Maipo Island, a commune in the southeast of the Santiago Metropolitan Region, which hosted the individual paracycling time trial events of the VII Parapan American Games Santiago 2023, fell in love with more than one competitor for its amazing landscapes, with the Andean mountain range always in the collimator.
And Samantha was no exception and this is what she assures: «seeking victory is the purpose of every athlete, competition and medal are united in thought, but when you are also greeted by an environment as pleasant as the one experienced in Maipo, you fall in love, the “Triumph tastes better.”
The experienced athlete—she will turn 37 on February 18—knows very well about rivalry on the asphalt of roads or the track of a velodrome, but she assures that she will never forget this particular competition, even though here she will still compete on the individual route.
“Without exception, all the rivals felt stimulated both by the local residents, who became enthusiastic fans, and by the magnificent conditions of the race route,” he said.
Samantha was born with the tibia of her right leg bowed, as a child they had to remove part of that limb and for her parents the world seemed to collapse, but not for her, who never let herself be defeated or gave up on her dreams.
Since she was little she received the support of her father to overcome barriers and obstacles. She was a stubbornly disciplined girl, nothing about her stopped her and when she rode a bike in her native Anchorage (Alaska), she felt like she was hers and forever.
Samantha is a double bronze medalist at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Paralympic Games (road time trial and track pursuit), winner of four golds, two silvers and two bronzes at the road and track world championships in Baie-Come (Canada). and Glasgow (United Kingdom), and now Parapan American monarch in Santiago 2023.
«Maipo will be unforgettable for me, the vineyards on the side of the road, the refreshing trees, its people… wonderful! “It’s good that there are so many people who are excited to see us run,” said the American cyclist.
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