More than 150 para athletes from 15 countries will come to Peru to participate in the Para Swimming World Series 2025, scheduled to take place from Thursday, October 23, to Saturday, October 25, in La Videna IPD Aquatic Center, which is the most modern sports facilities in the country, located in the district of San Luis in Lima.
The event was officially presented last Tuesday with the attendance of Federico Tong Hurtado, president of the Peruvian Sports Institute (IPD); Luisa Villar, president of the Paralympic Committee of Peru; Craig Nicholson, director of World Para Swimming; and Micaela Apaéstegui, member of the national para swimming team.
“We have become the hub of international sports. We’re on an unstoppable streak, we just wrapped up the World Judo Championships, the Bolivarian Games are coming, the Copa Libertadores final will take place on November 29, the Junior Surfing World Championships start on December 4 with over 70 countries participating, and now, for the first time in our country and in South America, we are hosting the World Para Swimming Series,” said IPD president Federico Tong.
“The IPD has become the biggest sponsor of sports in Peru. For the first time in history, we have created the Olympic and Paralympic Cycle to benefit our para-athletes,” added Tong.
Peru’s national team will feature 19 para-athletes from the Athlete Support Program (PAD), the Lima 2027 Program, and the Paralympic Cycle Program of the Peruvian Sports Institute.
“This is a dream come true. Having more than 225 accredited participants from 15 countries swimming in this beautiful Aquatic Center in Peru is something truly special. We’ve been working for months since being awarded the host city to deliver a world-class event. Thanks to the IPD for its tremendous support and to its president, Federico Tong, for bringing high-level competitions to our country. Admission to the event will be free,” said Luisa Villar, president of the Paralympic Committee of Peru.
Compact Team
The Peruvian team includes Micaela Apaestegui, Dunia Felices, Ariana Salinas, Liduvina Sánchez, and Rafaela Zapata (women), along with Braulio Bustamante, Ángel de Jesus Cruzado, Bruno Giraldo, Harrison Linares, Junior Mattos, Baruc Reque, José Ríos, Jose María Salazar, Lucas Salcedo, Rodrigo Santillán, José Sifuentes, Jose Manuel Silva, Isaías Sono, and Rodrigo Woo (men).
“For me, swimming is a special sport; it feels like home. Having an event of this magnitude is so important because I get to represent my country right where I was born. I’ll give everything I have to win a medal. I’m grateful to the Paralympic Committee of Peru and the IPD for organizing this event and for all their support,” said para swimmer Micaela Apaestegui.
The roster includes Paralympic athletes Dunia Felices and Rodrigo Santillan, as well as promising young talents such as Micaela Apaestegui, Ariana Salinas, and Isaias Sono, who will travel to Santiago after this competition to take part in the Junior Parapan American Games.
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Published: 10/22/2025