An American in Lima » Peru Olympic team

María Portilla: I Am Thrilled to Have Given My All in Beijing

Barb — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 21:09:09 +0000

Peruvian runner Maria Portilla, who finished 39^th in the Olympic women's marathon and set a new national record with a time of 2 hours, 35 minutes, 19 seconds, expressed her gratitude to the Peruvian people for the praise she has received after her performance in the Olympic Games.

"I'm very happy because I gave it my all, and everything went well. I am happy -- very happy. The weather was good; happily I improved my time, and that's very gratifying," Portilla told RPP News on Sunday, August 17.

The Peruvian athlete explained the details of the race and revealed that she was surprised to learn afterward that she had improved her best time by five seconds. Portilla expects to participate in more marathons and to continue to evolve in her career as a runner.

"The race began calmly," she said. "The best runners came here and made extraordinary times. I was one of the few athletes with a time of 2 hours, 40 minutes, but here in Beijing I did very well."

"I'm surprised because my time improved by five seconds, something that is very important. It motivates me know that I can still improve my time. Hopefully God wants to give me another year to improve this."

She adds: "A special greeting to all Peruvians, especially those in the sierra." Source: RPP Noticias, Aug. 18, 2008, "María Portilla: Me emociona haber puesto todo de mi parte en Beijing" (translation, Barbara Drake) A July 31 story by Reuters reporter Maria Luisa Palomino provides a more detailed look at Portilla's journey from the Andes to the Olympic track:

Peruvian Marathon Runner Late Starter at 25

July 31, 2008

LIMA (Reuters) - Maria Portilla was unable to take part in physical education classes at school because of a hernia operation and took up running only at the age of 25.

Despite all the setbacks, the 36-year-old from one of the poorest regions of the Peruvian Andes will be traveling to Beijing to run her second Olympic marathon with high hopes.

Portilla, born in the department of Apurimac, had to work as a child to help keep her family after her father fell seriously ill.

"My childhood was a bit tough," she told Reuters in a telephone interview from the Andean city of Cusco where she was finishing her preparations.

"My father had a problem in his bones and it made me sad to see him in bed, not able to walk... But it transformed my personality."

Portilla's efforts left her with an injured back.

"I had a hernia and they operated on me but afterwards I went out to work again," she said. "That was why I couldn't do physical education, I was afraid."

All that changed at the age of 25 when Portilla was training to be an infant school teacher.

Her tutor threatened to fail her if she did not undergo a physical education test.

NO SHOES

Reluctantly, Portilla agreed to take part in a race and despite going barefoot, she surprised everyone by winning.

"When I won, I had no trainers," she said. "After that, people bought them for me. It was the first time I had been given trainers."

Her potential was spotted by the Peru Runners Club and with their support she qualified for the Sydney Olympics.

It was not a happy experience, however.

"The sun was burning terribly and my shoes started to burn. There was pain here and there, it kept popping up in different places. Suddenly, all the other girls started passing me."

The following year, Portilla moved to the United States but then suffered a throat infection which was further complicated by a reaction to antibiotics.

Although she took part in various marathons, it was a struggle. She missed out on Athens and it was not until 2006 that she regained her best form.

Portilla said the high-altitude Andean region of Cusco, where messengers knows as chasquis once ran along the roads between the cities of the Inca empire, had potential for producing more long-distance runners.

"My hope is that Cusco or Apurimac can produce an athlete better than me," she said.

(Writing by Brian Homewood in Buenos Aires, editing by Dave Thompson)

The Big Olympics & Little Peru

Barb — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 21:09:09 +0000

"The race began calmly," she said. "The best runners came here and made extraordinary times. I was one of the few athletes with a time of 2 hours, 40 minutes, but here in Beijing I did very well."

Peruvian Marathon Runner Late Starter at 25

July 31, 2008

LIMA (Reuters) - Maria Portilla was unable to take part in physical education classes at school because of a hernia operation and took up running only at the age of 25.

Despite all the setbacks, the 36-year-old from one of the poorest regions of the Peruvian Andes will be traveling to Beijing to run her second Olympic marathon with high hopes.

Portilla, born in the department of Apurimac, had to work as a child to help keep her family after her father fell seriously ill.

"My childhood was a bit tough," she told Reuters in a telephone interview from the Andean city of Cusco where she was finishing her preparations.

"My father had a problem in his bones and it made me sad to see him in bed, not able to walk... But it transformed my personality."

Portilla's efforts left her with an injured back.

"I had a hernia and they operated on me but afterwards I went out to work again," she said. "That was why I couldn't do physical education, I was afraid."

All that changed at the age of 25 when Portilla was training to be an infant school teacher.

