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 best Para athletes are listed below:

1.    Omara Durand (Cuba) Para athletics T12

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.

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.

Some years ago, he would compete at local championships in his hometown, Rengo. He started playing with able-bodied people and beat them easily. At the age of 13, his father was advised to go to Santiago, the capital of Chile since there were tournaments for people with impairment.

That’s how he started his career. Now, Matías Pino seeks to defend his title in Para table tennis at the Lima 2019 Parapan American Games and even though he has gone through a difficult path, he is used to overcome all obstacles.

“My goal will always be to defend the Pan American title and I’m sure that I will make it. One defeat does not mean that I will lose the war,” Matías pointed out after losing to the American Ian Seidenfeld in class 6.

The Sports Center 3 bursted into chants of Chi... Chi... Chi.. le…le… le. There were 13 people cheering Matías name. His family was there, parents, sister and uncles, they all came from Rengo to see him play as they did at the Olympic Games in Rio, where he ranked among the top 10 players.

“So proud, my chest is pumped up because my family is there supporting me each point and every set. I have to thank them for coming here to see me play, this is a lesson for many people that the sport is a lifestyle in every aspect,” Matías stated, fan of the German Timo Boll, number one in table tennis world ranking in 2018. Table tennis was the sport that opened the Para Pan American Games at Lima 2019. 

His start in sports, challenges and passion

“He’s always been into sports. We used to tell them, if you want to go for it, we do it. He would fall down and get back up. We’ve always taught him that he should fend for himself, because he needed to know that he could get back up,” his father José Pino added.

Eventually, he discovered table tennis, first at home and then playing with regular players, as we didn’t know the Paralympic world until we got to compete in a tournament in Santiago and he ended up taking the third place. His current coach, Francisco Carrasco, saw his skills and took to boosting them,” his father added.

Renzo traveled nearly two hours back and forth by car from Rengo to Santiago and competitions took place even outside of Chile. At the beginning, they were in debt to afford the tickets to go to tournaments and little by little, “he started believing,” his father said.

“He’s always been very professional. He missed his graduation party because he was training, setting himself up for Toronto and at the age of 17, he was crowned as the youngest Para athlete in class 6, a surprise for everyone, his father stressed.

Nowadays, it is different because he has support and recognition. “He often goes to the most important tours of the circuit and works with a good team, allowing him to climb in the world Ranking and even among the best 11 of the world. I just don’t picture my son being someone else, he’s living his passion and I’m proud of him because he’s a real example to the world,” his father pointed out.

With his eyes set on the gold medal, Matías remarked that Lima 2019 “is so important because I strengthened my image competing at the Pan American Games.”

Para table tennis for Matías means much more than a sport. “It’s part of my life since I was 13 years old and the results speak for themselves. It’s what I do every day and what I do for a living,” he concluded.

Para table tennis takes place in the Sports Center 3 at the National Sports Village (VIDENA) and will end on August 27. If you want to enjoy seeing this Pan American athlete defend his title, get your tickets on the official websitewww.lima2019.peand at the authorized points of sale.

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.

Within approximately 30 minutes of the match, the Para table tennis player from Chile defeated Colombian Nelly Sánchez in three consecutive sets, thus receiving the first gold medal of Lima 2019 and directly qualifying for the upcoming Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.

“This is an honor for me. I dreamed of it so many times... Winning a medal here and qualifying for Tokyo 2020 is a dream come true. I don’t think I’ve ever felt so excited. I’m overjoyed,” said the champion.

Leonelli, fifteenth in the world ranking of this sport, who won the bronze medal at the Toronto 2015 Parapan American Games, competed in Para table tennis class 5 (wheelchair, with regular torso muscle functions). Tomorrow, she will receive the first Parapan American Games medal.

“It’s wonderful. It’s never happened to me before and I hope it gives all the other athletes an extra boost, motivates them and lets them know that it really is possible. I’m so proud to have won the first medal of the Games for Chile.”

