Kimberly Garcia: I dedicate this triumph to Peruvians who have come to support me

Photo: AFP

Photo: AFP

09:18 | Santiago (Chile), Oct. 29.

After winning a gold medal at Santiago 2023 Pan American Games on Sunday, champion Kimberly Garcia dedicated her victory to all Peruvians who always back her up —especially those who supported her constantly during her stay in the Chilean capital.

Once again, Kimberly Garcia proved her high-performance level and won the 20-km women's race walk at the XIX Pan American Games in Santiago, with a time of 1h 12m 26s.

The member of the Athletes Support Program and the Heading to Santiago 2023 Program —run by the Peruvian Sports Institute (IPD)— improved her performance from Lima 2019, where she had won a silver medal.

"I am very happy to have achieved my proposed goal. The competition was very tough due to the weather and the rivals. I am from Huancayo, and I am already used to cold weather," Garcia expressed.

"We knew it was going to be tough, but we already had an established strategy. I dedicate this triumph to the Peruvians who have come to Santiago to support me, as well as to the entire country and my family," she added.

Her next test will be the Marathon Race Walk Mixed Relay, joined by Cesar Rodriguez, on November 4.

Kimberly Garcia will be awarded S/80,000 (about US$20,833) for having claimed a gold medal —as a financial incentive provided by the IPD to all athletes competing at the Pan American Games.

So far, the Peruvian medalists in Santiago 2023 are:

GOLD
1.- Christian Pacheco – Men's Marathon

2.- Hugo Ruiz - Cycling - Omnium Track Cycling

3.- Kimberly García – 20-km Women's Athletic Walk


SILVER
4.- Angelo Caro – Skateboarding


BRONZE
5.- Hugo del Castillo – Taekwondo – Poomsae

6.- David Bardalez – Weightlifting 61 kg

7.- Cristian Morales – Sports shooting – 10-meter Air Rifle

8.- Luis Ostos – Men's Marathon

9.- Gladys Tejeda – Women's Marathon

10.- Daniella Borda – Shooting – Women's Skeet

11.- Nicolas Pacheco – Shooting – Men's Skeet

12.- Ines Castillo – Jose Guevara – Mixed Doubles Badminton

13.- Evelyn Inga – 20-km Women's Race Walk

14.- Eriberto Gutierrez — Canoe Slalom

Update: Although medals were won by Peruvian Kimberly Garcia (gold), Ecuadorian Glenda Morejon (silver), and Peruvian Evelyn Inga (bronze), the times will not be homologated nor will they be officially validated so they do not add up to the ranking.

(END) NDP/JSO/MVB

Published: 10/29/2023