An American in Lima » Peru Olympics http://americaninlima.com slices of my life in Peru Sat, 12 Mar 2011 22:55:48 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 How Pitiful! Peru Spends 3 Soles per Peruvian on Sports http://americaninlima.com/2008/09/06/how-pitiful-peru-spends-3-soles-per-peruvian-on-sports/ http://americaninlima.com/2008/09/06/how-pitiful-peru-spends-3-soles-per-peruvian-on-sports/#comments Sat, 06 Sep 2008 15:40:46 +0000 Barbara http://americaninlima.com/?p=492 Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> El Comercio, summarized in English by reporter Israel Ruiz, exposes why Peru performs so abysmally in international sporting events like the Olympics. Here's Ruiz's complete story published today in Living in Peru:
Peruvian sports are trapped in time, said reporters for El Comercio, explaining there were records in the Andean country that had not been broken in almost 40 years. Fernando Acevedo, one of Peru's past athletes that has not had his records broken affirmed he was not proud of this or the difficult situation the country was facing. "The fact that no one has broken my records shows we have not progressed," said Acevedo, explaining that without proper funding and a serious plan for aspiring athletes history would not change. To these troubles is added the fact that the country's ministry of economy has announced it will cut the Peruvian Sports Institute's (IPD) budget. Arturo Woodman, head of the IPD, confirmed that the 2009 budget could be reduced by 20 million soles. "When Alan Garcia came into office there was a 40-million-sol budget for sports. In 2007 it doubled to 80 million soles and this year we have reached 100 million," said Woodman, explaining this was three soles per Peruvian. If this figure were cut, it would place the country's sports budget back at 80 million soles. Woodman explained these figures were minute when compared to other South American countries such as Chile, which has a budget of million and spends per Chilean. He added that Venezuela spends between eight and ten dollars per citizen.
The comparisons are shameful. (For the record: 3 soles translates to little more than US.) Surely Peru can do better by its athletes. The proposed IPD budget cuts should not be allowed to take place. Peru also should consider looking to the private sector to finance athletes. How about an annual tax on foreign companies that do business in Peru to go to an athletic fund?]]> http://americaninlima.com/2008/09/06/how-pitiful-peru-spends-3-soles-per-peruvian-on-sports/feed/ 0 Peru’s Porters Win Ausangate Gold Medal for Weightlifting http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/28/peru%e2%80%99s-porters-win-ausangate-gold-medal-for-weightlifting/ http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/28/peru%e2%80%99s-porters-win-ausangate-gold-medal-for-weightlifting/#comments Thu, 28 Aug 2008 19:43:48 +0000 Barbara http://americaninlima.com/?p=421 Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> The Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics are officially over, the winners have scurried home with their medals, and the losing athletes are either chastised, pitied or forgotten by most of the world. No laurel wreath, no glory, the Olympic equation goes. Not on this blog, however. In the same spirit of honoring athletic excellence that inspired the first Olympic Games, An American in Lima introduces the Ausangate Awards for High-Altitude Athletic Achievement. Just as the Olympic Games are named after Greece's highest mountain, Mount Olympus (2,919 meters above sea level), the Ausangate Awards take as their namesake the tallest peak in the Cordillera Vilcanota, Mount Ausangate (6,384 meters / 20,945 feet above sea level), which towers over the south Peruvian Andes. The Andes are the second-highest mountain range in the world, after the Himalayas. The Gold Medal in High-Altitude Weightlifting goes to the porters of Cusco, Peru, who for hundreds of years have carried superhuman loads on their backs at altitudes of 4,000 to 5,000 meters and above. The Gold Medal is shared by the sherpas, high in the Himalayan mountain range. These high-altitude dwellers possess remarkable physical strength, stamina and ability to withstand staggering extremes of altitude and temperature. These qualities distinguish the Cusco porters and the Nepalese sherpas as among the world's elite athletes. Despite their physical prowess and lifetimes of service, however, the porters and sherpas are largely unknown to the world at large. They live and die literally in the clouds, often in extreme poverty. To understand their struggles is to realize the true meaning of "heroic" – a heroism that has nothing to do with million-dollar corporate sponsorships, winner-take-all competition, expensive doping cocktails and bloated nationalist sentiment. Curious to learn more about these unsung heroes? Read on…. The people who live within sight of high mountain ranges such as the Vilcanota, the Cordillera Blanca and the Himalayas endure extremely difficult and hazardous conditions: extreme cold, blinding sunlight, and decreased oxygen (up to 50% less than that at sea level) in high altitudes. Over thousands of years, the bodies of native mountain-dwellers have evolved various adaptation mechanisms to derive more oxygen from the air and to circulate oxygen more efficiently through the bloodstream. (Read this remarkable article in the 2/25/04 National Geographic about how mountain dwellers' bodies have adapted to their extreme environments.) People in the Andes and the Himalayas walk great distances each day, and develop strong muscles in their legs with which to navigate the rugged terrain. In many physical respects, they are superhuman. Yet despite these physical adaptations, porters and sherpas often succumb to illness, disease and fatal accidents. The porters of Cusco (known as cargadors in Spanish) perform a vital service for merchants and trekkers in the Andes region. Following pre-Columbian traditions, today's porters traverse on foot throughout the cities and mountains of the Andes region, carrying up to 240 pounds on their back. Porters typically work 14- to 16-hour days and traverse 20 to 30 miles daily across the abrupt geography of the Andes. Porters are hired to carry a variety of items. Some are paid by farmers to carry their produce (potatoes, corn, wool) and animals to market. Others haul mattresses, refrigerators, kerosene stoves and cabinets for merchants in Cusco. An even greater number tote trekkers' backpacks and camping gear along the Inca Trail, to the summits of Machu Picchu, Ausangate and the Cordillera Blanca. Without these porters, tens of thousands of tourists would not be able to experience the wonders of Peru's mountain settings. Porters also assist glaciologists, archaeologists and other scientists in their expeditions. The typical rate for a porter is just to per day (less than what it costs to rent a llama). Often porters cannot afford to buy food, so they sustain their energy on the trail by chewing coca leaves, whose juice provides energy and minerals. (Coca leaves are not a drug like cocaine.) Understandable, many porters are chronically malnourished. Not only do porters suffer physically, they also endure emotional abuse as members of Peru's ethnic underclass. Peruvian-born photographer Jorge Vera, who has documented the lives of Andean porters since 1995, notes that porters in Cusco are overwhelmingly of native Andean descent; most speak only their native Quechua and Aymara dialects. Unable to converse in Spanish with shop owners and merchants, who are often mestizo or white, the porters are vulnerable to being verbally abused or taken advantage of financially. In general, other Peruvians look down on porters, Vera notes:
"Porters are a cast of people set aside into social darkness and economic stigma and used exclusively as human beasts of burden. Without labor, medical and or social care programs, porters in Peru are truly modern-day outcasts, a disposable humanity in the midst of a booming multi-million dollar annual tourist industry."
He adds:
