Guatemala, Suriname aim to win first medal

Guatemala and Suriname aim to win their first medal at a Youth Parapan American Games in Sao Paulo, Brazil, between 20-25 March.

Guatemala

One swimmer and two wheelchair tennis players represented Guatemala at the latest edition of the Youth Parapans in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 2013. They left without a medal, but the Guatemalan delegation is hoping the story will be different in Sao Paulo.

The country made its Paralympic debut at Toronto 1976. Weightlifter Jose Rolando won Guatemala´s only gold in the men´s up to 57kg at Seoul 1988.

Track athletes Santos Martinez and Oscar Raxon Siquiej were the two athletes who represented Guatemala at Rio 2016.

Suriname

Suriname will make their debut at the Youth Parapan American Games in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

The country made their Paralympic debut at Athens 2004 and has competed at every Paralympic Games since. At Rio 2016, track and field athlete Biondi Misasi was the country´s sole representative in the men´s long jump T12 and the 100m T12.

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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.