Lima 2019 will be the fondest memory for the Para athletes who, thanks to the Parapan American Games, were recognized by a country that valued their efforts to bring joy to all Peruvians. This morning, the 15 Para athletes who had the honor of winning a medal received well-deserved recognition. 

The Government Palace opened its doors so that President Martín Vizcarra could award a distinction to the Para athletes, in the rank of “Comendador,” under Supreme Resolution No. 141-2019-RE. This decoration was awarded to the gold medalists: Pilar Jáuregui (Para badminton, WH2), Angélica Espinoza (Para taekwondo, K44 -49 kg), Pedro Pablo de Vinatea (Para badminton, SL3), Rosbil Guillén (Para athletics, 1500 m T11) and Israel Hilario (Para cycling road, men’s time trial C1-2). 

The Para athletes who obtained a silver medal were also awarded this decoration: Luis Sandoval (Para athletics, 5000 m T11), Carlos Felipa (Para athletics, shot put F63) and Jorge Arcela (shooting Para sport, mixed 10 m air rifle prone SH1). The same distinction was awarded to the bronze medalists: Noemí Vásquez (Para powerlifting, -50 kg), Efraín Sotacuro (Para athletics, 1500 m T46), Héctor Salvá (Para badminton, SS63), Rodrigo Santillán (Para swimming, men’s 100 m backstroke S2 (S1)), William Fernández (Para taekwondo, K44 -61kg), Fred Villalobos (Judo -81 kg) and Dunia Felices (Para swimming, women’s 50 m butterfly S5 (S1-S4)). Peru obtained five gold, three silver and seven bronze medals at the Lima 2019 Parapan American Games.  

On behalf of the Para athletes, Pedro Pablo de Vinatea gave thanks for the support they received to achieve good results. “On behalf of all athletes and Para athletes, I want to thank the generous support of the Peruvian Government. These medals will remain in our hearts. We’re proud to inspire our fellow Peruvians. Now they recognize and congratulate us. We’re respected and admired. They now see us as highly competitive athletes. We were able to put on a great show and we’re Peruvian winners. From now on there’s no turning back. We’ve made the whole country proud. And we want the Government to continue support Para sports. On behalf of all sports, thank you very much, Mr. President,” said a moved De Vinatea during his speech. 

The Para athletes and the president of the National Paralympic Association of Peru, Lucha Villar, gave President Martín Vizcarra replicas of the Lima 2019 medals and the Peruvian delegation’s jacket as a thank you. 

The Parapan American Games' last event took place in an emotional sports environment. The Costa Verde San Miguel circuit was filled with dozens of families from Peru, Chile, Argentina, Venezuela, Colombia, among others, who gathered in the early morning to watch the last Para road cycling competitions.

Eight medals were awarded in total. Colombia claimed three, while Brazil took two and Canada and the USA claimed one each. Argentina had the honor of being the last country to top the podium at Lima 2019. Mariela Delgado won the last gold medal at the unified event in classes C4-5, with a physical impairment.

The Argentinian team ranked fifth in the medal table with 26 gold, 38 silver and 43 bronze medals, making up a total of 107. Meanwhile, Brazil broke every record possible by obtaining the highest number of gold medals at the Games (124) and the highest number of medals in a single Games (308). This is the result of impeccable work in the Paralympic movement.

The USA ended second in the medal table (185 total), while Mexico ranked third (158) and Colombia ranked fourth with a total of 133 medals. In addition, Peru also had its best performance ever at the Games after claiming 15 medals: 5 gold, 3 silver and 7 bronze. Team Peru ranked 10 in the medal tally.

At the Para cycling competition, Peruvians Israel Hilario and Yuber Pichihua reached fourth and fifth position at the event for classes C1-3. The winner was Alejandro Perea, who also won a gold medal at the individual pursuit event in Para road cycling.

The Games ended on quite a high note. The audience enjoyed the best sports competitions in the Americas. See you soon.

They are Para athletes, examples of self-improvement, and share the responsibility of being Lima 2019 Ambassadors. Their mission is to promote sports, Olympic and Paralympic values.

Dunia Felices, Pedro Pablo de Vinatea, Israel Hilario and Pilar Jáuregui embody the Pan American and Parapan American Games values, such as excellency, friendship, respect, courage, determination, equality and inspiration. 

