Luque (Paraguay) (EFE).- Two days before the end of the II Junior Pan American Games in Paraguay, a country known as ‘the Heart of America’, there are many emotional, curious, and some unusual moments that have been left for posterity of the event that brings together more than 4,000 participants from 41 countries.
The athletes, the true protagonists of the event, have left their hearts throughout these two weeks of action in Asunción. In unexpected situations they have brought out smiles or tears, and also in actions that have generated controversy in the heat of the competition.
Here are some of the most remembered facts:
Gold Tie in Swimming at the ASU2025
La brasileña Balduccini (d) y la colombiana Bedoya ganaron medallas de oro al empatar el primer lugar femenino de la natación. EFE/ Agencia Xpressmedia / Panam Sports
An ending with an unexpected outcome occurred in swimming when the Brazilian Stephanie Balduccini and the Colombian Isabella Bedoya tied for first place in the 50-meter freestyle, with a time of 25.42 seconds.
“I am speechless, very happy; I cried while singing the anthem out of emotion. When I finished the test, I hadn’t realized that I was first and, in addition, that I had achieved the Pan American record with a tie, something that is not usual, and that’s why the emotion and happiness of this gold. Getting this gold with a tie with the Brazilian swimmer is wonderful,” said Bedoya.
The result not only gave them both the shared gold medal, but also meant a new junior Pan American record, which secured them a place in the 2027 Pan American Games in Lima.
An Unexpected Proposal
Love comes to light even in the most unexpected scenarios. The romantic moment of these games was experienced on the judo mat when the Argentinian Braian Rodríguez, who is part of the team of the Paraguayan Judo Federation, surprised his Peruvian girlfriend Kimberly Rivera, technical delegate of judo, with a marriage proposal to the tune of the song ‘Perfect’ by Edd Sheeran. The story of both moved the audience present.
The weather was no match for the march
Shaniqua Bascombe (c) de Trinidad y Tobago celebra al ganar medalla de oro en la categoría atletismo 100 metros femenino. EFE/Rodrigo Sepulveda
The athletes in Asunción faced their biggest rival on Wednesday the 19th: the weather. Electrical storms, heavy rains, and strong precipitation were no obstacle for the race walkers to compete for the gold medal.
Despite the inclement weather, Colombian Miguel Peña won the gold medal in the 20,000 meters by crossing the finish line with a time of 1h23:06, his personal best. With a steady pace and sustained rhythm, Peña left behind Ecuadorian Saúl Wamputsrik (silver with 1h23:51) and Mexican Brandon Pérez (bronze with 1h24:48).
A Controversial Disqualification at the ASU2025
Mateo Kalejman de Argentina compite en la categoría contrarreloj individual masculina de ciclismo durante los II Juegos Panamericanos Junior ASU 2025. EFE/Rodrigo Sepulveda
Argentine cyclist Mateo Kalejman, who had won the gold medal in the individual time trial, was disqualified hours later for not complying with the regulations of his bicycle after a complaint from the Colombian delegation that alleged “irregularities in the inclination of the seat”.
This decision generated great controversy, with accusations of “boycott” and “corruption” by the Argentine delegation. Kalejman said that what happened was “very unfair” and a “total shame” and despite the protests, the Colombian Samuel Flórez took the gold medal in the men’s time trial which had a route of 39.9 kilometers.
The abandonment of four Cuban athletes
Fotografía de archivo de una bandera cubana. EFE/ Ernesto Mastrascusa
On August 14th, it was learned that four Cuban athletes left the concentration of their delegation. “Four Cuban athletes informed the head of their delegation that they would not return to the hotel. The Police in these cases do what is called an alert, but apparently it would be a case of desertion,” declared the Minister of the Interior of Paraguay, Enrique Riera, to journalists.
