Julián Andrés Santa
In Sucre, Bolivia, the Bolivarian Youth Games are held where Risaralda contributes a total of six of its athletes to the different Colombian teams in this important youth competition. They are Cristian David Bermúdez, Johan Steven Gómez, Néstor Gómez, Juan Esteban Trujillo, Samuel Heredia and Yesenia Sánchez. In addition, the physiotherapist Salomé Rodríguez and the delegate of the Colombian Athletics Team, José Zapata, complete the Risaraldense seal.
At 17 years old, the athlete Yesenia Sánchez is ready to debut in Bolivian territory. “It’s going to be a great experience since I’m going to compete against other countries that I may not know and I feel super good. I hope I can improve my brand and be able to give my best.”
Also thinking about the World Cup
Let’s remember that this year will also be the World Athletics Championships where Yesenia will be present. “In Bolivia I want to improve the 200 and the 100. For example, I have the 200 at 24 to 34 and I want to improve it to 23:90, 80 something like that, to set the mark for the World Cup.”
A great Olympic dream
Every athlete in the world dreams of being able to obtain a place in the Olympic Games and this is also the case of the athlete from the Risaraldense league who highlights the great sporting moment she is going through. “This is thanks to God, thanks to all my family and the teachers. I have been in athletics for four years now. My big goal is to be able to reach the Olympic Games and have it be what God wants.”
The main request of the entire athletics community in Risaralda to government entities continues to be the track or sports venue for their discipline. “There are already two athletes who are injured and the truth is that we do need it a lot to be better than we are,” adds the twin.
This is how he came to athletics
Yesenia has the opportunity to train and compete with her twin sister Yesica, who continues her recovery process. Regarding how she came to athletics, she says: “It was with a teacher from the Deogracias Cardona school to whom I am very grateful. At first we were very lazy to train, but after our first trip, we began to train judiciously and I am passionate about this sport.”
There is no doubt that the Sánchez twins are the sensation of athletics in every competition they attend. “Very proud because there is no resentment between us, let’s say that if I lose, she consoles me and one feels satisfied or if I win, she still won’t feel bad because she lost.”
Highlights unconditional support
Yesica Sánchez values the great support she has always received from her mother. “She is very incredible, the truth is she supports us a lot, when we say we are too lazy to come to train, she is the one who encourages us, she tells us to look at what we carry and that not everyone gets to where we are.” For her part, she about the president of the league, José Zapata, she adds: “He is charming, I love how he always supports us too much.”
Given:
Yesenia Sánchez and her twin sister Yesica were born in San José del Palmar in Chocó. From a very young age they had to leave their birthplace due to problems and life brought them to Pereira.
“Very proud of her, super happy although I would have liked to have accompanied her but it wasn’t possible and I know that she is going to give her best and it makes me very proud.”
Comment María Eugenia Mejía. league coach
“Johan Arévalo, who is a coach, has been preparing her since before the start of the year and the girl is doing extremely well, in fact in the events they already had in February and March, she showed her great condition and her ability.”