Her tutor threatened to fail her if she did not undergo a physical education test.

NO SHOES

Reluctantly, Portilla agreed to take part in a race and despite going barefoot, she surprised everyone by winning.

"When I won, I had no trainers," she said. "After that, people bought them for me. It was the first time I had been given trainers."

Her potential was spotted by the Peru Runners Club and with their support she qualified for the Sydney Olympics.

It was not a happy experience, however.

"The sun was burning terribly and my shoes started to burn. There was pain here and there, it kept popping up in different places. Suddenly, all the other girls started passing me."

The following year, Portilla moved to the United States but then suffered a throat infection which was further complicated by a reaction to antibiotics.

Although she took part in various marathons, it was a struggle. She missed out on Athens and it was not until 2006 that she regained her best form.

Portilla said the high-altitude Andean region of Cusco, where messengers knows as chasquis once ran along the roads between the cities of the Inca empire, had potential for producing more long-distance runners.

"My hope is that Cusco or Apurimac can produce an athlete better than me," she said.

(Writing by Brian Homewood in Buenos Aires, editing by Dave Thompson)

The Big Olympics & Little Peru

Barb — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 21:09:09 +0000

"The race began calmly," she said. "The best runners came here and made extraordinary times. I was one of the few athletes with a time of 2 hours, 40 minutes, but here in Beijing I did very well."

Peruvian Marathon Runner Late Starter at 25

July 31, 2008

LIMA (Reuters) - Maria Portilla was unable to take part in physical education classes at school because of a hernia operation and took up running only at the age of 25.

Despite all the setbacks, the 36-year-old from one of the poorest regions of the Peruvian Andes will be traveling to Beijing to run her second Olympic marathon with high hopes.

Portilla, born in the department of Apurimac, had to work as a child to help keep her family after her father fell seriously ill.

"My childhood was a bit tough," she told Reuters in a telephone interview from the Andean city of Cusco where she was finishing her preparations.

"My father had a problem in his bones and it made me sad to see him in bed, not able to walk... But it transformed my personality."

Portilla's efforts left her with an injured back.

"I had a hernia and they operated on me but afterwards I went out to work again," she said. "That was why I couldn't do physical education, I was afraid."

All that changed at the age of 25 when Portilla was training to be an infant school teacher.

Her tutor threatened to fail her if she did not undergo a physical education test.

NO SHOES

Reluctantly, Portilla agreed to take part in a race and despite going barefoot, she surprised everyone by winning.

"When I won, I had no trainers," she said. "After that, people bought them for me. It was the first time I had been given trainers."

Her potential was spotted by the Peru Runners Club and with their support she qualified for the Sydney Olympics.

It was not a happy experience, however.

"The sun was burning terribly and my shoes started to burn. There was pain here and there, it kept popping up in different places. Suddenly, all the other girls started passing me."

The following year, Portilla moved to the United States but then suffered a throat infection which was further complicated by a reaction to antibiotics.

Although she took part in various marathons, it was a struggle. She missed out on Athens and it was not until 2006 that she regained her best form.

Portilla said the high-altitude Andean region of Cusco, where messengers knows as chasquis once ran along the roads between the cities of the Inca empire, had potential for producing more long-distance runners.

"My hope is that Cusco or Apurimac can produce an athlete better than me," she said.

(Writing by Brian Homewood in Buenos Aires, editing by Dave Thompson)

An American in Lima » Peru Olympic team

Barb — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 21:09:09 +0000

"The race began calmly," she said. "The best runners came here and made extraordinary times. I was one of the few athletes with a time of 2 hours, 40 minutes, but here in Beijing I did very well."

Peruvian Marathon Runner Late Starter at 25

July 31, 2008

LIMA (Reuters) - Maria Portilla was unable to take part in physical education classes at school because of a hernia operation and took up running only at the age of 25.

Despite all the setbacks, the 36-year-old from one of the poorest regions of the Peruvian Andes will be traveling to Beijing to run her second Olympic marathon with high hopes.

Portilla, born in the department of Apurimac, had to work as a child to help keep her family after her father fell seriously ill.

"My childhood was a bit tough," she told Reuters in a telephone interview from the Andean city of Cusco where she was finishing her preparations.

"My father had a problem in his bones and it made me sad to see him in bed, not able to walk... But it transformed my personality."

Portilla's efforts left her with an injured back.

"I had a hernia and they operated on me but afterwards I went out to work again," she said. "That was why I couldn't do physical education, I was afraid."

All that changed at the age of 25 when Portilla was training to be an infant school teacher.

Her tutor threatened to fail her if she did not undergo a physical education test.

NO SHOES

Reluctantly, Portilla agreed to take part in a race and despite going barefoot, she surprised everyone by winning.

