Sunday, November 26th, 2023.- The host country of any sports event always bears a different responsibility and weight, and for Chile, that wasn't a challenge because the home team simply excelled at the Santiago 2023 Parapan American Games.
Team ParaChile achieved their best medal haul on home soil in a continental multisport event, stepping onto the podium 51 times, securing 16 gold, 20 silver, and 15 bronze medals.
Moreover, Chilean para-athletes far exceeded the initial target of 10 golds, as over the 11 days of competition in Santiago 2023, they amassed 16.
The local Parapan American champions included Mauricio Orrego (para athletics, 1,500 meters T46); Jaime Aránguiz (para badminton, individual WH2); Vicente Almonacid (para swimming, 200 meters individual medley SM8); Jorge Carinao (para powerlifting -65 kilograms and team); Juan Carlos Garrido (para powerlifting -72 kilograms and team); Camila Campos (para powerlifting -50 kilograms and team); Maximiliano Rodríguez (para table tennis, individual class 4 and doubles MD8); Ignacio Torres (para table tennis, doubles MD14 and mixed doubles XD14-17); Matías Pino (para table tennis, doubles MD14); Cristian González (para table tennis, doubles MD8); Luis Flores (para table tennis, class 2); Tamara Leonelli (para table tennis, class 4-5); Florencia Pérez (para table tennis, class 8); Francisco Cayulef (wheelchair tennis, quad individual and quad mixed); Diego Pérez (wheelchair tennis, quad mixed).
But that's not all, as Chile secured four slots for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games through Santiago 2023, with titles from Luis Flores (class 2), Maximiliano Rodríguez (class 4), Tamara Leonelli (class 4-5), and Florencia Pérez (class 8) in individual table tennis.
Team ParaChile achieved its best historical placement in a Parapan American Games, securing the sixth position, advancing two places compared to their performance in Lima 2019.
Written by Carlos Silva Rojas; translated by Vicente Valdivia / Santiago 2023 via Photosport
Photo by Pepe Alvujar / Santiago 2023 via Photosport
