocas oportunidades de competir nuevamente y ganar medallas, ya que asumieron que esto era poco probable . Sin embargo, ganó tres medallas de plata y todo el continente estaba encantado con su historia de superación personal.
9. Después de ganar el evento de estilo libre de 50 metros, la nadadora de Para, Joana Silva, rompió a llorar en el podio. Meses antes, había perdido a su padre y estaba a punto de abandonar esta disciplina. Sin embargo, ella se recuperó, prometiéndole a su difunto padre que haría lo mejor que pudiera, y así sucedió: ganó seis medallas en Lima 2019, un total de 15 desde su debut en los Juegos Parapanamericanos de Guadalajara 2011.
10. Las gemelas brasileñas Debora y Beatriz Carneiro fueron una curiosidad en los Juegos. Han estado entrenando juntos desde que eran niños y, cuando compiten entre ellos, siempre comparten los títulos. En Lima 2019, obtuvieron el primer y segundo lugar en los eventos de braza de 100m y de popurrí individual de 200m. Por supuesto, Debora ganó el primer evento y Beatriz el segundo, para mantener la tradición.
11. Brasil ganó en el fútbol 5, un deporte para personas con discapacidad visual, alcanzando la gloria de los Juegos Parapanamericanos por cuarta vez en el Centro Deportivo Villa María del Triunfo. Los cinco veces campeones mundiales derrotaron a Argentina por 2-0 en la final, con las estrellas Jefinho y Cassio anotando los goles ganadores.
12. El equipo brasileño de fútbol 7, compuesto por personas con parálisis cerebral, también se llevó la medalla de oro después de derrotar a Argentina. Con esta victoria, los "canarinhos" aseguraron su tercer título en la competencia, después de ganar en Río 2007 y Toronto 2015.
13. En el juego más emotivo de Lima 2019, Canadá venció a Estados Unidos en la final de baloncesto femenino en silla de ruedas. El equipo femenino canadiense ganó el partido por una diferencia de tres puntos, pero este juego apretado se fue al grano, ya que los estadounidenses estaban en posesión de la pelota en la última jugada. Tenían ocho segundos para jugar, pero perdieron su última oportunidad de igualar y forzar un período de tiempo extra. Así es el deporte: no hay ganadores hasta que termine la competencia.
14. Con más de 170,000 espectadores, Lima 2019 batió un récord de asistencia a los Juegos Parapanamericanos. Además de este hito, Lima 2019 fue considerada la competencia multideportiva mejor organizada en la historia parapanamericana, así como el evento con el sistema de transporte más accesible en todas las ediciones de los Juegos.
15. El penúltimo día de la competencia Para Badminton se jugó en un ambiente deportivo emocional, lleno de fanáticos peruanos en el Centro Deportivo 2 de VIDENA, incluida la base oficial de fanáticos de Perú, "La Blanquirroja". El mismo día en que Pedro Pablo de Vinatea reclamó oro para Perú, el guatemalteco Raúl Anguiano hizo historia para su país después de ganar su primera y única medalla de oro en seis ediciones de los Juegos Parapanamericanos.

He could not hide his joy. He shared a never-ending hug with Yuliana Bolívar, the Pan American medalist who attended his match. Fred Villalobos reached the Parapan American podium for judo and had the audience of VIDENA’s Sports Center 3 on the edge of their seats. 

“Let’s all play, that’s the first thing I’d like to say, but what’s most important is how happy I am for this achievement. It doesn’t matter if I achieved it, what matters is what has been achieved,” said the Para athlete , who participated for the first time in this competition for people with visual impairment.

Villalobos feels like he has achieved the main goal: reaching the podium. “It was part of the plan. We knew that many of my contenders were Olympic champions but I wasn’t going to let them knock me down. The judoka from the US was strong and I had to hold him on the ground, that was the mission,” he added

He also said that “the psychological aspect is very important, but we can’t overlook the physical and spiritual part, it’s a trinomial that can help a person be complete as a human being.”

The 28-year-old was born in Lima but lived in Arequipa since he was a child, due to his father’s work.  In this city, he went to school and university, where he studied Law and discovered judo as an extracurricular activity. “I’ve been practicing judo for four years. That’s where my passion for this sport began. Since last year, I’ve been practicing it professionally. It used to be a hobby, and now I’m here,” he stated.

