Rodrigo Santillán secures Paralympic diploma and will seek the first medal for Peru in Paris 2024

The 19-year-old Peruvian para-swimmer qualified for the 100-meter backstroke (S2) final at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, achieving the first Paralympic diploma for the country.

Rodrigo Santillanthe talented Peruvian para-swimmer, has begun his participation in the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games In a remarkable way. At 19 years old, Santillán qualified for the final of the 100-meter backstroke, class S2, thus securing a Paralympic diploma for the Peruvian team, the first in this edition of the Games.

In the preliminary round, Santillán finished third in his heat with a time of 2 minutes, 16 seconds and 35 hundredths, which allowed him to access the final. This achievement marks a new milestone in his sporting career, as it will be the second Paralympic final he has competed in, after his outstanding performance in Tokyo 2020, where he also achieved a Paralympic diploma.

The young swimmer, who is a multi-medallist at the Parapan American Games, has proven to be one of the great promises of Peruvian Paralympic sport. His performance in Paris has not gone unnoticed, especially because he was the first Peruvian to compete in this edition of the Games. With his qualification for the final, Santillán reaffirms his status as one of the most outstanding exponents of the national team.

The 100-meter backstroke (S2) final is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Peruvian time, when Santillán will try to obtain Peru’s first Paralympic medal at these Games. The competition will be tight, but the young athlete has shown that he is in top form and ready to face the best in the world.

The Peruvian team in Paris 2024 is made up of 17 members, including 13 para-athletes and 4 assistant guides, a delegation that exceeds the number of those in Tokyo 2020 and doubles the participation of Rio 2016. This growth reflects the development of Paralympic sport in the country and the hopes placed on athletes like Santillán.

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Rodrigo Santillán, at just 19 years old, has already managed to position himself as a reference in his discipline and this Thursday he will have the opportunity to make history for Peru. Paralympic sports fans throughout the country will be attentive to his performance, hoping that the effort and dedication of this young athlete will translate into a medal.