"I started to photograph porters in the Peruvian Andes during my wedding trip home in 1995. As a child growing up in Peru, I had never fully realized the role these porter children, women and men play in the commercial transportation of goods for hire. In some cases entire nomadic clans or families of porters are managed by Westernized, Spanish-speaking mestizo-operated businesses.
"Severely underpaid, Porters are recompensed sometimes only with meals, used shoes or clothing, and most commonly with coca leaves, a must to numb their bodies to the brutal labor and the exposure to the nightly frigid cold of the high Andes. Life expectancy for porters is short, often falling prey to tragic accidents in the precipices of the Andes, theft and most often sheer exhaustion."
In 2003 Vera came to Cusco to assist with a newly formed porter's union, the first in that city. Vera took photographs for the porter's first-ever ID tags. This documentation was crucial to establish the porters as full-fledged workers in the Cusco economy (prior to 2003, the ID-less porters often were made scapegoats for thefts). Vera's portraits of porters can be seen online at his photo.net site. Cusco porter, photo by Jorge Vera 2003 1 Other efforts to improve the lives of Andean porters were made in the early 2000s, when the NGO "Casa del Cargador" was launched in Peru. This social-assistance program provided refuge, education and support to porters in the Cusco area (read more about it here). Sadly, the program appears to have been dissolved as of 2008 (posts on the Web site ended in 2006). Worldwide, however, support for porters has grown in recent years. The International Porter Protection Group (IPPG) is dedicated to improving the safety of mountain porters. The IPPG website notes:
IPPG aims to improve safety and health for porter working in the mountains for the trekking industry worldwide. We work to eradicate avoidable illness, injury and death. We do this by raising awareness of the issues among travel companies, guides, trek leaders, sirdars (porters' foremen), and trekkers.
IPPG also supports porters in their quest for a decent wage and freedom from overloading (especially at high altitude).
Please visit the IPCC Web site to learn how you can help porters in Peru and elsewhere. More web resources include the blog The Mountain Porter, which provides current global news on porter issues, the 2006 Guardian Eco-Dilemma article on “Is It OK to Hire a Mountain Porter?” and Tourism Concert’s article “Trekking Wrongs: Porters’ Rights.”  For a list of UK tour operators with ethical porter policies, click here.  To the thousands of porters who cart their Sisyphean loads across the Andes and Himalayas: An American in Lima salutes you. ---Barbara R. Drake
]]> http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/28/peru%e2%80%99s-porters-win-ausangate-gold-medal-for-weightlifting/feed/ 2 Peru Olympic Wrap-up: Week 2 in Review http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/23/peru-olympic-wrap-up-week-2-in-review/ http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/23/peru-olympic-wrap-up-week-2-in-review/#comments Sun, 24 Aug 2008 01:43:35 +0000 Barbara http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/23/peru-olympic-wrap-up-week-2-in-review/ Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> Samuel Wansiru wins the gold with the impressive time of 2:06:32, setting a new Olympic Record. At 44 seconds behind Wansiru, Jaouad Gharib of Morocco grabs the silver with 2:07:16 (he also breaks the previous OR), and Deriba Merga, of Ethiopia, wins the bronze with 2:10:00. It's an African sweep. I keep hitting "refresh" on the official Olympics page for Men's Marathon Results: with each click, another exhausted runner clocks in his final time. Still no sign of León. I hope he didn't collapse. Thirteen runners have dropped out of the marathon thus far, including two runners from Brazil and another from Venezuela. Okay. León just crossed the 40-km mark, still in 63rd place. Corre, Constantino, corre! There's still time to improve your standing, carajo! While I have a moment, let me recap the week's events for Peru's Olympic athletes.
  1. Peru didn't win any Olympic medals.
  2. Peter López was in serious running for a bronze in taekwondo, but ceded victory to other athletes.
  3. Sailor Paloma Schmidt finished 26th in Laser Radial, after nine grueling races.
  4. María Portilla ran 39th in the Women's Marathon, beating her own personal best time.
And – now it's official – Peru's Constantino León has finished in 61st place in Men's Marathon, moving up two notches in the rankings. He must have heard me nagging him all the way from the Lima. Leon's final time was 2:28:04, 21 minutes and 32 seconds behind Wansiru.]]> http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/23/peru-olympic-wrap-up-week-2-in-review/feed/ 9 Constantino Leon Last Olympian to Compete for Peru; Peter Lopez Misses Bronze in Taekwondo http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/21/constantino-leon-peter-lopez/ http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/21/constantino-leon-peter-lopez/#comments Thu, 21 Aug 2008 18:41:09 +0000 Barbara http://americaninlima.com/?p=391 Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> Peru's Olympic marathon runner Constantino Leon competing in Nairobi[/caption] Peru's original field of 13 Olympic contenders is now down to one athlete: marathon runner Constantino Leon. Leon will compete Saturday, August 23, starting at 6:30 p.m. (Beijing time), in the Men's Marathon. For fans in Peru, that translates to Sunday, August 24, starting at 7:30 a.m. Thus far, no athletes representing Peru have won a medal in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Constantino became Peru's last Olympic contender after taekwondo athlete Peter Lopez failed to secure the bronze in the Men's 68 kg. competition on Thursday, August 21. [caption id="attachment_394" align="aligncenter" width="270" caption="Lopez battles Mohammad"][/caption] Lopez was victorious in his first two matches on Thursday, beating Australia's Burak Hasan 3-1 in the preliminaries and Nigeria's Isah Adam Mohammad 3-0 in the quarter finals. He advanced the semi-finals where he was defeated by USA's Mark Lopez (no relation) 2-1. The two Lopezes were training partners at Elite taekwondo center in Houston. A subsequent match between Peter Lopez and Servet Tazegul, of Turkey, saw Peru's chances at a bronze dashed with Tazegul beat Lopez 1-0. Korea's Son Taejin won gold and USA's Mark Lopez won silver in the event. The bronze medal was shared by Tazegul and Chinese Taipai's Sung Yu-Chi. For other reports from An American in Lima on Peru's Olympic athletes, see: Keeping Up with Peru's Olympians (Aug. 11, 2008) Trying to Watch the Olympics in Peru (Aug. 11, 2008)  "Sixto Barrera Wants to Win Medal for Peru, Self & God" (Aug. 12, 2008) Sixto Barrera Advances to Quarter Finals, Loses to China's Chang Yongxiang (Aug. 12, 2008) Peru's Olympians, Part II (Aug. 13, 2008) Peru's Olympic 13 Are a Horde Compared To... (Aug. 13, 2008) The Buzz on Peru's Olympians: Week 1 in Review (Aug. 16, 2008) Maria Portilla: I Am Thrilled to Have Given My All in Beijing (Aug. 19, 2008)]]> http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/21/constantino-leon-peter-lopez/feed/ 0 The Buzz on Peru’s Olympians, Week 1 in Review, Aug. 9 – 16 http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/16/the-buzz-on-peru%e2%80%99s-olympians-week-1-in-review/ http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/16/the-buzz-on-peru%e2%80%99s-olympians-week-1-in-review/#comments Sun, 17 Aug 2008 03:28:17 +0000 Barbara http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/16/the-buzz-on-peru%e2%80%99s-olympians-week-1-in-review/ Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> The first week (August 10 - 16) of competition at the Beijing 2008 Olympics saw some encouraging efforts by Peruvian athletes but no medals. Here is a roundup of how Peru's 13-member Olympic delegation has performed so far, along with buzz about the athletes from English-speaking media, bloggers and fans. (Plus blog reactions by Peru athletes like Peter Lopez, who posted the photo above on his Olympic blog "Camino a la Gloria" (Road to Glory) on Monday, Aug. 11.)

