Nottwil 2017: Luis Lucumi seeks to make history for Colombia

Paralympic silver medallist aims to become his country’s first junior world champion. 27 Jul 2017

three men stand on a podium with their medals

Luis Lucimi (L) won javelin F38 silver in his maiden Paralympic Games in Rio.

ⒸLucas Uebel - Getty Images

By IPC

“This is going to be my first and last time competing at a Junior World Championships so I will give it all for my country and try take top honours.”

With already a Paralympic Games and a World Championships under his belt, Luis Lucumi will be one of the most experienced athletes competing at the Nottwil 2017 World Para Athletics Junior Championships, from 3-6 August.

The 19-year-old became at Rio 2016 only the second Colombian athlete to claim silver at a Paralympics, when he finished second in the men’s javelin F38 with a 49m19 behind South Africa’s Reinhardt Hamman (50m96).

“It was wonderful for me to win the silver medal competing against the best athletes around the globe at the world´s biggest Para sport event,” said Lucumi.

“I have always believed in my abilities and have been working hard towards my goal. I wanted to reach the Paralympic podium in Rio to win a medal, no matter if it was a gold, silver or bronze.”

Early this year, he sealed two golds at the Sao Paulo 2017 Youth Parapan American Games, before going on to compete at his maiden Worlds in London.

In the British capital city, Lucumi (47m88) ended in a much-celebrated fourth place. Australia’s Jayden Sawyer won gold with a world record throw of 52m96, followed by Hamman (50m48) and Ukraine’s Oleksandr Doroshenko (49m63).

“It was a really good performance the one I had in London since it was just my first World Championships,” said Lucumi. “I believe I could have performed better if it was not for a shoulder-injury I suffered prior to London 2017.”

The Colombian only began competing last year, but has shown a rapidly improving form ever since. “Without a huge effort, sacrifice and dedication, none of this would be possible,” he added.

Lucumi devotes himself entirely to training and rests only on Sundays. With Nottwil 2017 fast approaching, he has only one thing in mind: “This is going to be my first and last time competing at a Junior World Championships so I will give it all for my country and try take top honours.”

Dreaming further ahead, he knows a good performance in Switzerland can act as a springboard for him. “My big dream is to win gold at a Paralympic Games,” he said.

More information can be found on Nottwil 2017’s website.