They give their best on a daily basis, dreaming to be on the Podium with a medal as a prove that they do not know the limits of personal overcoming. Such is the life philosophy of the 20 Peruvian Para athletes preparing to compete in the upcoming Lima 2019 Parapan American Games, from August 23 to September 1.
Every morning, these athletes seek to improve their times and marks to become part of the national Para athletics team, one of the 17 sports that will be featured in the Parapan American Games.
Carlos Felipa, who ranked fourth last year in the world in shut put, is one of the figures that leads this group because of his experience. He is a 37 years old with great energy. “Brazil, the United States and Mexico, are very strong countries in my sport, but we work to achieve glory, and we have to win at home with the support of our people”says Felipa while training at the Chorrillos Military School for several hours, practicing his throwing as well as power training in the gym.
Other members of this group, are outstanding athletes like Kenny Pacheco (javelin) and young Jesús Castillo, who, at only 14 years, surprised everyone by getting the qualifying mark in the 100 m race during an international competition in Barranquilla, Colombia.
It should be noted that, now that we are in the final stretch for Lima 2019 and less than 200 days away for the Parapan American Games, it is believed that the Peruvian Para athletics team could beat the previous entries records. The national team coach, Miguel Calmet, expects that at least they will have 20 Para athletes for the competitions.
The Chorrillos Military School serves as a training ground for athletes while completing the construction of the modern Athletic Stadium at Videna, where the official competitions will be held during the Lima 2019 Games, a work that has progressed in about eighty percent and will be delivered by next March 31, leaving an important legacy for Peruvian sport.
It should be noted that the Chorrillos Military School will host the competitions of modern pentathlon in the Pan American Games, and the Mariscal Cáceres Coliseum will host the weightlifting and bodybuilding events. Bodybuilding will make its first appearance in this type of international tournaments.
As is well known, the Parapan American Games will have 17 sports and 18 disciplines and 15 of these disciplines will be qualifiers for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. Overall, the participation of athletes from 33 countries of the Americas Paralympic Committee is expected, around two thousand athletes in competition.