Friday, November 24th, 2023.- The F56 female's javelin throw (competing seated) crowned Brazilian athlete Raissa Rocha Machado with the gold medal. Rocha Machado, a world champion born with a leg malformation, secured the victory at the Santiago 2023 Parapan American Games with a best throw of 22.69 meters on her second attempt, confirming her status as the favorite in the competition held at the Centro Atlético Mario Recordón at the Estadio Nacional.

Her notable achievements include silver medals in javelin at the World Championships in Doha 2015 and Paris 2023, as well as at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. She also earned a bronze in javelin at the Dubai 2019 World Championships. Rocha Machado holds a gold from the Parapan American Games at Lima 2019 and a silver in the 100 meters at the Toronto 2015 Parapan American Games.

The silver medal went to Mexican athlete Yessica de la Luz Jiménez with a distance of 17.87 meters, while the bronze was claimed by Colombian athlete Erica Castaño with a mark of 14.48 meters.

Written by Ernesto Bustos B.–José Tomás Lambert; translated by Rocio Rojas / Santiago 2023 vía Photosport
Photo by Javier Salvo / Santiago 2023 vía Photosport