The result in each set against the Colombian player was 11-7, 11-3 and 12-10, with advantage for Tamara who, in previous rounds, faced off with the Brazilian and Argentinian representatives who also lost to her, 3-0 and 3-2, respectively.

“I think it’s been a very tough competition, obviously the level of the championship makes it even more difficult. But I’m just the visible face of everyone's effort. No one imagines how many people are helping behind the scenes. No only behind this stage, also life’s stage.”

Team Chile present on the podium

Cristian González from Chile has also secured another medal for his country in men’s class 4 by defeating El Salvador’s Gabriel Espinoza 3-0 and Brazilian Ecildo Oliveira 3-1, ensuring his spot in the semifinals. The gold medal may be around the corner: the final will be played tomorrow.

“I think that, broadly speaking, we’ve been improving a lot as a team. Chile is establishing itself in American Para table tennis, as well as European. We all try to win and show that we can do it because we have a good level of competition; the Americas in general does,” said Leonelli.

In the Parapan American Games, a total of 617 gold medals and silver medals will be awarded, in addition to 679 bronze medals, making it a total of 1913 to be distributed during this international event.

Para table tennis is being held at Sports Center 3 of the National Sports Village (VIDENA) and will end on August 27.

The first day of competition at Lima 2019 gave us a captivating and inclusive perspective on Para sports. On the first day of competition, during the Para table tennis event, a particular match caught our eye. Two Para athletes of different ages and experiences were facing off in the court. This moment proved that sports can be an incredible source of wonderful stories. 

On the one hand, the Salvadorian child Javier Córdova competes full of emotion in his first Games. On the other hand is 51-year-old Ecuadorian Paul Polo who has been practicing this discipline for over 20 years. Differences were obvious in this match, although they both were competing in class 8.  

The Salvadorian athlete has always participated in short-stature events and he even won last year’s Orlando International Open in the United States. He started sports at age 9, when his trainer Gerson Villalta discovered him in the city of Santa Ana. Thanks to his last performances, he received an invitation to participate at the Parapan American Games.  

Although Córdova’s debut was not auspicious after losing three sets to zero (11-2, 11-6 and 11-9), this will remain as a wonderful experience for the youngest Para athlete of Lima 2019. “I was very nervous with the initial points, but I cut loose and was able to finish in a better way. Being in Lima is one of the biggest dreams I had since I started practicing this sport,” said the Salvadorian champion.  

This is one of the many stories we will witness in the different competitions starting today at the Parapan American Games. Para table tennis events will be held at the Sports Center 3 of VIDENA.

The Lima 2019 celebration continues with the Parapan American Games and all the joy transmitted by Para athletes of the Americas during the competitions. This morning, Para table tennis starts the first day of women and men single competitions at the Sports Center 3 in VIDENA.

Around fifty children from Madre Admirable School in the district of El Agustino and members of “La Blanquirroja” cheered up the two Peruvians, who debuted in the morning session. Luis Traverso (class 3) and Jesús Yampufé (class 4) were defeated by their opponents, but they gave their best.  Both practice the Para sport on wheelchairs.

Peruvian Guillermo Yáñez (class 6) and Shirley Aguilar (class 4), both with physical impairments, will also begin their journey in the next few hours. In the second session of the day, the four Para athletes will compete for the second time against their corresponding groups.

The great attraction for the attendees was to see in action the current champions of the Games: Paulo Salmin (class 7), Aloísio Lima (class 1) and Luiz Manara (class 8) from Brazil.  They showed that they are the favorites after winning by three sets to zero against their opponents and giving their best on the table.

BUY YOUR TICKETS

The evening session starts at 16:00. You cannot miss these wonderful Para athletes. Tickets start at PEN 10 and there will be a 50% discount for children under 18, senior citizens and people with an impairment. Tickets can be bought in ticket booths located at the gate 1 of VIDENA and in eleven authorized points of sale.

Tickets can also be purchased online through lima2019.pe/tickets, where you will also find 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.

