Beyond the medals, we highlight the way these athletes and Para athletes face challenges, their perseverance and the effort that so many times means being a woman in sports and to be recognized for it.
During this special #Women'sWeek, we present you five life stories that daily inspire new generations and contribute to society.
YULIMAR ROJAS: THE TRIPLE JUMP ATHLETE THAT BREAKS HER OWN WORLDWIDE RECORD
Picture from: Media Marca
Yulimar Rojas is a Venezuelan athlete that currently holds the worldwide record in triple jump and is also the first woman from her country winning gold during the Olympics. In 2020 she was chosen by World Athletics as the best athlete of the year and has the Guinness Record for achieving the longest jump in triple jump history.
The Venezuelan athlete has won six gold world medals and is a Tokyo 2020 champion, where she achieved the worldwide and Olympic record with a mark of 15.67 meters. Months later, Rojas made history again, after reaching a mark of 15.74 meters. With this, she became the first person in history to win three consecutive titles in her discipline, therefore, she’s currently an inspiration both for Venezuela and the rest of the world.
MARIANA ZÚÑIGA VARELA, THE FIRST CHILEAN PARA ATHLETE THAT ACHIEVED THE BRONZE MEDAL AT THE ODESUR CONVENTIONAL GAMES
At only 20 years old, Mariana Zúñiga is one of the biggest Paralympic inspirations of her country after an unprecedented achievement: being a Para athlete winning a medal while competing during a conventional South American Games.
The student of Psychology competes in the Para archery discipline, specifically the compound bows modality. Her first Paralympic Games were in Tokyo 2020, where she won the silver medal. However, it wasn’t until 2022 when the Chilean succeeded, during the conventional South American Games, obtaining a bronze medal in the mixed compound bow competition along with her partner Alejandro Martin.
To end her 2022 year, the Paralympic athlete was crowned winner of the National Circuit of her discipline, tournament that prepares her and confirms her next great challenge: the #Santiago2023 Games.
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ALLYSON FELIX, THE MOST AWARDED SPRINTER IN ATHLETICS HISTORY
Picture from: Matthias Hangst / Getty Images
Allyson Felix, a 400 meters sprinter from the USA, made history not just because of her Olympic medals, but also for being the founder of her own sport shoes brand “To and for women” named Saysh. She rejected the sponsor of the leading sports brand Nike after being a mother.
The Goddess of athletics is the most awarded sprinter in USA history. She has 11 Olympic medals and impressive world championship triumphs, where the list goes up to 19 medals.
Felix retired from the tracks in 2022, after winning the bronze medal in the mix relay of 4 x 400 m. However, she declared that her fight for female athletes and maternity is still intact. Currently, she is associated with a new sponsor and non-profit organization to offer free childcare for athletes.
BÁRBARA HERNÁNDEZ, THE COLD WATER GUINNESS WORLD RECORD
Picture from: Pablo Jiménez, La Tercera
Bárbara Hernández is a recognized Chilean swimmer of ice waters, who consolidated her career after leading the worldwide ranking in her specialty twice. Recently, she won her second Guinness Record for being the fastest person in swimming 2.5 kilometers in the Southern Ocean’s waters; this expedition was carried out to raise awareness about the necessity to protect the Antarctic and the Southern Ocean.
The Ice Siren achieved her sixth ocean (of seven), an emblematic challenge in cold water swimming, a milestone that made her the first South American person in reaching this goal.
This is why we stand out “Tonina”, because during the last years has been consolidating her career and converted herself in a worldwide referent of low temperature swimming, breaking diverse records.
MARLENE AHRENS, THE FIRST OLYMPIC MEDALE LEGEND IN CHILE
Marlene Ahrens was a Chilean athlete specialized in javelin throw, and until today, the only Olympic medalist of our country. This athlete, born in Concepción, was also the first woman in Chilean history to be the flag bearer during the Games.
She’s considered, according to some journalists, as “the best female athlete in Chilean history” and using the number 607 she achieved the silver medal during the Melbourne 1956 Olympic Games with a 50.38 meters mark.
Marlene died in 2020 but her legacy will be here forever. Just like her, there will be several new athletes and Para athletes that will keep writing history, who will be a reference for children worldwide in the future.
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