At just 16 years old, Kiara Rodriguez made her debut in her first Parapan American Games in Lima 2019. She was going to the event with great expectations, since she had just become champion in several international circuits, including the 2019 Junior World Para athletics Championship in Switzerland.

In the continental event, the young Ecuadorian woman competed in three tests: 100 and 200 meters flat and long jump, winning the gold medal in the latter, after setting a mark of 5.25 meters.

Today, Kiara has become the great promise of world Para athletics after frequently ranking at the top of the world circuits in the Junior and Adult categories, and she hopes to “be on the award podium in Tokyo”, her first Paralympic Games.

Once the world event is over, the athlete will seek to conquer the continental tournament in Santiago 2023 and position herself among the best Para athletes.

What are your sports expectations for Santiago 2023?

For me, the Parapan American Games in Chile will be my second edition and I would like to contribute one more medal in the 100-meter test, since I was left with that debt in Lima due to an injury after the 200 meters.

Next year I will participate in my first Youth Parapan American Games in Cali where I aspire to a triple crown and after that I want to fully focus on Santiago 2023, which if I achieve my planned goals I would become the athlete with the greatest sporting achievements in Ecuador and would be among the first in the world.

As an athlete, what do you think cannot be missing in Santiago 2023?

I am a bit ambitious as an athlete, since I think it is the ignited spark plug of a young athlete, so as a goal it should not be missing that a gold medal is hung around my neck, God permitting, and so it is sung again the anthem of Ecuador.