“We’re over 139 athletes in 17 sports. We’ve already won some medals and there will be many more to come, proving that Peru has guts. We’ve also demonstrated that we can organize Pan American and Parapan American Games and, in the near future, the Olympic and Paralympic Games,” he added

Still excited about the medal, Fred concluded with an emotional message. “All I’m saying is that it is possible, and that the ‘Arriba Peru” should be in each of our hearts. Don’t get disheartened; we all fall, but like good athletes, we know how to get back up. Only you limit yourself. We need to keep moving forward; let this be an example of persistence.” 

The bonds between athletes can be very intense, despite there not being any blood relations. The hug between the Peruvian judoka Yuliana Bolívar, Pan American Games medalist, with Fred Villalobos, Parapan American Games bronze medalist, proves that genuine affection comes from the soul.

This friendship arose two years ago during training sessions in VIDENA and they reunited this morning during a glorious episode of Peruvian sports. Bolívar, who volunteered for the judo competition, congratulated the Peruvian Para athlete as soon as he left the tatami and left us a captivating image. Fred’s visual impairment did not stand in the way of their embrace.

“Fred is and has always been a good friend of mine, form the day we first met two years ago, when neither of us had won anything. That closeness created a mutual bond. That’s why he showed me his affection when he noticed my presence. I admire Fred because he’s a great human being and I’m happy that we now both share a bronze medal in the Games,” said Yuliana Bolívar. Fred Villalobos proved that Peru has guts at the Lima 2019 Parapan American Games.

Since she arrived from Venezuela, Fred is one of the members of the big Peruvian judoka family she was able to build. “I’m proud of being Peruvian. Having an achievement in sports doesn’t mean I’m any less human. I’m always going to support my friends from Judo, because they opened their hearts to me when I needed it the most, said the Peruvian athlete.

At the end of the day at VIDENA’s Sports Center 2, Yuliana was approached by fans who asked her for autographs and photos. “I didn’t expect so much affection from people and it’s rewarding to not only have the support of my Judo family, but also the Peruvian public. That’s worth more than any medal,” she concluded.

These were his first Parapan American Games and he will remember them. Fred Villalobos achieved the bronze medal in the category -81kg in judo.

At 28 years old, the judoka defeated the American Nathan Ostergaard by Ippon at the VIDENA Sports Center 2 winning the second medal for Peru.

Months before competing, Fred mentioned that “impairment can be an asset to achieve amazing things”.

In this category, the gold medal was given to Mexican Eduardo Avila, who became the Parapan Americanchampion for the fourth time in a raw. The Judoka had obtained the gold medal in Rio 2007, Guadalajara 2011 and Toronto 2015. He also obtained gold at the Beijing 2008 and Rio 2016 Paralympics Games.

Gerardo Rodriguez from Cuba obtained the silver medal and Brazilian Harlley Pereira shared the bronze one with Villalobos. 

If you want to enjoy more competitions and supporting the Para athletes, get your tickets on www.lima2019.pe  or at authorized points of sale.

Photo Gallery (click here)

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.

Photo Gallery (click here)

The third competition day at the Lima 2019 Parapan American Games will have a series of medal-defining stages in Para athletics, Para table tennis, judo and shooting Para sport, as part of a long multi-sports day.

In Para athletics, the men’s shot put finals will take place at the Athletics Stadium of the National Sports Village (Videna) in San Luis, starting at 15:00. The women's and men’s discus throw finals will be held in this venue as well.

The session will continue with the men's 5000m finals, men's and women's long jump finals, men's 200m finals, men's javelin throw finals, men's 1500m finals, women's 400m and 200m finals, among others.

In judo, medal-deciding bouts will take place in the -60 kg, 66 kg, -90 kg, 100 kg, and +100 kg categories, as well as the women's -52 kg final. The bouts will be held at Videna sports center, starting at 9:00.

A DAY FULL OF PARA SPORTS

Para table tennis will also have a busy day, with events including the men's and women's semifinals. The matches will start at 10:00 at Videna. Meanwhile, the shooting Para sport final of mixed 10m air rifle stand will be held at Las Palmas Shooting Range.

Also, women’s and men’s wheelchair basketball will have a series of preliminary games at Videna, starting at 8:00. Among the most important ones are Group B games in both categories between Peru and Brazil, starting at 18:30 and 20:45, respectively.

A total of six matches are scheduled in football 5-a-side and football 7-a-side. Among them is the preliminary match between Peru and Brazil. The matches will be played in the hockey and rugby field at the Villa María del Triunfo Sports Center. They will start at 9:30.

The third competition day of the Lima 2019 Parapan American Games will end with preliminary wheelchair rugby, wheelchair tennis and sitting volleyball matches.

