Saturday, November 25th, 2023.- The male's javelin throw in the F64 category (physical disability in lower limbs competing with prosthetics) crowned Brazilian athlete Edenilson Floriani with the gold medal and a new Parapan American record, registering 60.79 meters, achieved on his first attempt. 

Floriani suffered a traffic accident that caused knee atrophy and hip joint issues on the left side. However, this did not prevent the Para athlete, born in Joinville, Santa Catarina, southern Brazil, from starting a successful career in adaptive sports in 2016. 

His major achievements include a bronze medal in shot put at the recent 2023 World Championships in Paris and gold in javelin and shot put at the 2018 Open Championship in Colombia. 

The javelin event in Santiago 2023 also awarded silver to fellow Brazilian Francisco de Lima (58.38) and bronze to Venezuelan Romy Rodríguez (54.06). 

Written by Ernesto Bustos B.–María Fernanda Pavez; translated by Paulette Bertín / Santiago 2023 vía Photosport
Photo by Javier Salvo / Santiago 2023 vía Photosport