The entire Peru rejoiced after Cristhian Pacheco won the gold medal in the marathon at the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago. However, the Inca people could not convey that same emotion to the athlete when he returned to Lima, as he commented in an interview on how his desolate reception was at the Jorge Chavez airport.
YOU CAN SEE Medal Standings at the 2023 Santiago Pan American Games LIVE: TODAY's results with Peru
The Huancayo native achieved a time of 2:11:14 and became a two-time champion in the category, as he also won gold in 2019, which covers 42 kilometers with 195 meters. However, despite his important achievement for national sports, Cristhian Pacheco expressed disappointment with how things went when he returned to our country.
"I arrived in Lima at 8.00 a.m. Talking about my federation is a waste of time. It is better to act on my own effort and keep moving forward. Nobody welcomed me, I just took a taxi and went to the hotel," said the Peruvian athlete, who criticized the actions of his federation, as there was no gesture towards him upon his arrival in the capital.
Now, Pacheco's only goal is the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, where he will seek to bring Peru's name to the podium on a global level, and hopefully he can achieve it. "With the coach, we are planning where to do training camps because the main objective this year was to participate in the Pan American Games and we have already achieved that. Now, in 2024, the goal is the Olympic Games in Paris." he stated.
Second gold medal for Peru
Peru continues to make history as it won its second gold medal at the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago. Hugo Ruiz Calle finished first in the Omnium road cycling event.