The stands of the Gymnastics Pavilion marked the excitement and love of a career that today is on the way to making her the first immortal of that discipline.
The Panam of 2003 was the stage for Yamilet Pena She would fall in love to wear the national colors at some point in her life. Today, 23 years later, she hopes to say goodbye in style at the Central American Games to finish a brilliant career.
She was a novice with little time in gymnastics, with dreams and hopes, when from a seat in the stands, she was dazzled in the competitions of this discipline held within the framework of the most iconic event recorded in sports history in the Dominican Republic.
Today, owner of a career in which she displays medals in world championships, gold and silver in Central American Games, several gold medals in Pan American championships, Yamilet at 34 years old hopes to say goodbye and most importantly she will seek to do so from the podium.
And according to her, if she listens to the National Anthem it will be much better and more exciting, since this will seal with golden letters a career so productive that it will go straight to the immortality of fame.
“I want to give myself this last opportunity to say goodbye in a big way to the Central American Games, so far it is the only thing that motivates me to continue competing,” the winner expressed to Listín Diario about what will be her final competition. “I can’t ask for less, I have been on the podium three times before and one more would be the greatest thing,” he says.
Yamilet Peña will say goodbye to a career that has spanned more than two decades.
How it all started
“But when my great love for gymnastics began at the 2003 Pan American Games, woah, woah, I want to be there, remember what she said to herself when she was a teenager of only 8 years old,” says Peña, who at that time witnessed a competition at a very high level for the first time.
Three years later he attended his first Central American Championships, but he admits that it was a kind of “filler”, because by then he did not have any type of possibility of obtaining medals.
Absent from the platform for about three years, the three-time Central American medalist returned to training since last September. She admits that at first it was tough and complicated for her, “This would be impossible,” she said to herself.
However, as the months have passed, it has acclimatized to the way in which it was ranked among the best in America for many years.
The lack of competition, together with a pregnancy in which she gave birth to her son Austin, made her gain about 15 pounds, but her abilities are now more than optimal.
He has remained training with Amauris Holguín, the same one who for years has had Audrys Nin in his custody, who like Yamilet has a career to be an immortal in the Hall of Fame.
With his specialty of Horse Jumping, Yamilet hopes to add another badge to his brilliant record.
What will follow next
After ending her career, the medalist longs to become the coach of the country’s national teams, imitating the great powers, how they train and train young people, mainly girls.
“With this we would seek for gymnastics to raise its level in America,” he maintains.
“I would love to train and educate them, form a work team that works with me, it would be a great contribution that I would give not only to the athletes and the Federation, but to the country,” he added.
For example, integrating and developing a good group so that the Dominican Republic can qualify for a Pan American team, both men’s and women’s”, that is one of the dreams. “I would love for the Federation to grant me that opportunity, it hasn’t happened, but they already have knowledge,” he adds.
Watch OGA grow
I would also long to grow in the executive committee of the entity, to continue contributing. And the most important thing is to cause his Olympic Gymnastic Academy (OGA) school to continue its growth.
“Moving to a much larger and more comfortable space.” He pointed out about his project, which currently has 250 girls.
Yamilet has seen all her dreams come true, although she has one more left and hopes to achieve it starting next July 24 at the Central American and Caribbean Games.