SIXTO BARRERA / WRESTLING 

Wrestler Sixto Barrera, considered by many to be Peru's best chance for a medal, got off to a strong start on Tuesday (Aug. 12), when he trounced the world's third-ranked Valdemaras Venckaitis of Lithuania, 3-1, in the first round of Men's Greco-Roman 74 k. That victory propelled him to the quarter finals against China's Chang Yongxiang, who turned the tables on Barrera, beating him 3-1. Barrera told RPP reporters in Beijing that his elbow was badly hurt in the match when Chang applied an "improper hold." Injured and in pain, Barrera suffered a total defeat to Bulgaria's Yavor Yanakiev in the Round 2 Repechage (score: 3-0). Yanakiev, the 2007 world champion, went on to win the Olympic bronze medal on Wedesday (Aug. 13), Chang won the silver. Georgia's Manuchar Kvirkelia won his country's first wrestling gold.

BUZZ ABOUT BARRERA

Sixto Barrera drew cheers from fans in Bird's Nest Stadium and Peruvian viewers around the world when he carried Peru's flag in the opening ceremonies on Saturday (Aug. 9). Barrera told reporters that the experience was "a dream come true." Barrera's life story drew attention from reporters and bloggers in Peru and the United States. Blogger CarlosQC from Washington, DC (who also scribes as Peruanista) highlighted Barrera's challenges as an Afro-Peruvian confronting racism and lack of support in his native country. An American in Lima explored the wrestler's spiritual faith and admiration for San Martin de Porres, the first black saint of the Americas.

CLAUDIA RIVERO / BADMINTON

 Claudia Rivero, Peru's top-ranked badminton player, lost in Women's Singles to France's Pi Hongyan 2 - 0 (21-6 and 21-6), on Sunday (Aug. 10). That defeat made Rivero ineligible for further competition at the Games. Gold and Silver in Women's Singles Badminton went to Zhang Ning and Zie Xingfang, both of China; Maria Kristin Yulianti, of Indonesia, won the Bronze on Saturday, August 16.

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ….

The 21-year-old Rivero trained for the games in Germany, thanks to an Olympic Solidarity Scholarship sponsored by the Badminton World Federation. Rivero blogged for CNN about her preparations for the Olympics (See Athlete's Blog: Claudia Rivero). Male admirers confessed to "falling in love" with Rivero on the Discussion Board at BadmintonCentral.com.

VALERIA SILVA / SWIMMING

Swimmer Valeria Silva finished 38th in the preliminaries of the 100-meter breaststroke with a personal-best time of 1:11.64 but did not advance. Australia's Leisel Jones won the gold in women's 100-meter breaststroke on Tuesday, August 12. Rebecca Soni (USA) and Mirna Jukic (Austria) won silver and bronze, respectively.

BUZZ ABOUT SILVA

A senior at University of Michigan, Silva competes for the UMich swim team along with Olympic god (we can call him that now) Michael Phelps. Silva's academic major is Brain, Behavior and Cognitive Science. She attended Lima's Humbolt school.

EMMANUEL JOSE CRESCIMBENI / SWIMMING

Eighteen-year-old swimmer Emmanuel José Crescimbeni finished 41st in the preliminaries of the 200-meter butterfly with a time of 2:02:13 but did not advance. Gold in the men's 200-meter butterfly went to Michael Phelps (USA), Silver to Laszlo Cseh (Hungary) and Bronze to Takeshi Matsuda (Japan), on Wednesday, August 13.

BUZZ ON EMMAN

Crescimbeni, known as "Emman" to his friends, attends Calvary Christian School in St. Petersburg, Florida. He has dual U.S./Peruvian citizenship. His parents are from Callao. He will attend the University of Florida next year. An in-depth profile of "the fastest swimmer you've never heard of" (to quote Crescimbeni's coach) ran in the Oct. 27, 2007, St. Petersburg Times ("Looking Back, Swimmer's Talent Couldn't Be Ignored").

MARIA LUISA DOIG / FENCING

In Women's Individual Foil fencer Maria Luisa Doig crossed swords last Sunday (Aug. 10) with Germany's Katja Waechter, who beat her 4-15. Italians Maria Valentina Vezzali and Margherita Granbassi won Gold and Bronze, respectively. Korea's Nam Hyunhee took the Silver.

MORE ABOUT DOIG

At 16 years old, Doig is Peru's youngest delegate to the Beijing games.  A widely publicized APF/Getty photo of Doig reacting to her loss against Waechter ran in USA Today and countless online sites.

PALOMA SCHMIDT / SAILING

Hard-working sailor Paloma Schmidt, who represents Peru in Laser Radial – One-person Dinghy, has competed in five races since Tuesday, August 12, and is schedule to sail in an additional five races on Sunday, August 17 and Monday, August 18, before the medal-winners are decided. Schmidt ranked No. 9 after her first race, then fell to 28 in race 4, before climbing to No. 14 in her latest race. Schmidt's individual race rankings are: 9 (Race 1), 26 (Race 2), 27 (Race 3), 28 (Race 4) and 14 (Race 5). The Olympics' sailing events take place in the Chinese coastal city of Qingdao.

BIRD BUZZ

Schmidt trains at Yacht Club Peruano, in La Punta, Callao, notes her sailor bio on ISAF. Her nickname is "Bird," in reference to her first name, which means "dove" in Spanish. Visit Schmidt's personal blog "Sailor Bird" (written in Spanish) to read about her preparations for the Olympics.

CARLOS ZEGARRA / JUDO

The "Peruvian giant" Carlos Zegarra competed in Men's Judo +100 kg on Friday, August 15, in USTB Gymnasium. Zegarra beat Argentina's Sandro Lopez in the 2:17 min. preliminary bout with a side four-corner hold. Less than an hour later, he lost to Cuba's Oscar Brayson and then to Lebanon's Rudy Hachache in Repechage, thus ending his chances for a medal. Medallists in Men's Judo +100 kg were Satoshi Ishii of Japan (Gold), Abdullo Tangriev of Uzbekistan (Silver) and Oscar Brayson of Cuba and Teddy Riner of France (sharing Bronze).

ZEGARRA FACTOIDS

  • Height: 6'8" tall
  • Weight: 352 pounds
  • Occupation: Security guard
  • Favorite food: fried calamari
  • Nickname: Chiquito

MARCO MATELLINI / SHOOTING

Skeet shooter Marco Matellini got off to a disappointing start on Friday, August 15, finishing last in a field of 41 competitors. He moved up one notch to 40th place on Saturday, August 16.

PERUVIANS DO KNOW HOW TO SHOOT

A photo of Matellini blowing into the barrel of his gun was featured in USA Today. Shooting is the one sport in which Peru has won Olympic gold. Peruvian Edward Vasquez Cam won the gold in Men's Free Pistol in 1946. More recently, Peru won silver medals in Trap Shooting (Francisco Boza, 1984) and Skeet Shooting (Juan Giha, 1992).

CRISTINA CORNEJO / WEIGHTLIFTING

Cornejo competes in Olympics +75 kg 1 Peru's powerful 22-year-old female weightlifter Cristina Cornejo went up against the big girls Saturday, August 16, in the +75 kg category. Cornejo finished 10th, tied with Eva Dimas of El Salvador. Cornejo lifted 97 kg in the Snatch, compared to first-place winner Jang Miran of Korea, who set new Olympic and World records with her 140-kg hoist that night. In the Clean & Jerk, Cornejo lifted 128 kg, nearly 60 kg below Miran's Olympic and World record-breaking lifts of 183 kg. and 186 kg. Cornejo took part in what will be remembered as a historic night in women's weightlifting. In Women's 75+ kg. Weightlifting, Miran took home the Gold for Korea, Olha Korobka took Silver for the Ukraine, and Mariya Grabovetskaya won Bronze for Kazakhstan.

THE CAMERA LOVES YOU, CRISTINA!

I love these APF/Getty images of Cornejo at Saturday's competition. This girl is mighty, mighty!   [caption id="attachment_339" align="alignleft" width="184" caption="Cristina Cornejo reacts after failing a lift in Beijing Olympics"]Cristina Cornejo reacts after failing a lift in Beijing Olympics[/caption]  

LOUIS TRISTAN / LONG JUMP

In the Men's Long Jump qualifying round, held Saturday, August 16, 24-year-old Peruvian jumper Louis Tristan finished 32nd out of 38 with a leap of 7.62 meters. That distance failed to qualify Tristan for the Long Jump final round.

THE BUZZ

Tristan was born in Lima and now lives and trains in Brazil. In a recent interview with Peruanista, he mentioned his frustration with the lack of support given to him, and other top athletes, by the Peruvian government and national sports federation.

MARIA PORTILLA / RUNNING

Runner Maria Portilla will compete in the Women's Marathon this Sunday, August 17, at 7:30 p.m., in National Stadium. Portilla will battle a strong field that includes world champion Catherine Ndereba of Kenya and Paula Radcliffe of Great Britain, who is the world record holder. Radcliffe joined the British team at the last minute before the Games, after having recovered from a stress fracture.