The four ambassadors continue filling us with emotion and today they will be participating in their disciplines and earning more victories for Peru. Dunia Felices will compete today in 200 m freestyle at the Aquatic Center of the National Sports Village (VIDENA). Pedro Pablo de Vinatea and Pilar Jáuregui will continue competing in Para badminton, collecting more medals for Peru; while Israel Hilario took the victory in Para cycling road today in the Costa Verde beach circuit.

The Organizing Committee of the Lima 2019 Pan American and Parapan American Games (COPAL) developed the Ambassadors Program to promote the sports, Olympic and/or Paralympic values through outstanding athletes and Para athletes and different communication platforms.

But, who are these outstanding athletes? Get to know them a little more:

Dunia Felices

Dunia Felices was appointed as Lima 2019 Ambassador because she is the best example of a hard-working athlete. She never gave up and, thanks to that, has achieved all her objectives since the beginning of her sports career.

The Peruvian Para swimmer won the silver medal in August 2017 at the Medellin Para Swimming Open in Colombia.  Dunia, who was born in Sarhua, Ayacucho, set a time of 1.44.39 in 50 meters butterfly.

She also claimed three gold medals at the Barranquilla 2018 Paralympic Open in 50 m and 100 m freestyle, and 50 m butterfly.

At the Lima 2019 Parapan American Games, she won a bronze medal thanks to her outstanding participation in the women's 50 m butterfly final round, category S5 (S1-S4).

Pedro Pablo de Vinatea

This Lima 2019 Ambassador is a good example of dedication and strength. Badminton has always been his passion: after losing one of his lower extremities, he continued practicing this sport until he became an excellent athlete.

Pedro Pablo worked hard and won the gold medal at the 2014 II Athletics & Swimming Open Championships held in Medellin in 2014 (Colombia).

The Peruvian Pedro Pablo de Vinatea made a great debut at the Lima 2019 Parapan American Games, after beating 2-0 Brazilian Roso in the Para badminton competition.

Israel Hilario

Israel is a great Peruvian Para cyclist, whose goal was always to keep going and break down barriers. It is an example of life. After losing his leg in a motorcycle accident, he decided to continue pursuing his goals.

Hilario claimed the Para cycling world title and was crowned as the best cyclist at the World Cup, both events organized by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), the highest cycling organization in the world.

His last competition was at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, where he carried the Peruvian flag. In this event, he placed sixth.

Pilar Jáuregui

For Pilar, there were never any limits. She tried out different sports such as volleyball, surfing, basketball, tennis and badminton until she was 14 when she was affected by an illness.

Since that moment, everything changed for the better because badminton allowed her to bring out her ability and passion for sports.

She was recognized as the best Para athlete of 2018 by the the Americas Paralympic Committee and won three gold medals at the Pan Am Para-Badminton Championships 2018 in singles, doubles and mixed doubles.

They are worthy ambassadors, with great social and human sensitivity, recognized for their great achievements, who seek to live in a society based on the values of sport and respect.

They will stay true to the Peruvian flag in the different competitions in which they participate at Peruvian and international levels. They will always be an example of effort and dedication for new athletes.

It is worth mentioning that a total of 1890 Para athletes from 33 countries will be in Lima until Sunday, September 1, competing in 17 sports and 18 disciplines at the Lima 2019 Parapan American Games. This event also provides a direct ticket for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.

At the Lima 2019 Parapan American Games, Pilar Jáuregui made her debut with an important 2-0 victory over American Amy Burnett (21-4, 21-0). This is her first Group A match in the WH2 category (wheelchair).

He looked up to the sky, he hugged his team when he was announced the winner of the time trial competition for Para cycling road. Israel Hilario, proud Lima 2019 ambassador won the tough competition for cyclists from all over the continent. It was a great mark.

Israel competed against world and Olympic champions such as Joseph Berenyi from the USA or Diego Dueñas, Alejandro Perea and Edwin Matiz (with less severe physical impairments) from Colombia. The athlete from Huanuco had a strategy for the 31.2 kms in the circuit at the Costa Verde San Miguel. Lauro Moro form Brazil (silver) Dueñas from Colombia (bronze) completed the podium.

“I am happy for representing my country in such an interesting and challenging competition. I understand it is a bit complicated to compete against cyclists from other classes but it is a good training for Tokyo 2020. This shows everything is possible and that we can compete against great athletes from the Americas” mentioned Israel when finishing the competition.

Hilario felt happy about the public that attended the competition. “It is amazing to see how we are growing. Our society has started to understand that Para athletes can also be winners and that sports can build a better future”, he said.   