In wheelchair rugby, the most noteworthy matches to be held at the Villa El Salvador Sports Center are United States vs Argentina and Canada vs Brazil, starting at 8:00. In wheelchair tennis, the matches involving Peruvians Ysabelino Apaza, Jesús Mayhua y María Castillo stand out. They will take place at Lawn Tennis Club in Jesus María, starting at 11:00.

As for sitting volleyball, Peru will face off the United States in both women’s and men's events. The women's national team will also play against Canada. These and other preliminary matches will take place at the Callao Regional Sports Village, starting at 8:00.

With high hopes and expectation for its performance in the Lima 2019 Parapan American Games, Uruguay will present its best five athletes for the biggest multi-sport event of the Americas, to be held from August 23 to September 1.

Uruguay will be represented by Henry Borges in the 60 kg judo category, Gonzalo Dutra in Para swimming, Eduardo Dutra in Para athletics, Carmelo Milán in shooting Para sport and Gonzalo Acosta in Para table tennis. Eduardo Dutra holds the national record in 800 m, with 1 minute, 50 seconds and 80 hundredth. He will be competing in that same event in Lima 2019.

Gonzalo Dutra will compete in 50 m and 100 m freestyle and 100 m breaststroke at the Aquatics Center of VIDENA, where the Para swimming competitions will be held. Carmelo Milán will compete in the 10m air rifle prone and 10 m air rifle standing events, at the Las Palmas Shooting Range in Surco.

Henry Borges will compete in the -60 kg judo category, for athletes with visual impairment. Borges is an experienced athlete that also competed in the Athens 2004, Beijing 2008 and Rio de Janeiro 2016 Paralympic Games. Judo competitions will be held at the Sports Center 2 in VIDENA.

LIMA 2019 TICKET SALES

To attend the competitions, such as Para table tennis, Para swimming, judo, shooting Para sports or Para athletics, and the opening and closing ceremonies of the Parapan American Games, get your tickets, starting at 10 soles. There will be a 50% discount for children under 18, senior citizens and people with an impairment. Tickets can be bought at ten Lima 2019-authorized points of sale around the city. Learn more about their location:

Tickets can be also purchased online at lima2019.pe/ Tickets, where you will also find the Sports Calendar with the detailed competition schedule. 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.

THE PARAPAN AMERICAN GAMES

In these Parapan American Games, 1890 Para athletes from 33 countries will participate in 17 sports and 18 disciplines (1247 men and 643 women) The Peruvian delegation will present 139 athletes that will compete in 16 out of 17 sports.

Competitions will take place in 14 venues from August 22 to September 1, 2019. This is the first time that Peru will organize the most important multi-sports event of the Americas and the most significant sporting event in the world after the Olympic and Paralympic Games. The Parapan American Games will give quotas for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games in 13 Para sports. The Parapan American Games are supported by the Americas Paralympic Committee (APC) and the International Paralympic Committee (IPC).

About IPC and APC

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) is the international governing body of the Paralympic movement. Its objective is to organize the Summer and Winter Paralympic Games and to act as the International Federation of nine sports, in order to supervise and coordinate the World Championships and other competitions.

The Americas Paralympic Committee (APC) was founded in August 1997 with the aim of creating a Para sport governing body for the Americas. Since 2007, the Parapan American Games are held by the city that hosts the Pan American Games.

About the National Paralympic Association of Peru

The National Paralympic Association of Peru (ANPP) is the governing body of the Paralympic sports movement in Peru. Since 2016, it promotes individual and group Para sports participation. The association also works to transform society by promoting Para sports, as part of the legacy that the Lima 2019 Parapan American Games will leave.