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING ABOUT PORTILLA

Born and raised in Peru's high Andes, 36-year-old Portilla began running in marathons eleven years ago, when she was in danger of failing a physical education exam for a teaching degree she was seeking. Her athletic abilities exceeded everyone's expectations, particularly since she ran her first races barefoot. "I didn't have money for trainers [athletic shoes]," she told a reporter for Reuters. "I ran in my bare feet. People started giving me trainers; that gave me the inspiration to continue," she says. Click here for Reuters' one-minute video interview with Peru's "unlikely marathoner."

PETER LOPEZ / TAEKWONDO

Medal hopes are riding on Peter López, who competes Thursday, August 21, in preliminaries for Men's Taekwondo 68 kg (featherweight).

MUCHO BUZZ ABOUT LOPEZ

Taekwondo insiders are eagerly anticipating a possible match-up between Peru's Peter López and USA's Mark López, who have trained with the same coaches. López is the American-born son of Peruvian parents, who raised him in Peru and the United States. Since the year 2000, he has trained at the prestigious Elite Tae Kwon Do club, in Houston, Texas, alongside world and Olympic champions. He is a six-time U.S. National Team member and a 4-time competing member for the Peruvian Taekwondo Federation. He is the first taekwondo athlete ever to represent Peru in the Olympics. According to one report, López receives US,000 per month for training from the Peru Taekwondo Federation. This contrasts with the situation of other members of the Peru Olympics delegation, who receive little to no support from their respective sports organizations in Peru (if such institutions exist at all). López blogs on his Olympic experience for Lenovo's "Voices of the Olympics" blog. Click here for Peter's own photos of his fellow Olympians doing everyday stuff in Beijing, like eating in the Olympic cafeteria, working out in the gym and getting a haircut. Click here for a short BBC article on López ("Peter Lopez: Going for the Gold") that includes a photo diary of his journey to the Olympics.]]> http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/16/the-buzz-on-peru%e2%80%99s-olympians-week-1-in-review/feed/ 7 Olympic Ceviche with a Political Bite – Pescados Capitales http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/14/olympic-ceviche-with-a-political-bite-%e2%80%93-pescados-capitales/ http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/14/olympic-ceviche-with-a-political-bite-%e2%80%93-pescados-capitales/#comments Thu, 14 Aug 2008 22:53:15 +0000 Barbara http://americaninlima.com/?p=264 Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> So delicious, with a kick of yellow ají: ceviche at Pescados Capitales The hip cevicheria Pescados Capitales, one of Lima's finest seafood restaurants, plays on the Beijing Summer Olympics theme in its current "Pescados Olímpicos" (Olympic Sins) menu. (When you remove the first "s" from "pescados," the Spanish word for fish, it becomes "pecados" or sins. Thus the dual meaning of the restaurant's name: Capital Fish or Capital Sins.) Featured dishes this week include "Tiro olímpico" (Olympic Shooting, 30 soles), a causa made of lenguado, tuna and shrimp; "Ciclismo" (Cycling, 31 soles), salmon rolls with perch and brandied vegetables; and "Natación" (lobster "swimming" in risotto, market price). Those with a reformist bent might try "Antidoping" (37 soles), tuna seared in demi-glace sauce with quail. "Zero tolerance doesn't seem to work," the menu comments (whether about diners being able to resist this dish or Olympic athletes refraining from doping, it's hard to say).  Restaurant owner Nguyen Chávez creates a special weekly menu based on Peruvian politics and controversies. The introduction to this week's Olympic Sins menu gives a taste of Chávez's satiric bite (my translation):
"The Olympic spirit has arrived; let's see who has already won his medal.
"In Obstacle Race: Peru's Minister of the Interior (he raffled everything to remain in office)
"In Throwing the Javelin, Hammer, Shot and Discus: Congress (that's all they do).
"Marathon: This is what the earthquake victims keep running one year after the tragedy [August 15].
"We announce that the president [Alan García] hasn't scored the minimum marks, according to polls. The race has not ended yet, but the public has been accused unjustly of being 'unjust.'
" 'Doping! Doping!' is heard in the bleachers. Alas, many medals are still up for grabs."
Aside from looking for an excuse to poke fun at Peruvian politics, Chávez seized on the Olympic theme for this week's menu because he's a fan of badminton, a sport that Peruvian athlete Claudia Rivero competed in early in the Beijing Games without making it to the finals. "Yes, I was sorry to see her lose," he tells An American in Lima. "And [wrestler] Sixto Barrera, too. They say he was Peru's best hope for a medal." The owner of Pescados Capitales looks forward to seeing Peru's Peter López compete in taekwondo next Thursday, August 21. "I think he could win a medal. We'll see." Chávez deplores Peru's lack of support for its Olympic competitors. "The government does nothing for the athletes," he says. "It's not just about Peru having little money. Look at Cuba, a really poor country, look at Venezuela: They support their athletes. Why not Peru?" He notes that Peru also refuses to give monetary support to its own chess superstar, 17-year-old Emilio Córdoba, who recently won the coveted title of International Grandmaster: "Córdoba had to pay his own way to go to the International Championship. It's not right." "Peru needs to stand behind its chess players and it athletes," says Chávez. "They deserve it, no?" I nod in agreement and dig into my plate of "Paciencia: Cevíche Ghandi" (30 soles), a heavenly dish of raw fish and seafood marinated in lime juice and curry, with slices of mango and mandarin orange. It was worth the ½-hour lunchtime wait. One does need a saint's patience to put up with Peruvian politics, as well as with "making a cola" for a table at one of Lima's hottest restaurants.  Visit Pescados Capitales at Av. La Mar 1337, Miraflores, Lima, Peru. (511) 421-8808 On the web at www.pescados-capitales.com/ Photo of ceviche by www.thousandflavors.com]]> http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/14/olympic-ceviche-with-a-political-bite-%e2%80%93-pescados-capitales/feed/ 2 Peru’s Olympic 13 Are a Horde Compared To… http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/13/peru%e2%80%99s-olympic-13-are-a-horde-compared-to%e2%80%a6/ http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/13/peru%e2%80%99s-olympic-13-are-a-horde-compared-to%e2%80%a6/#comments Wed, 13 Aug 2008 22:22:38 +0000 Barbara http://americaninlima.com/?p=257 Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> [/caption] I was feeling rather forlorn about Peru's small Olympic delegation of 13 athletes. Then I stumbled upon Mashable's "18 Smaller Olympic Countries to Root For." Sean P. Aune writes: It's easy to get wrapped up in all of the big name countries that go to the Olympics, such as the United States or Russia, but have you ever thought about those countries that don't have as much money for a team or only have a few athletes who qualify? My family has a tradition of picking one or two of the smaller countries that can only send one or two athletes to the games, and sort of "adopting" them for us to root for over the course of the competition. This year I am going to be watching Itte Detenamo in weightlifting.  He is from the Republic of Nauru, the world's smallest island nation at only 8.1 square miles.  GO ITTE! Check out Sean's Olympic country maps of lonely onlys and tiny duos, including Grenada, Botswana and the Republic of Mauritania. ]]> http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/13/peru%e2%80%99s-olympic-13-are-a-horde-compared-to%e2%80%a6/feed/ 0 Sixto Barrera Advances to Quarter Finals, Loses to China’s Chang Yongxiang http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/12/sixto-barrera-advances-to-quarter-finals-loses-to-chinas-chang-yongxiang/ http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/12/sixto-barrera-advances-to-quarter-finals-loses-to-chinas-chang-yongxiang/#comments Wed, 13 Aug 2008 04:45:38 +0000 Barbara http://americaninlima.com/?p=232 Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> Sixto Barrera trounced Lithuanian Valdemaras Venckaitis, ranked 3rd in the world, in the first qualifying rounds of Men's Greco-Roman 74 k, in Beijing, on August 12.

