The march has become the main element of the sporting pride that the country has been feeling since the mid-1990s, when it was Jefferson Pérez who moved many to tears by crossing the finish line first, exhausted, at the Atlanta Olympics.
Historical! Paula Torres becomes world walking champion in Brasilia
And this time, another Cuenca native, Paola Torres, achieves the gold medal in walking, marathon mode (42 uninterrupted kilometers of walking at the same pace and without completely taking off her feet from the ground) in the contest held in Brazil just a few days ago. His romantic partner, Daniel Pintado, also savored the sweet taste of Olympic triumph in the most recent competition at that level, in Paris 2024, making theirs an exemplary home for young people looking for a guide to success.
Athletes of humble origins, but with very great spirits, make the country shine and show that when an Ecuadorian sets his mind to it, he achieves it, as it should be, with effort, discipline, perseverance and concentration. That moving from a popular market to the distant training tracks is not an insurmountable distance, as in the case of Jefferson. And there are no broken shoes or logistical deficiencies that prevent it, as was already demonstrated when another marcher, Glenda Morejón, made the victory her own and also gave it to the country. Added to them other Olympic and world championship glories, like those we already have in cycling, constitute the good news that Ecuadorians always expect.
We greet Paula Torres with respect and emotion, for her love for the country materialized with that marathon walk. We also salute their hard-working coaches from the Morlaca dynasty of the Chocho, so successful that right now they receive athletes from other countries in the Austro and Andrés Chocho, the heir of the winning strategy, is currently ranked among the best world coaches in this sport. The success they are having is a balm for our society. (EITHER)