1. Mexican racquetball player Paola Longoria won her third gold in the Pan American Games, winning the singles and doubles events.
2. Venezuelan Yulimar Rojas took her first gold in the Pan American Games, after winning the triple jump event, even setting a new Pan American record.
3. Colombian cyclist Mariana Pajón got her second gold medal in the Pan American Games, after the one she won at Guadalajara 2011.
4. Argentina’s basketball team clearly won the competition and picked up their second gold medal since Mar del Plata 1995. The team led by Luis Scola amazed the audience at the Eduardo Dibós Coliseum.
5. The Argentina’s hockey teams qualified to Tokyo 2020, showing their talent in each match, at the Villa María del Triunfo Sports Center. “Las Leonas” got their seventh gold and “Los Leones”, the tenth. Total Supremacy.
6. Brazilian tennis player Hugo Calderano won two gold medals in singles and doubles. The best player in the history of the Americas shone in Lima 2019 with his best talent.
7. Cuban wrestler Mijaín López reached his fifth consecutive Pan American gold at Lima 2019. The athlete who is also five-time world champion and three-time Olympic champion thanked the warmth of the Peruvian people.
8. Argentinian men’s rugby team stopped the two-time Canadian champion’s supremacy in the Pan American Games. Los Pumas swept all their rivals, in an amazing physical game, in Villa Maria del Triunfo.
9. Cuban Boxing shone again in a continental competition with eight gold medals out of 10 possible finals. Seven world champions and three Olympians confirmed that Cuba leads in this sport.
10. Brazilian swimmer Leonardo de Deus became three-time Pan American champion in the 200 m butterfly event, even though he was not on the Brazilian Olympic Committee’s initial list. He came in to replace a teammate who tested positive in the doping control. In addition, he claimed gold in mixed 4x100 medley relay, silver in 4x100 medley relay and bronze in 200 m backstroke.
11. Venezuelan fencer Ruben Limardo was crowned three-time Pan American champion in épée event. He also won bronze in the team event, having a total of eight medals in the Pan American Games.
12. Argentinian swimmer Delfina Pignatiello was crowned as the queen of the waters at Lima 2019, when she claimed three gold medals in the races of 400, 800 and 1500 meters. At the age of 19, she is the child prodigy in swimming throughout South America.
13. The American swimmer Margo Geer took four gold medals, one individual and four in relay events, becoming one of the most successful participants in Lima 2019.
14. Colombian athlete Anthony Zambrano won two gold medals in the 400m and 4x400m events, standing out as one of the new South American stars in athletics for the Tokyo 2020 Games.
15. Mexican diver Kevin Berlin was crowned as the new Latin American star after winning the 10m platform individual and synchronized events.
16. Cuban judoka Idalys Ortíz picked up her third consecutive gold medal in the +78 kg event. She is one of the most successful athletes in Cuba.
17. American wrestler Kyle Snyder became Pan American champion for the second time in the 97 kg event.  At the age of 23, he is also Olympic champion and two-time world champion.
18. Swimmer Marcela Cunha won gold in open water swimming and closed a wonderful year, after two world gold medals in the 5 and 25 km aquatic marathon. With 10 gold medals, she was crowned as the woman with the most titles in the World Aquatic Sports Championships and entered the Hall of Fame, after winning at Lima 2019.
19. Peruvian karateka Alexandra Grande and water skier Natalia Cuglievan went down in the history of Peruvian sport after winning their second consecutive gold medals in the Pan American Games. This fact will remain in history.

The participation of these two promising athletes during the Pan American Games Closing Ceremony was also a commitment to the future of Peruvian sport.

As part of the protocol, the Panam Sports President, Neven Ilic, awarded the last two gold medals. The first one went to Romina Ariana Baltazar Miñan, who competed in judo at age 14. She claimed the title in her category at the School Championships. At the South American School Championships, she took home the individual silver and team bronze medals.

The other medal was for Carlos “Nano” Fernández, who won in the U-15 table tennis category at the ITTF World Junior Circuit.

“Nano” Fernández obtained medals in all South American categories (U-11, U-13, and U-15), and has also won the gold and silver medals at Latin American level (champion in U-11 and runner-up in U13 and U-15).

They are two promising stars of Peruvian sport ahead of the next Pan American Games, Santiago 2023.

As a prelude to the Lima 2019 Pan American Games closing ceremony, Peru will experience an unforgettable multi-sport day, seeking to climb in the medal table and claiming a place as a country developing its sport, to end its remarkable participation in these Games.   

In this context, spectators at the Villa El Salvador Sports Center will witness the fierce fight for the gold of the Peruvian karate delegation versus the best teams of the Americas, starting at 09:00. 

In Athletics, the Peruvian team will also be determined to win gold in the women’s and men’s 50 km race walk competition, which will take place in Miraflores starting at 07:00. 

On the other hand, gold, silver and bronze medals will be defined in the women’s volleyball competition, with intense matches between  Brazil, Dominican Republic, Argentina and Colombia. The matches will start at 09:00 at the Callao Sports Center. 

Likewise, the Villa María del Triunfo Sports Center will be the stage of various competitions that will test the accuracy and effectiveness of the most outstanding archers of the Americas, starting at 09:00. 

On the other hand, from 11:40 am at Costa Verde, cyclists from various delegations will compete against in a dazzling acrobatics event for the gold medal in BMX freestyle.  

Starting at 11:00 am, at the VIDENA Sport Center 1, the judo preliminary round and final will be held with different events and the participation of Peruvian representatives.  

Finally, golf champions will be defined in the individual and mixed categories at the Lima Golf Club.