"When I won, I had no trainers," she said. "After that, people bought them for me. It was the first time I had been given trainers."

Her potential was spotted by the Peru Runners Club and with their support she qualified for the Sydney Olympics.

It was not a happy experience, however.

"The sun was burning terribly and my shoes started to burn. There was pain here and there, it kept popping up in different places. Suddenly, all the other girls started passing me."

The following year, Portilla moved to the United States but then suffered a throat infection which was further complicated by a reaction to antibiotics.

Although she took part in various marathons, it was a struggle. She missed out on Athens and it was not until 2006 that she regained her best form.

Portilla said the high-altitude Andean region of Cusco, where messengers knows as chasquis once ran along the roads between the cities of the Inca empire, had potential for producing more long-distance runners.

"My hope is that Cusco or Apurimac can produce an athlete better than me," she said.

(Writing by Brian Homewood in Buenos Aires, editing by Dave Thompson)

The Big Olympics & Little Peru

Barb — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 19:10:15 +0000

[caption id="attachment_188" align="aligncenter" width="268" caption="Peru athletes at Beijing 2008 Opening Ceremonies"][/caption] I've always enjoyed watching the Olympics on TV, and even though I favor the Winter Games, I keep up with the summer competitions in gymnastics, swimming and running. As a kid, I chewed my fingernails off watching Mark Spitz splash his way to seven gold medals, and over the years I've cheered on elite-level gymnasts like Nadia Comaneci, Mary Lou Retton, Josef Stalder, and Kurt Thomas. Like most American viewers, my heart lay with the U.S. athletes. A primal patriotic urge rose in me during Olympic seasons. Despite my long-held belief that we're all citizens of the same earth, not individual nation states, I'd find myself not only rooting for the U.S. athletes, but secretly feeling annoyed when other teams won the gold, as though these victories somehow weren't "right." (Talk about being a child of Empire!) In some obscure way, that American sense of entitlement -- which I detest -- had wormed its way into my young psyche, to lie there, dormant, until the Olympic torch was relit every four years. Watching the Olympic Games in the U.S. was an exercise in counting the number of Golds, not in wondering if we'd get any. Now that I live in Peru and the 2008 Beijing Games are upon us, I'm having a very different Olympic experience. Welcome to the land of the "ifs," the experience common to most small countries when they send their delegations off to the Olympic extravagenza. As an American, though, I can't quite stifle my super-sized expectations for my adopted country's athletes. Peru's delegation for the 2008 Beijing games numbers thirteen athletes. (See the article in Living in Peru.) There are no teams competing, just individual atheletes in scattered sports: badminton, swimming, fencing, sailing, wrestling, shooting, weightlifting, running, and Tae Kwon Do. None of the athletes is a sure bet for a medal, but still, I had expected Peruvians to exhibit more Olympic boosterism. After all, this is a country of intense patriotic spirit, with monthlong Independence Day celebrations and year-round campaigns extolling the superiority of all-things Peruvian (pisco, ceviche). If Peruvians could get it up for The Year of the Potato, surely, I figured, they'd rouse themself to a flag-waving frenzy for their thirteen Olympians? Sadly, I haven't seen anything approaching that spirit. Pride here is muffled, as if to say, We Peruvians know better than to expect too much. It's not like the United States, where Olympic atheletes star in elaborate commercials and stores like Target and Wal-Mart sell racks of Olympic merchandise, confident that U.S. athletes will be victorious. Not even the media in Peru shows much excitement. In fact, one Peruvian commentator I saw on ATV cable channel last night was downright pessimistic. He is part of a team of Peruvian television journalists sent to Beijing to cover the Games. (Sorry, I didn't jot down his name.) In a discussion with his fellow journalists, the ATV commentator announced, "Apart from Sixto Barrera [wrestler], Peru doesn't have a chance of winning a medal." It was a matter of money, he said. Peruvian Olympic atheletes don't receive enough funding to help them train and compete at an international level. The other commenters nodded glumly. El Fotografo and I watched in shock. Such a bald statement of hopelessness sends a dreadful message to the Peruvian athletes and to the thousands of viewers tuning in to the Games. At least wish the athletes good luck, I thought; don't curse them before their competitions begin. Send in a few cheerleaders: Go, Peru, go! The ATV commentators may be correct in identifying lack of funding as a weakness in Peru's hopes for a medal, but that analysis should wait until after Games. For now, I'll bring my American-style Olympic spirit to cheer on The Peru Thirteen. I don't know much about their individual chances for a medal, but I hope they give it all they've got. "If" they win medals, fine. What counts is they compete at their best. Let them show the world that little Peru deserves its place on the starting line, along with the big boys.