Barrera then went against China's Chang Yongxiang in the quarter finals and lost. Chang Yongxiang advances to the finals with Georgia's Manuchar Kvirkelia. This will be China's first-ever medal in wrestling.  Here is my professional opinion about Barrera's loss: Argggh!]]> http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/12/sixto-barrera-advances-to-quarter-finals-loses-to-chinas-chang-yongxiang/feed/ 0 Trying to Watch the Olympics in Peru http://americaninlima.com slices of my life in Peru Sat, 12 Mar 2011 22:55:48 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 An American in Lima » Peru Olympics http://americaninlima.com slices of my life in Peru Sat, 12 Mar 2011 22:55:48 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 How Pitiful! Peru Spends 3 Soles per Peruvian on Sports http://americaninlima.com/2008/09/06/how-pitiful-peru-spends-3-soles-per-peruvian-on-sports/ http://americaninlima.com/2008/09/06/how-pitiful-peru-spends-3-soles-per-peruvian-on-sports/#comments Sat, 06 Sep 2008 15:40:46 +0000 Barbara http://americaninlima.com/?p=492 Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> El Comercio, summarized in English by reporter Israel Ruiz, exposes why Peru performs so abysmally in international sporting events like the Olympics. Here's Ruiz's complete story published today in Living in Peru:
Peruvian sports are trapped in time, said reporters for El Comercio, explaining there were records in the Andean country that had not been broken in almost 40 years. Fernando Acevedo, one of Peru's past athletes that has not had his records broken affirmed he was not proud of this or the difficult situation the country was facing. "The fact that no one has broken my records shows we have not progressed," said Acevedo, explaining that without proper funding and a serious plan for aspiring athletes history would not change. To these troubles is added the fact that the country's ministry of economy has announced it will cut the Peruvian Sports Institute's (IPD) budget. Arturo Woodman, head of the IPD, confirmed that the 2009 budget could be reduced by 20 million soles. "When Alan Garcia came into office there was a 40-million-sol budget for sports. In 2007 it doubled to 80 million soles and this year we have reached 100 million," said Woodman, explaining this was three soles per Peruvian. If this figure were cut, it would place the country's sports budget back at 80 million soles. Woodman explained these figures were minute when compared to other South American countries such as Chile, which has a budget of million and spends per Chilean. He added that Venezuela spends between eight and ten dollars per citizen.
The comparisons are shameful. (For the record: 3 soles translates to little more than US.) Surely Peru can do better by its athletes. The proposed IPD budget cuts should not be allowed to take place. Peru also should consider looking to the private sector to finance athletes. How about an annual tax on foreign companies that do business in Peru to go to an athletic fund?]]> http://americaninlima.com/2008/09/06/how-pitiful-peru-spends-3-soles-per-peruvian-on-sports/feed/ 0 Peru’s Porters Win Ausangate Gold Medal for Weightlifting http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/28/peru%e2%80%99s-porters-win-ausangate-gold-medal-for-weightlifting/ http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/28/peru%e2%80%99s-porters-win-ausangate-gold-medal-for-weightlifting/#comments Thu, 28 Aug 2008 19:43:48 +0000 Barbara http://americaninlima.com/?p=421 Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> The Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics are officially over, the winners have scurried home with their medals, and the losing athletes are either chastised, pitied or forgotten by most of the world. No laurel wreath, no glory, the Olympic equation goes. Not on this blog, however. In the same spirit of honoring athletic excellence that inspired the first Olympic Games, An American in Lima introduces the Ausangate Awards for High-Altitude Athletic Achievement. Just as the Olympic Games are named after Greece's highest mountain, Mount Olympus (2,919 meters above sea level), the Ausangate Awards take as their namesake the tallest peak in the Cordillera Vilcanota, Mount Ausangate (6,384 meters / 20,945 feet above sea level), which towers over the south Peruvian Andes. The Andes are the second-highest mountain range in the world, after the Himalayas. The Gold Medal in High-Altitude Weightlifting goes to the porters of Cusco, Peru, who for hundreds of years have carried superhuman loads on their backs at altitudes of 4,000 to 5,000 meters and above. The Gold Medal is shared by the sherpas, high in the Himalayan mountain range. These high-altitude dwellers possess remarkable physical strength, stamina and ability to withstand staggering extremes of altitude and temperature. These qualities distinguish the Cusco porters and the Nepalese sherpas as among the world's elite athletes. Despite their physical prowess and lifetimes of service, however, the porters and sherpas are largely unknown to the world at large. They live and die literally in the clouds, often in extreme poverty. To understand their struggles is to realize the true meaning of "heroic" – a heroism that has nothing to do with million-dollar corporate sponsorships, winner-take-all competition, expensive doping cocktails and bloated nationalist sentiment. Curious to learn more about these unsung heroes? Read on…. The people who live within sight of high mountain ranges such as the Vilcanota, the Cordillera Blanca and the Himalayas endure extremely difficult and hazardous conditions: extreme cold, blinding sunlight, and decreased oxygen (up to 50% less than that at sea level) in high altitudes. Over thousands of years, the bodies of native mountain-dwellers have evolved various adaptation mechanisms to derive more oxygen from the air and to circulate oxygen more efficiently through the bloodstream. (Read this remarkable article in the 2/25/04 National Geographic about how mountain dwellers' bodies have adapted to their extreme environments.) People in the Andes and the Himalayas walk great distances each day, and develop strong muscles in their legs with which to navigate the rugged terrain. In many physical respects, they are superhuman. Yet despite these physical adaptations, porters and sherpas often succumb to illness, disease and fatal accidents. The porters of Cusco (known as cargadors in Spanish) perform a vital service for merchants and trekkers in the Andes region. Following pre-Columbian traditions, today's porters traverse on foot throughout the cities and mountains of the Andes region, carrying up to 240 pounds on their back. Porters typically work 14- to 16-hour days and traverse 20 to 30 miles daily across the abrupt geography of the Andes. Porters are hired to carry a variety of items. Some are paid by farmers to carry their produce (potatoes, corn, wool) and animals to market. Others haul mattresses, refrigerators, kerosene stoves and cabinets for merchants in Cusco. An even greater number tote trekkers' backpacks and camping gear along the Inca Trail, to the summits of Machu Picchu, Ausangate and the Cordillera Blanca. Without these porters, tens of thousands of tourists would not be able to experience the wonders of Peru's mountain settings. Porters also assist glaciologists, archaeologists and other scientists in their expeditions. The typical rate for a porter is just to per day (less than what it costs to rent a llama). Often porters cannot afford to buy food, so they sustain their energy on the trail by chewing coca leaves, whose juice provides energy and minerals. (Coca leaves are not a drug like cocaine.) Understandable, many porters are chronically malnourished. Not only do porters suffer physically, they also endure emotional abuse as members of Peru's ethnic underclass. Peruvian-born photographer Jorge Vera, who has documented the lives of Andean porters since 1995, notes that porters in Cusco are overwhelmingly of native Andean descent; most speak only their native Quechua and Aymara dialects. Unable to converse in Spanish with shop owners and merchants, who are often mestizo or white, the porters are vulnerable to being verbally abused or taken advantage of financially. In general, other Peruvians look down on porters, Vera notes:
"Porters are a cast of people set aside into social darkness and economic stigma and used exclusively as human beasts of burden. Without labor, medical and or social care programs, porters in Peru are truly modern-day outcasts, a disposable humanity in the midst of a booming multi-million dollar annual tourist industry."
He adds:
"I started to photograph porters in the Peruvian Andes during my wedding trip home in 1995. As a child growing up in Peru, I had never fully realized the role these porter children, women and men play in the commercial transportation of goods for hire. In some cases entire nomadic clans or families of porters are managed by Westernized, Spanish-speaking mestizo-operated businesses.
"Severely underpaid, Porters are recompensed sometimes only with meals, used shoes or clothing, and most commonly with coca leaves, a must to numb their bodies to the brutal labor and the exposure to the nightly frigid cold of the high Andes. Life expectancy for porters is short, often falling prey to tragic accidents in the precipices of the Andes, theft and most often sheer exhaustion."
In 2003 Vera came to Cusco to assist with a newly formed porter's union, the first in that city. Vera took photographs for the porter's first-ever ID tags. This documentation was crucial to establish the porters as full-fledged workers in the Cusco economy (prior to 2003, the ID-less porters often were made scapegoats for thefts). Vera's portraits of porters can be seen online at his photo.net site. Cusco porter, photo by Jorge Vera 2003 1 Other efforts to improve the lives of Andean porters were made in the early 2000s, when the NGO "Casa del Cargador" was launched in Peru. This social-assistance program provided refuge, education and support to porters in the Cusco area (read more about it here). Sadly, the program appears to have been dissolved as of 2008 (posts on the Web site ended in 2006). Worldwide, however, support for porters has grown in recent years. The International Porter Protection Group (IPPG) is dedicated to improving the safety of mountain porters. The IPPG website notes:
IPPG aims to improve safety and health for porter working in the mountains for the trekking industry worldwide. We work to eradicate avoidable illness, injury and death. We do this by raising awareness of the issues among travel companies, guides, trek leaders, sirdars (porters' foremen), and trekkers.
IPPG also supports porters in their quest for a decent wage and freedom from overloading (especially at high altitude).
Please visit the IPCC Web site to learn how you can help porters in Peru and elsewhere. More web resources include the blog The Mountain Porter, which provides current global news on porter issues, the 2006 Guardian Eco-Dilemma article on “Is It OK to Hire a Mountain Porter?” and Tourism Concert’s article “Trekking Wrongs: Porters’ Rights.”  For a list of UK tour operators with ethical porter policies, click here.  To the thousands of porters who cart their Sisyphean loads across the Andes and Himalayas: An American in Lima salutes you. ---Barbara R. Drake
]]> http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/28/peru%e2%80%99s-porters-win-ausangate-gold-medal-for-weightlifting/feed/ 2 Peru Olympic Wrap-up: Week 2 in Review http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/23/peru-olympic-wrap-up-week-2-in-review/ http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/23/peru-olympic-wrap-up-week-2-in-review/#comments Sun, 24 Aug 2008 01:43:35 +0000 Barbara http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/23/peru-olympic-wrap-up-week-2-in-review/ Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> Samuel Wansiru wins the gold with the impressive time of 2:06:32, setting a new Olympic Record. At 44 seconds behind Wansiru, Jaouad Gharib of Morocco grabs the silver with 2:07:16 (he also breaks the previous OR), and Deriba Merga, of Ethiopia, wins the bronze with 2:10:00. It's an African sweep. I keep hitting "refresh" on the official Olympics page for Men's Marathon Results: with each click, another exhausted runner clocks in his final time. Still no sign of León. I hope he didn't collapse. Thirteen runners have dropped out of the marathon thus far, including two runners from Brazil and another from Venezuela. Okay. León just crossed the 40-km mark, still in 63rd place. Corre, Constantino, corre! There's still time to improve your standing, carajo! While I have a moment, let me recap the week's events for Peru's Olympic athletes.
  1. Peru didn't win any Olympic medals.
  2. Peter López was in serious running for a bronze in taekwondo, but ceded victory to other athletes.
  3. Sailor Paloma Schmidt finished 26th in Laser Radial, after nine grueling races.
  4. María Portilla ran 39th in the Women's Marathon, beating her own personal best time.
And – now it's official – Peru's Constantino León has finished in 61st place in Men's Marathon, moving up two notches in the rankings. He must have heard me nagging him all the way from the Lima. Leon's final time was 2:28:04, 21 minutes and 32 seconds behind Wansiru.]]> http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/23/peru-olympic-wrap-up-week-2-in-review/feed/ 9 Constantino Leon Last Olympian to Compete for Peru; Peter Lopez Misses Bronze in Taekwondo http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/21/constantino-leon-peter-lopez/ http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/21/constantino-leon-peter-lopez/#comments Thu, 21 Aug 2008 18:41:09 +0000 Barbara http://americaninlima.com/?p=391 Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> Peru's Olympic marathon runner Constantino Leon competing in Nairobi[/caption] Peru's original field of 13 Olympic contenders is now down to one athlete: marathon runner Constantino Leon. Leon will compete Saturday, August 23, starting at 6:30 p.m. (Beijing time), in the Men's Marathon. For fans in Peru, that translates to Sunday, August 24, starting at 7:30 a.m. Thus far, no athletes representing Peru have won a medal in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Constantino became Peru's last Olympic contender after taekwondo athlete Peter Lopez failed to secure the bronze in the Men's 68 kg. competition on Thursday, August 21. [caption id="attachment_394" align="aligncenter" width="270" caption="Lopez battles Mohammad"][/caption] Lopez was victorious in his first two matches on Thursday, beating Australia's Burak Hasan 3-1 in the preliminaries and Nigeria's Isah Adam Mohammad 3-0 in the quarter finals. He advanced the semi-finals where he was defeated by USA's Mark Lopez (no relation) 2-1. The two Lopezes were training partners at Elite taekwondo center in Houston. A subsequent match between Peter Lopez and Servet Tazegul, of Turkey, saw Peru's chances at a bronze dashed with Tazegul beat Lopez 1-0. Korea's Son Taejin won gold and USA's Mark Lopez won silver in the event. The bronze medal was shared by Tazegul and Chinese Taipai's Sung Yu-Chi. For other reports from An American in Lima on Peru's Olympic athletes, see: Keeping Up with Peru's Olympians (Aug. 11, 2008) Trying to Watch the Olympics in Peru (Aug. 11, 2008)  "Sixto Barrera Wants to Win Medal for Peru, Self & God" (Aug. 12, 2008) Sixto Barrera Advances to Quarter Finals, Loses to China's Chang Yongxiang (Aug. 12, 2008) Peru's Olympians, Part II (Aug. 13, 2008) Peru's Olympic 13 Are a Horde Compared To... (Aug. 13, 2008) The Buzz on Peru's Olympians: Week 1 in Review (Aug. 16, 2008) Maria Portilla: I Am Thrilled to Have Given My All in Beijing (Aug. 19, 2008)]]> http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/21/constantino-leon-peter-lopez/feed/ 0 The Buzz on Peru’s Olympians, Week 1 in Review, Aug. 9 – 16 http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/16/the-buzz-on-peru%e2%80%99s-olympians-week-1-in-review/ http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/16/the-buzz-on-peru%e2%80%99s-olympians-week-1-in-review/#comments Sun, 17 Aug 2008 03:28:17 +0000 Barbara http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/16/the-buzz-on-peru%e2%80%99s-olympians-week-1-in-review/ Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> The first week (August 10 - 16) of competition at the Beijing 2008 Olympics saw some encouraging efforts by Peruvian athletes but no medals. Here is a roundup of how Peru's 13-member Olympic delegation has performed so far, along with buzz about the athletes from English-speaking media, bloggers and fans. (Plus blog reactions by Peru athletes like Peter Lopez, who posted the photo above on his Olympic blog "Camino a la Gloria" (Road to Glory) on Monday, Aug. 11.)

