BROTHERS WHO CONTRIBUTED TO LUREN CHURCH RECONSTRUCTION RAISE PAN AMERICAN FLAME IN ICA

Sixty-two torchbearers carried the flame of the Lima 2019 Games as they ran through the city of Ica, filling the streets with joy. A distance of 12 km was covered by the greatest athletes from Ica, such as Gustavo Makabe, ranked second at the 1985 South American Swimming Championship. Nowadays, Gustavo devotes his time to promote the sport that gave him his coveted silver medal. His work with young swimmers was a key factor for him to be chosen for the Pan American torch relay. 

One of the torchbearers who earned the most acclaim was Arturo Yarasca, the first Peruvian triathlete with an impairment. His prosthetic hand is not an obstacle to show his talent for swimming, cycling and speed combined in a single event. “This impairment was an opportunity for me to do my best. Now my goal is to reach the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games,” said Arturo after running with the torch for 200 meters. 

The Herrera Soto brothers are athletes and own a football school, but the main reason why they were chosen as torchbearers of the Pan American torch was their success in a TV program called “El show de los sueños” in 2010. Their victory earned them the applause of the people from Ica because their prize made it possible to start rebuilding Señor de Luren church, which was destroyed by the 2007 earthquake. In a highly emotional moment, Eduardo Herrera received the Flame from his brother himself, at the entrance to Señor de Luren church. “I knew it would be emotional but not so much. Lighting up such an important place for the people from Ica with this Flame is too much for me,” Eduardo said after running on the church courtyard. 

The 61th torchbearer, who relayed the Flame to Hugo Sotil, was actor and TV host Cristian Rivero. He ran 250 meters to enter to José Picasso Peratta stadium and joined the celebration with the Football World Cup veteran from Ica. The celebration's grand finale was full of emotion, especially when Hugo “El Cholo” Sotil lit the cauldron at José Picasso Peratta stadium and, just a few minutes later, he was declared a Distinguished Citizen by Regional Governor Javier Gallegos.