Araujo describes Buenos Aires 2013 to Rio 2016 journey

“It was the event in which I jumped from being an amateur to being a high-level athlete. In Buenos Aires, I gave my first steps towards Rio 2016. It was fantastic!”

When Cecilia de Araujo competed at the third edition of the Youth Parapan American Games in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 2013, she was far from imagining this event would help her reach the Paralympic Games on home soil only three years later.

The Brazilian S8 swimmer won multiple golds in the Argentinian capital city to launch a so far short but fruitful career. “The Youth Parapan Ams showed me I could go far in Para sports if I wanted and trained hard,” said the 18-year-old.

“I remember those Games with great joy. I made new friends, the first ones outside Brazil. They also proved to me that I have the capacity to compete hard and keep trying. I learned that the will to do that has to be stronger than anything.

“It was the event in which I jumped from being an amateur to being a high-level athlete. In Buenos Aires, I gave my first steps towards Rio 2016. It was fantastic!”

After living her own experience at the Youth Parapan American Games, Araujo is hoping many other young athletes can benefit from what this event has to offer.

“They are important to grow both as an athlete and as a person,” said Araujo. “They give you the opportunity to show that you can always give some more.”

In 2015, Araujo was invited by the Agitos Foundation, the development arm of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) to take part in a training camp in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Her incredible story was also told in a series of videos produced by the Agitos Foundation, showing Araujo´s and seven other Latin American athletes´ road to the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, from where the young swimmer left medal-less but full of joy.

“It was great to have the support of the Brazilian people, both in victory and defeat,” she said. “I enjoyed everything. It was such an amazing and unique feeling to be able to participate.”

Next year, Araujo seeks to compete at the World Para Swimming Championships in Mexico City, from 30 September-6 October.

“If I go, I will give my best. But, as every athlete, I dream high and hope to one day win Paralympic medals,” she said.

The fourth edition of the Youth Parapan American Games will take place in Sao Paulo, Brazil, between 20-25 March and will feature 1,000 athletes, ages 14-20, from 20 countries competing in 12 sports.