Saturday, November 25th, 2023.- Chile left Para Taekwondo at Santiago 2023 without any medals after the defeat of its two representatives who were contending for bronze. In the +80 kg category, Raúl Muñoz lost 29-0 to Brazilian Pedro Paulo, while in the -80 kg category, Diego Carrillo fell 30-2 to Claro Lopes, also from Brazil. 

"I did what I could. I put my whole heart into it, but it wasn't enough. Still happy to have been on the tatami, I thank the people of Chile who supported me, it has been very emotional. Now, to keep training, hopefully for Paris 2024. And if not, to think about the next Parapan American Games," said Carrillo. 

Muñoz, on the other hand, said he was "proud to have been in these Parapan American Games. I've been in taekwondo for a short time, and to have had all this support is incredible. It really makes you want to cry from emotion." 

In the other two matches for the third spot, Elliot Loonstra from Aruba defeated Brazilian Joel Gomes 27-22 in the -80 kg male's category; Camila Macedo from Brazil won 5-1 against Peruvian Laura Puntriano in the +65 kg female's category; and Dominican Julio Figuereo won 15-11 against Mexican Francisco Pedroza in the +80 kg male's category. 

Written by Nicolás Bravo - Alejandro Pérez; translated by Rocio Rojas / Santiago 2023 vía Photosport
Photo by Karin Pozo / Santiago 2023 vía Photosport​​​​​​​