Peruvian athletes managed 39 medals in the 17 competition days of the Pan American Games Lima 2019, reaching the ninth place in the medal table. This new number is over three times higher than the total achieved at the previous Games: Toronto 2015.
The largest ever Peruvian delegation at the Pan American Games managed an unprecedented 11 gold, 7 silver and 21 bronze medals.
Lima 2019 has become a way of strengthening close relations between the Peruvian State and our athletes. This time, for of the beginning of the Parapan American Games, the President of Peru Martin Vizcarra received the Peruvian delegation at the Government Palace and gave the national standard to the flag bearer Angelica Espinoza, to bear it at the opening ceremony on August 23.
Vizcarra highlighted the determination and the courage of Para athletes, that have been training for several years to stand out in the most important multi-sport event of the Americas. The Lima 2019 infrastructure investment will be the starting point for the optimization of sport structure.
“We are proud to receive you at the house of all Peruvians to give you a symbol of our country that we know you will defend with honor. You have proven that with effort, any challenge is possible, and all Peruvians have learned it. Lima 2019 has taught us about the importance of the practice of sport for our children, and its example is most valuable,” added the President.
The President of the Lima 2019 Organizing Committee Carlos Neuhaus, the head of the National Paralympic Association of Peru Lucha Villar, the Chef de Mission of the Parapan American delegation Jose Gonzales Muguburu, and the President of the Peruvian Institute of Sports Sebastian Suito also attended the ceremony.
Additionally, the flag bearer Angelica Espinoza was thankful for this important distinction. “I would like to thank God for this opportunity. “I’m proud to represent all Peruvian people with impairments. We will not let anything, nor anyone hold us back in bringing happiness to our fellow Peruvians,” she added.
Peru will be represented by 139 Para athletes, the biggest delegation so far in this kind of continental competitions. In addition, Peru will participate in 16 disciplines. The disciplines having most representatives are sitting volleyball and wheelchair basketball, with 24 athletes each (12 for the men’s team and 12 for the women’s team.)
Furthermore, there will be Para athletes participating in boccia (4), football 5-a-side (10), football 7-a-side (14), goalball (12), judo (1), Para athletics (14), Para badminton (10), Para cycling (2), Para swimming (4), Para powerlifting (4), Para taekwondo (4), Para table tennis (4), wheelchair tennis (5), and shooting Para sport (3).
Her name was kept secret. Attendees to the Peruvian delegation presentation ceremony wondered the name of the athlete chosen. Some minutes before the official designation, her name was displayed on the room.
Later, it was confirmed that Angélica Espinoza would be honored to bear the Peruvian flag during the Parapan American Games opening ceremony on August 23 at the National Stadium.
“I didn’t expect this. I think I was the only one who didn’t know this, but I’m pretty excited to have been designated. It’s a great responsibility but also a chance to represent all the Peruvian national teams,” said Angélica, who was awarded as the stand-out Para Athlete in 2017, with only 19 years.
The whole Peruvian delegation filled the room with applause after hearing her name, and more than one asked her a picture. “We’re the biggest Peruvian team in the history of the Parapan American Games. And I hope that this encourage more people to support us. We want to prove that we can also practice sports,” added the para athlete who will participate in the under 49 kg category.
Angélica won important competitions such as the Pan American Para Taekwondo Championships held in Costa Rica and the World Para Taekwondo Championships held in London (both in 2017.) Also, in the USA she was awarded silver medals (2018) and a bronze medal in June during a competition contested in Portland. Her participation was remarkable in the 2019 World Para Taekwondo Championships in Turkey, where she advanced to the quarterfinals.
Less than one week to the start of the Parapan American Games, Angélica’s aim is clear: the medal. “My main objective is not only to have an outstanding participation and represent Peru but make it to the highest of the podium,” she added.
The competition venues during the Pan American Games were crowded, and the new flag bearer called the fans: “We need the support of all Peruvian fans to feel at home and collect many medals,” she said.
The National Paralympic Association of Peru announced that a total of 139 athletes will represent Peru at the Lima 2019 Parapan American Games, which will begin on August 23, becoming the largest delegation in its history.
The announcement was made by its President, Lucha Villar. “It’s an honor to announce that Peru will be represented by 139 young athletes. They successfully qualified and are the large group of Para athletes who will make us proud,” she said.
Peru will take part in 16 sports, including sitting volleyball and wheelchair basketball as the ones with the largest number of competitors: 24 each (12 in women’s team and 12 in men’s team)
Furthermore, there will be Para athletes participating in boccia (4), football 5-a-side (10), football 7-a-side (14), goalball (12), judo (1), Para athletics (14), Para badminton (10), Para cycling (2), Para swimming (4), Para powerlifting (4), Para taekwondo (4), Para table tennis (4), Shooting Para sport (3) and wheelchair tennis (5).
As confirmed by Lucha Villar, the Peruvian delegation will be led by José González-Mugaburu, bronze medalist at the Toronto 1976 Paralympic Games.
“We are very confident, not only in good results that Peruvians will achieve but also in what they will represent. They are the best ambassadors for Para sports,” he said.
Tickets for Lima 2019 competitions can be purchased at the 11 points of sale set up at Jockey Plaza shopping center in Santiago de Surco and 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.
Also, on the website www.lima2019.pe and on the Teleticket website: https://teleticket.com.pe/lima2019. The tickets for the Parapan American Games start at PEN 10 and there will be a 50% discount for children under 18, senior citizens and people with an impairment.
Hugo del Castillo understood that this was the best atmosphere to leave a lasting impression at Callao Sports Center. The Peruvian athlete was passionately cheered on by fans during his poomsae routine, which earned him a silver medal after the judges' overall count.
Del Castillo managed a score of 7.490 and was marginally surpassed by American Alex Lee, who won the gold medal after scoring 7.660. Mexican Marco Arroyo reached the third place with 7.480. Del Castillo has now crowned an outstanding Olympic cycle with his silver medal at the Lima 2019 Pan American Games.
