We continue to move forward with the weekly section of #ParaEducation and, after various presentations of the Para sports that will be featured in our Games, it's time to get to know those who will be competing!
In this instance, we bring you five Para athletes from Team Para Chile that you can't miss on the road to our #Santiago2023 Parapan American Games. They stand out for their performance at Lima 2019 Parapan American Games, world championships in their respective sports, or Paralympic Games, such as the recent Tokyo 2020.
One of the most prominent names in Chile's history at the Parapan American Games is Juan Carlos Garrido, who won gold medals in Para Powerlifting at Toronto 2015 and Lima 2019, as well as setting the Parapan American and world records.
The Para athlete competes in the -59 kg category and won bronze at the Para Powerlifting World Cup in Dubai. He is noteworthy for participating in the last three Paralympic Games at Sydney 2000, Rio 2016, and Tokyo 2020, where he achieved fourth place, his best result yet.
Tamara Leonelli, Chilean Para table tennis athlete, is the current Parapan American champion in the female individual event at Lima 2019.
During the competition, the Para athlete qualified directly for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, becoming the first Chilean female athlete in the sport to reach this level. In the same year, she finished second in the female classes 2-5 at the Chile Para Open 2020.
Mauricio Orrego, Chilean Para athletics athlete, is another outstanding national representative who won a gold medal for Chile in the 1,500 meters race at the Lima 2019 Parapan American Games.
The athlete, originally from Concepción, won his first gold medal in high-level competition in the 1,500 meters race at the World Para Athletics Junior Championships held in Switzerland.
Another athlete you cannot miss on the road to our Games is the national Para Archery team member, Mariana Zúñiga.
The Para athlete won the compound mixed bronze medal at the Asunción 2022 South American Games. With this, she became the first Paralympic athlete to win a medal competing against non-disabled athletes, a historic milestone for our country.
In addition to that, Mariana won the silver medal at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.
The 22-year-old swimmer was also one of the outstanding figures at Lima 2019, where he won the gold medal in the male’s 100-meter breaststroke. He also won silver in the 200-meter individual medley and bronze in the 50-meter freestyle.
In addition, Vicente became the world champion in the SB8 category in the 100-meter breaststroke at the Portugal World Para Swimming Championships.
The Sports Journalists Circle chose him as the most outstanding athlete of the Team Para Chile in 2022. Vicente is ready to face his next challenge: Our #Santiago 2023 Parapan American Games.
Don't lose sight of our national representatives and their journey towards our Santiago 2023 Parapan American Games.
We'll be waiting for you from November 17th to 26th, 2023!
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