Photo Gallery (click here)

And so, it begins. The Lima 2019 Parapan American Games competitions will start tomorrow with Para table tennis matches, gathering 127 of the best Para table tennis players of the Americas. The competition will take place at the Sports Center 3 of the National Sports Village (VIDENA), located in San Luis.

The competition will be divided in two sessions, from 10:00 to 14:00 and from 16:00 to 22:00, and day before the opening ceremony. Peru will be represented by four athletes: Shirley Aguilar, Luis Alberto Traverso, Jesús Yampufe and Guillermo Yáñez.

Spectators can enter the venue through gates 1 and 2 of the Sports Center 3 of VIDENA (Av. San Luis). It is advised to arrive early to locate your places calmly and orderly.

Recommendations

The Lima 2019 organization recommends spectators to observe security and precaution rules to experience competitions in the best possible way.

• All spectators, even babies, must carry their tickets.
• Bottles, glass containers, unprocessed food, alcoholic beverages or pets are not allowed. 

• Go to the competition venues ahead of time to avoid crowds at the entrances.
• Minors under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult. 
• If you are going accompanied by a person with an impairment, or who has some difficulty getting around, locate the special entrance zones or, ask for help from the Lima 2019 volunteers, who will be duly identified in all the competition venues.

During competitions:

• Do not throw objects to the competition track.
• Do not throw water to athletes in road competitions such as triathlon, race walk, among others.
• Do not interfere with the circuit in outside sports such as road cycling.
• When judges ask for silence, keep quiet. Remember that some disciplines, such as tennis or rhythmic gymnastics, need extreme concentration for its execution.

The Parapan American Games

In this Parapan American Games, 1890 athletes from 33 countries will be participating in 17 sports and 18 disciplines (1247 men and 643 women). The Peruvian delegation will participate with 139 Para athletes in 16 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 give quotas for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in 13 Para sports. The Parapan American Games are supported by the Americas Paralympic Committee (APC) and the International Paralympic Committee (IPC).

The start of the Parapan American Games will have the best Para table tennis players of the Americas as the ones in charge of opening the sports calendar. Starting tomorrow, the Sports Center 3 of VIDENA will host the first discipline of Lima 2019, which includes ten impairment classes per gender.

The competition starts at 10:00 and it will be held in six tables simultaneously. It includes men’s and women’s class 7, as well as men’s class 4 matches. It is worth mentioning that the Lima 2019 Organizing Committee informed that the class 2 (physical impairment) will not be part of the event.

The current Parapan American champions are reason enough to witness the first matches of Lima 2019. This is the case of Brazilian Paulo Salmin (gold medalist in the class 7 singles and team events at Toronto 2015 and Guadalajara 2011), who will compete against Chilean Christian Dettoni (bronze medalist in 2015).

In addition, Brazilian Danielle Rauen (bronze medalist at the Paralympic Games in Rio 2016 and gold medalist at Toronto 2015 in the class 9 events), Mexican María Paredes (class 5 champion in the same Games), as well as Brazilian Joyce Oliveira (class 4 champion) will have tough battles for the gold medal.

On this first day, the Peruvian representatives will be the class 6 national champion, Guillermo Yáñez; as well as the class 3 Para athletes, Luis Traverso and Jesús Yampufé, natives from Chiclayo, who will compete starting at 10:40.

BUY YOUR TICKETS

Tickets for the matches, as well as for the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, are already on sale and start at PEN 10. There will be a 50% discount for children under 18, senior citizens and people with an impairment. They can only be bought at the 11 authorized points of sale located throughout the city.

Tickets can only be purchased online at lima2019.pe/tickets, where you can also find the 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.

HISTORIC DELEGATION AT LIMA 2019

Peru will be represented by 139 Para athletes, the largest number for this type of continental competitions. In addition, we will participate in 16 disciplines, with sitting volleyball and wheelchair basketball being the ones with the largest number of competitors, with 24 each (12 for the women’s team and the same amount for the men’s team).

Another of the disciplines that will be preset are: 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).