Kimberly García achieved, perhaps, the most important achievement in the history of Peruvian sports. The 28-year-old walker from Huancayo did not settle for her first gold medal (20 km) at the World Athletics Championships in Oregon, and in less than a week, she won another gold medal (35 km). In addition, with a time of 2 hours, 39 minutes, and 16 seconds, she broke the national and South American records.
Peru, despite being a country that massively consumes football, welcomes many characters from other disciplines who also represented our nation with great perseverance and reached the top in the world. Below, we provide a brief overview of the most outstanding triumphs.
Kimberly García also won the gold medal in the 20 km race walk at the 2022 Athletics World Championships in Oregon. Photo: AFP
The only Olympic gold
Over the years, the Peruvian delegation struggled to compete in the Olympic Games. The recent editions were not favorable to us, and we could only win one gold medal in the history of this event. Edwin Vásquez Cam is the only national representative who achieved this feat. The athlete won it at the 1948 London Olympics in the free pistol at 50 meters discipline.
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The golden generation of Peruvian athletics
The Lima 2019 Pan American Games showcased the high level of Peruvian athletes. Gladys Tejeda and Christian Pacheco achieved a double triumph in the marathon. As if that were not enough, both athletes broke the respective Pan American records in that edition.
Kimberly García had an outstanding participation in that event. The walker won the silver medal in the 20 km race.
Gladys Tejeda and Christian Pacheco on the podium at Lima 2019. Photo: Martín Vizcarra/Twitter
The Queen of the waves
Sofía Mulanovich is considered a legend of Peruvian surfing. The 39-year-old athlete won three world titles. The first one came in 2004: 'Sofi' became the champion of the ISA Surfing Games in the open surf category. Then, she won the team championship at the ISA 2010; and in 2019, she repeated what she had done 15 years ago by reaching the top of the world podium in the individual category.
Although the 'Gringa' is in the final stretch of her career, she managed to participate in the Tokyo 2021 Olympic Games.
Golden gloves
In recent years, the sport of boxing has allowed us to witness the consecration of two Peruvians. In 2009, Kina Malpartida faced American Maureen Shea and won the super featherweight world championship at Madison Square Garden. 'Dinamita' retired as a champion after successfully defending her belt in six fights.
On the other hand, in 2012, Alberto Rossel wrote a new chapter in the history of this sport. 'Chiquito' became the WBA minimumweight world champion after defeating Mexican José 'Torito' Rodríguez.
Kina Malpartida and Alberto Rossel are retired from professional boxing. Photos: LR/AFP/Andina
1975 Copa America
Football usually brings us many joys. Although we have qualified for the World Cup five times, we have not been able to win it. However, the most important title for the Peruvian national team came in 1975. The team led by Marcos Calderón lifted the Copa America of that year and had Teófilo Cubillas and Hugo 'Cholo' Sotil as its main figures.
Unforgettable achievements
- Peruvian women's volleyball team (silver medal at the 1988 Seoul Olympics)
- Francisco Boza (silver medal in shooting at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics)
- Juan Giha (silver medal in shooting at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics)
- Felipe Pomar (1965 surfing world champion)
- Alejandro Olmedo* (first South American to win Wimbledon in 1968).
*Alejandro Olmedo was born in Arequipa, but became a naturalized US citizen and represented that country in the Davis Cup —a tournament he won in 1958—.