SIXTO BARRERA / WRESTLING 

Wrestler Sixto Barrera, considered by many to be Peru's best chance for a medal, got off to a strong start on Tuesday (Aug. 12), when he trounced the world's third-ranked Valdemaras Venckaitis of Lithuania, 3-1, in the first round of Men's Greco-Roman 74 k. That victory propelled him to the quarter finals against China's Chang Yongxiang, who turned the tables on Barrera, beating him 3-1. Barrera told RPP reporters in Beijing that his elbow was badly hurt in the match when Chang applied an "improper hold." Injured and in pain, Barrera suffered a total defeat to Bulgaria's Yavor Yanakiev in the Round 2 Repechage (score: 3-0). Yanakiev, the 2007 world champion, went on to win the Olympic bronze medal on Wedesday (Aug. 13), Chang won the silver. Georgia's Manuchar Kvirkelia won his country's first wrestling gold.

BUZZ ABOUT BARRERA

Sixto Barrera drew cheers from fans in Bird's Nest Stadium and Peruvian viewers around the world when he carried Peru's flag in the opening ceremonies on Saturday (Aug. 9). Barrera told reporters that the experience was "a dream come true." Barrera's life story drew attention from reporters and bloggers in Peru and the United States. Blogger CarlosQC from Washington, DC (who also scribes as Peruanista) highlighted Barrera's challenges as an Afro-Peruvian confronting racism and lack of support in his native country. An American in Lima explored the wrestler's spiritual faith and admiration for San Martin de Porres, the first black saint of the Americas.

CLAUDIA RIVERO / BADMINTON

 Claudia Rivero, Peru's top-ranked badminton player, lost in Women's Singles to France's Pi Hongyan 2 - 0 (21-6 and 21-6), on Sunday (Aug. 10). That defeat made Rivero ineligible for further competition at the Games. Gold and Silver in Women's Singles Badminton went to Zhang Ning and Zie Xingfang, both of China; Maria Kristin Yulianti, of Indonesia, won the Bronze on Saturday, August 16.

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ….

The 21-year-old Rivero trained for the games in Germany, thanks to an Olympic Solidarity Scholarship sponsored by the Badminton World Federation. Rivero blogged for CNN about her preparations for the Olympics (See Athlete's Blog: Claudia Rivero). Male admirers confessed to "falling in love" with Rivero on the Discussion Board at BadmintonCentral.com.

VALERIA SILVA / SWIMMING

Swimmer Valeria Silva finished 38th in the preliminaries of the 100-meter breaststroke with a personal-best time of 1:11.64 but did not advance. Australia's Leisel Jones won the gold in women's 100-meter breaststroke on Tuesday, August 12. Rebecca Soni (USA) and Mirna Jukic (Austria) won silver and bronze, respectively.

BUZZ ABOUT SILVA

A senior at University of Michigan, Silva competes for the UMich swim team along with Olympic god (we can call him that now) Michael Phelps. Silva's academic major is Brain, Behavior and Cognitive Science. She attended Lima's Humbolt school.

EMMANUEL JOSE CRESCIMBENI / SWIMMING

Eighteen-year-old swimmer Emmanuel José Crescimbeni finished 41st in the preliminaries of the 200-meter butterfly with a time of 2:02:13 but did not advance. Gold in the men's 200-meter butterfly went to Michael Phelps (USA), Silver to Laszlo Cseh (Hungary) and Bronze to Takeshi Matsuda (Japan), on Wednesday, August 13.

BUZZ ON EMMAN

Crescimbeni, known as "Emman" to his friends, attends Calvary Christian School in St. Petersburg, Florida. He has dual U.S./Peruvian citizenship. His parents are from Callao. He will attend the University of Florida next year. An in-depth profile of "the fastest swimmer you've never heard of" (to quote Crescimbeni's coach) ran in the Oct. 27, 2007, St. Petersburg Times ("Looking Back, Swimmer's Talent Couldn't Be Ignored").

MARIA LUISA DOIG / FENCING

In Women's Individual Foil fencer Maria Luisa Doig crossed swords last Sunday (Aug. 10) with Germany's Katja Waechter, who beat her 4-15. Italians Maria Valentina Vezzali and Margherita Granbassi won Gold and Bronze, respectively. Korea's Nam Hyunhee took the Silver.

MORE ABOUT DOIG

At 16 years old, Doig is Peru's youngest delegate to the Beijing games.  A widely publicized APF/Getty photo of Doig reacting to her loss against Waechter ran in USA Today and countless online sites.

PALOMA SCHMIDT / SAILING

Hard-working sailor Paloma Schmidt, who represents Peru in Laser Radial – One-person Dinghy, has competed in five races since Tuesday, August 12, and is schedule to sail in an additional five races on Sunday, August 17 and Monday, August 18, before the medal-winners are decided. Schmidt ranked No. 9 after her first race, then fell to 28 in race 4, before climbing to No. 14 in her latest race. Schmidt's individual race rankings are: 9 (Race 1), 26 (Race 2), 27 (Race 3), 28 (Race 4) and 14 (Race 5). The Olympics' sailing events take place in the Chinese coastal city of Qingdao.

BIRD BUZZ

Schmidt trains at Yacht Club Peruano, in La Punta, Callao, notes her sailor bio on ISAF. Her nickname is "Bird," in reference to her first name, which means "dove" in Spanish. Visit Schmidt's personal blog "Sailor Bird" (written in Spanish) to read about her preparations for the Olympics.

CARLOS ZEGARRA / JUDO

The "Peruvian giant" Carlos Zegarra competed in Men's Judo +100 kg on Friday, August 15, in USTB Gymnasium. Zegarra beat Argentina's Sandro Lopez in the 2:17 min. preliminary bout with a side four-corner hold. Less than an hour later, he lost to Cuba's Oscar Brayson and then to Lebanon's Rudy Hachache in Repechage, thus ending his chances for a medal. Medallists in Men's Judo +100 kg were Satoshi Ishii of Japan (Gold), Abdullo Tangriev of Uzbekistan (Silver) and Oscar Brayson of Cuba and Teddy Riner of France (sharing Bronze).

ZEGARRA FACTOIDS

  • Height: 6'8" tall
  • Weight: 352 pounds
  • Occupation: Security guard
  • Favorite food: fried calamari
  • Nickname: Chiquito

MARCO MATELLINI / SHOOTING

Skeet shooter Marco Matellini got off to a disappointing start on Friday, August 15, finishing last in a field of 41 competitors. He moved up one notch to 40th place on Saturday, August 16.

PERUVIANS DO KNOW HOW TO SHOOT

A photo of Matellini blowing into the barrel of his gun was featured in USA Today. Shooting is the one sport in which Peru has won Olympic gold. Peruvian Edward Vasquez Cam won the gold in Men's Free Pistol in 1946. More recently, Peru won silver medals in Trap Shooting (Francisco Boza, 1984) and Skeet Shooting (Juan Giha, 1992).

CRISTINA CORNEJO / WEIGHTLIFTING

Cornejo competes in Olympics +75 kg 1 Peru's powerful 22-year-old female weightlifter Cristina Cornejo went up against the big girls Saturday, August 16, in the +75 kg category. Cornejo finished 10th, tied with Eva Dimas of El Salvador. Cornejo lifted 97 kg in the Snatch, compared to first-place winner Jang Miran of Korea, who set new Olympic and World records with her 140-kg hoist that night. In the Clean & Jerk, Cornejo lifted 128 kg, nearly 60 kg below Miran's Olympic and World record-breaking lifts of 183 kg. and 186 kg. Cornejo took part in what will be remembered as a historic night in women's weightlifting. In Women's 75+ kg. Weightlifting, Miran took home the Gold for Korea, Olha Korobka took Silver for the Ukraine, and Mariya Grabovetskaya won Bronze for Kazakhstan.

THE CAMERA LOVES YOU, CRISTINA!

I love these APF/Getty images of Cornejo at Saturday's competition. This girl is mighty, mighty!   [caption id="attachment_339" align="alignleft" width="184" caption="Cristina Cornejo reacts after failing a lift in Beijing Olympics"]Cristina Cornejo reacts after failing a lift in Beijing Olympics[/caption]  

LOUIS TRISTAN / LONG JUMP

In the Men's Long Jump qualifying round, held Saturday, August 16, 24-year-old Peruvian jumper Louis Tristan finished 32nd out of 38 with a leap of 7.62 meters. That distance failed to qualify Tristan for the Long Jump final round.

