The Lima 2019 Games Closing Ceremony marked the end of the most important sports event ever held in Peru and we are sure that all athletes will return home with the best memories. Here are some of the special moments that made this event the biggest ever. 

Peru won more medals than ever before 

Peruvian athletes finished ninth in the medal tally with 39 medals (11 gold, 7 silver, and 21 bronze). This count triples that achieved four years ago in Toronto. 

Paraguay won its first Pan American gold 

Golfer Fabrizio Zanotti won a three-way playoff, alongside Chilean Guillermo Pereira and Guatemalan Jose Toledo, claiming Paraguay’s first ever gold medal in the 68-year history of the Pan American Games. 

British Virgin Islands took the gold for the first time! 

Chantel Malone made history for her country after winning the long jump event with 6.68 meters, defeating her 13 rivals. This way, the British Virgin Islands won its first medal in the history of the Games. 
 

Bolivia climbed on top of the podium for the first time 

Racquetball players Conrrado Moscoso, Kadmin Carrasco, and brothers Carlos and Ronald Keller won the first gold medal for Bolivia in the history of the Games, after defeating Colombia in the men’s team racquetball final. 

Aruba got its first medal at the Games 

Aruban Mack Van Den Eerenbeemt finished third in RS:X class sailing competition, earning the bronze medal. This way, his home country was able to climb on the podium for the first time at this Pan American Games. 
 

A world record was broken 

American archer Brady Ellison scored 702 out of a possible 720 points to set a new world record for men’s recurve archery. It is the first time since 2012 that this record is surpassed outside the Olympic Games. 

New sports debut 

3X3 basketball, surfing, and bodybuilding events were included in the Pan American Games program, being a total success. These sports drew the attention of thousands of people who witnessed the events at Eduardo Dibós Coliseum, Punta Rocas, and Chorrillos Military School venues, respectively. 

The return of well-liked disciplines 

Lima 2019 witnessed the return of mixed relays both in swimming and triathlon. Also, poomsae was included in taekwondo, and katas in karate. 

Amazing sports venues 

People were astonished by the infrastructure and quality of the Lima 2019 venues, which will be the sports legacy from Lima 2019 to all athletes from Peru and the Americas. 

As the Panam Sports President Neven Ilic said, “We’ve had the best Pan American Games in history” and none of this would have been possible without the dedication of Peruvians, especially volunteers, who warmly welcomed the athletes and technical officials. But this is not over. On August 23, the Parapan American Games Opening Ceremony will be held and a new sports event you cannot miss will begin. Let’s All Play!