On August 30, the Lima 2019 Parapan American Games will witness the effort and persistence of the best 67 Para athletes in the continent when they kick off the time trial event in the Para cycling road competition.  

The competition starts and finishes at the Costa Verde venue, which is located near the Av. Sucre entrance ramp. From there, riders will cycle to Pampilla beach in Miraflores, where they will make a U-turn and return to the Costa Verde venue in Magdalena. The route also includes the districts of San Isidro, Miraflores and Barranco. 

It is important to note that the Costa Verde beach circuit and all of its access roads will be closed from today at 22:00 until August 30 at 22:00.  

In this event, in which both men and women compete, spectators will be able to enjoy the sports celebration, see participants up close and cheer them on in their battle to reach the finish line. A total of 47 men and 20 women will participate in this competition. The Peruvian team consists of Job Israel Hilario Rimas and Yuber Pichihua Pérez. 

The Lima 2019 Parapan American Games Organizing Committee provides the following recommendation for the public who, starting tomorrow, will attend this competition venue: 

To enter: 

• All spectators, including minors, must have their tickets to enter.  

• Do not bring bottles, glass containers, unprocessed food, alcoholic beverages, or pets. 

• Arrive at the competition venues ahead of time to avoid overcrowding at the entrances. 

• Everyone under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult.  

• If you are going with a person with an impairment or that has mobility issues, locate the special entrance areas or ask Lima 2019 volunteers for help; they will be duly identified at all the competition venues. 

During competitions: 

• Do not throw objects at the competition road. 

• Do not throw water at the athletes in the case of road sports. 

• Do not interfere with the course in the case of outdoor sports, such as road cycling.  

• When judges ask for silence, keep quiet. Remember that there are sports such as wheelchair tennis that require extreme concentration for their execution. 

Individual Road Race 

The individual road race event will be held on Sunday, September 1. The competition starts at 08:00. Riders will start the course at the Costa Verde venue in Magdalena and, from there, they will go to Pampilla beach in Miraflores, where they will make a U-turn and return to the Costa Verde venue. 

The Costa Verde beach circuit will be closed to vehicles from Saturday, August 31 at 22:00, until September 1 at 22:00, from Av. Universitaria to Av. Huaylas, until the last entrance ramp to Malecón Balta, and all its accesses.

The best 67 Para cyclists of the Americas will compete in time trial and individual road events at the Lima 2019 Parapan American Games, which will be held at the Costa Verde beach circuit in two stages: August 30 and September 1. This circuit will be closed from 22:00 the day before. The route reconnaissance will be held on August 29.

The audience will be able to enjoy both events and support Para athletes, who will compete in men and women categories to achieve their goal. The route will cross six districts of the Peruvian coastline: from Magdalena to Chorrillos.

A total of 47 men and 20 women will participate. The Peruvian team comprises Job Israel Hilario Rimas and Yuber Pichihua Pérez.

Route Reconnaissance

The Lima 2019 Games Organizing Committee and the Peruvian National Police (PNP) reported that the route reconnaissance will take place on August 29. Therefore, the Costa Verde beach circuit will be closed to vehicles from 07:00 to 13:00. The closing zone will be from the access to Av. Universitaria to the access to Av. Huaylas and all the accesses in between.

Time Trial Event

The time trial event will be held on August 30, so this route will be closed from Thursday 29 at 22:00 to Friday 30 at 22:00.  The event starting and finishing point will be the Costa Verde San Miguel venue, which is located near the exit to Av. Sucre until Los Pavos beach in Barranco, where athletes will have to make a U-turn and return to the Costa Verde venue in Magdalena.

The competition route includes the Magdalena, San Isidro, Miraflores and Barranco districts.

For the development of this competition, the Costa Verde beach circuit will be closed for vehicles from August 29 at 22:00 to August 30 at 22:00 from the access to Av. Universitaria to the access to Av. Huaylas and all the corresponding accesses in between.

Individual Road Race

The individual road race event will be held on Sunday, September 1. The competition will start at 08:00.  The route starting point will be the Costa Verse Magdalena venue to Pampilla beach in Miraflores, where athletes will have to make a U-turn and return to the Costa Verde venue.

Therefore, the Costa Verde beach circuit will be closed to vehicles from August 31 at 22:00 to September 1 at 22:00 from Av. Universitaria to Malecón Balta and all the corresponding accesses.