Five Youth Parapan graduates who became Paralympians

With one day to go until the start of Sao Paulo 2017, check out five athletes who starred at the Youth Parapan American Games and, years later, reached the podium at a Paralympic Games.

Yanina Martinez (Argentina)

Seven years after bursting onto the international scene by winning multiple medals at the Bogota 2009 Youth Parapan American Games, the sprinter made history. At Rio 2016, Martinez put an end to Argentina’s 20-year-long gold medal drought at Paralympic Games by winning the women´s 100m T36.

Veronica Hipolito (Brazil)

The track and field athlete showed what she was capable of at Buenos Aires 2013, winning several titles. Three years later, Hipolito starred on home soil by claiming silver in the women’s 100m T38 and bronze in the 400m T38 at the Rio 2016 Paralympics.

Carlos Serrano (Colombia)

Arguably the most famous athlete to launch his career at a Youth Parapan American Games, the Colombian swimming sensation took multiple golds at Buenos Aires 2013. Two years later, he won his maiden world title in Glasgow, Great Britain. Serrano went on to win Colombia’s first Paralympic gold in 36 years, in the men´s 100m breaststroke SB7 at Rio 2016 with a world record time of 1:12.50.

Hernan Urra (Argentina)

Buenos Aires 2013 athletics champion was one of Argentina’s stars at Rio 2016. At only 19 years old, Urra (14.91m) won silver in the men’s shot put. He finished behind China´s Xinhan Fu (15.19m).

Mateus Evangelista (Brazil)

He stood out at Buenos Aires 2013, winning three gold medals. Evangelista went on to qualify for his first Paralympic Games on home soil in Rio. There he took his first Paralympic medal, a silver in the men’s long jump T37.

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Over 800 athletes, aged 12-20 years old, from 20 countries are expected to participate in Sao Paulo, with 12 sports being contested: athletics, boccia, football 5, football 7, goalball, judo, powerlifting, sitting volleyball, swimming, table tennis, wheelchair basketball and wheelchair tennis.

Buenos Aires 2013 attracted more than 600 athletes from 16 countries, who competed across 10 sports. Brazil topped the medal table and 15 countries reached the podium at least once.

Barquisimeto, Venezuela, staged the inaugural edition in 2005, with athletes from 10 countries competing, whilst a total of 14 countries attended the event in Bogota, Colombia, in 2009.

For more information, visit Sao Paulo 2017’s website. http://saopaulo2017.com/site/