THE BUZZ

Tristan was born in Lima and now lives and trains in Brazil. In a recent interview with Peruanista, he mentioned his frustration with the lack of support given to him, and other top athletes, by the Peruvian government and national sports federation.

MARIA PORTILLA / RUNNING

Runner Maria Portilla will compete in the Women's Marathon this Sunday, August 17, at 7:30 p.m., in National Stadium. Portilla will battle a strong field that includes world champion Catherine Ndereba of Kenya and Paula Radcliffe of Great Britain, who is the world record holder. Radcliffe joined the British team at the last minute before the Games, after having recovered from a stress fracture.

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING ABOUT PORTILLA

Born and raised in Peru's high Andes, 36-year-old Portilla began running in marathons eleven years ago, when she was in danger of failing a physical education exam for a teaching degree she was seeking. Her athletic abilities exceeded everyone's expectations, particularly since she ran her first races barefoot. "I didn't have money for trainers [athletic shoes]," she told a reporter for Reuters. "I ran in my bare feet. People started giving me trainers; that gave me the inspiration to continue," she says. Click here for Reuters' one-minute video interview with Peru's "unlikely marathoner."

PETER LOPEZ / TAEKWONDO

Medal hopes are riding on Peter López, who competes Thursday, August 21, in preliminaries for Men's Taekwondo 68 kg (featherweight).

MUCHO BUZZ ABOUT LOPEZ

Taekwondo insiders are eagerly anticipating a possible match-up between Peru's Peter López and USA's Mark López, who have trained with the same coaches. López is the American-born son of Peruvian parents, who raised him in Peru and the United States. Since the year 2000, he has trained at the prestigious Elite Tae Kwon Do club, in Houston, Texas, alongside world and Olympic champions. He is a six-time U.S. National Team member and a 4-time competing member for the Peruvian Taekwondo Federation. He is the first taekwondo athlete ever to represent Peru in the Olympics. According to one report, López receives US,000 per month for training from the Peru Taekwondo Federation. This contrasts with the situation of other members of the Peru Olympics delegation, who receive little to no support from their respective sports organizations in Peru (if such institutions exist at all). López blogs on his Olympic experience for Lenovo's "Voices of the Olympics" blog. Click here for Peter's own photos of his fellow Olympians doing everyday stuff in Beijing, like eating in the Olympic cafeteria, working out in the gym and getting a haircut. Click here for a short BBC article on López ("Peter Lopez: Going for the Gold") that includes a photo diary of his journey to the Olympics.]]> http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/16/the-buzz-on-peru%e2%80%99s-olympians-week-1-in-review/feed/ 7 Olympic Ceviche with a Political Bite – Pescados Capitales http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/14/olympic-ceviche-with-a-political-bite-%e2%80%93-pescados-capitales/ http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/14/olympic-ceviche-with-a-political-bite-%e2%80%93-pescados-capitales/#comments Thu, 14 Aug 2008 22:53:15 +0000 Barbara http://americaninlima.com/?p=264 Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> So delicious, with a kick of yellow ají: ceviche at Pescados Capitales The hip cevicheria Pescados Capitales, one of Lima's finest seafood restaurants, plays on the Beijing Summer Olympics theme in its current "Pescados Olímpicos" (Olympic Sins) menu. (When you remove the first "s" from "pescados," the Spanish word for fish, it becomes "pecados" or sins. Thus the dual meaning of the restaurant's name: Capital Fish or Capital Sins.) Featured dishes this week include "Tiro olímpico" (Olympic Shooting, 30 soles), a causa made of lenguado, tuna and shrimp; "Ciclismo" (Cycling, 31 soles), salmon rolls with perch and brandied vegetables; and "Natación" (lobster "swimming" in risotto, market price). Those with a reformist bent might try "Antidoping" (37 soles), tuna seared in demi-glace sauce with quail. "Zero tolerance doesn't seem to work," the menu comments (whether about diners being able to resist this dish or Olympic athletes refraining from doping, it's hard to say).  Restaurant owner Nguyen Chávez creates a special weekly menu based on Peruvian politics and controversies. The introduction to this week's Olympic Sins menu gives a taste of Chávez's satiric bite (my translation):
"The Olympic spirit has arrived; let's see who has already won his medal.
"In Obstacle Race: Peru's Minister of the Interior (he raffled everything to remain in office)
"In Throwing the Javelin, Hammer, Shot and Discus: Congress (that's all they do).
"Marathon: This is what the earthquake victims keep running one year after the tragedy [August 15].
"We announce that the president [Alan García] hasn't scored the minimum marks, according to polls. The race has not ended yet, but the public has been accused unjustly of being 'unjust.'
" 'Doping! Doping!' is heard in the bleachers. Alas, many medals are still up for grabs."
Aside from looking for an excuse to poke fun at Peruvian politics, Chávez seized on the Olympic theme for this week's menu because he's a fan of badminton, a sport that Peruvian athlete Claudia Rivero competed in early in the Beijing Games without making it to the finals. "Yes, I was sorry to see her lose," he tells An American in Lima. "And [wrestler] Sixto Barrera, too. They say he was Peru's best hope for a medal." The owner of Pescados Capitales looks forward to seeing Peru's Peter López compete in taekwondo next Thursday, August 21. "I think he could win a medal. We'll see." Chávez deplores Peru's lack of support for its Olympic competitors. "The government does nothing for the athletes," he says. "It's not just about Peru having little money. Look at Cuba, a really poor country, look at Venezuela: They support their athletes. Why not Peru?" He notes that Peru also refuses to give monetary support to its own chess superstar, 17-year-old Emilio Córdoba, who recently won the coveted title of International Grandmaster: "Córdoba had to pay his own way to go to the International Championship. It's not right." "Peru needs to stand behind its chess players and it athletes," says Chávez. "They deserve it, no?" I nod in agreement and dig into my plate of "Paciencia: Cevíche Ghandi" (30 soles), a heavenly dish of raw fish and seafood marinated in lime juice and curry, with slices of mango and mandarin orange. It was worth the ½-hour lunchtime wait. One does need a saint's patience to put up with Peruvian politics, as well as with "making a cola" for a table at one of Lima's hottest restaurants.  Visit Pescados Capitales at Av. La Mar 1337, Miraflores, Lima, Peru. (511) 421-8808 On the web at www.pescados-capitales.com/ Photo of ceviche by www.thousandflavors.com]]> http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/14/olympic-ceviche-with-a-political-bite-%e2%80%93-pescados-capitales/feed/ 2 Peru’s Olympic 13 Are a Horde Compared To… http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/13/peru%e2%80%99s-olympic-13-are-a-horde-compared-to%e2%80%a6/ http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/13/peru%e2%80%99s-olympic-13-are-a-horde-compared-to%e2%80%a6/#comments Wed, 13 Aug 2008 22:22:38 +0000 Barbara http://americaninlima.com/?p=257 Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> [/caption] I was feeling rather forlorn about Peru's small Olympic delegation of 13 athletes. Then I stumbled upon Mashable's "18 Smaller Olympic Countries to Root For." Sean P. Aune writes: It's easy to get wrapped up in all of the big name countries that go to the Olympics, such as the United States or Russia, but have you ever thought about those countries that don't have as much money for a team or only have a few athletes who qualify? My family has a tradition of picking one or two of the smaller countries that can only send one or two athletes to the games, and sort of "adopting" them for us to root for over the course of the competition. This year I am going to be watching Itte Detenamo in weightlifting.  He is from the Republic of Nauru, the world's smallest island nation at only 8.1 square miles.  GO ITTE! Check out Sean's Olympic country maps of lonely onlys and tiny duos, including Grenada, Botswana and the Republic of Mauritania. ]]> http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/13/peru%e2%80%99s-olympic-13-are-a-horde-compared-to%e2%80%a6/feed/ 0 Sixto Barrera Advances to Quarter Finals, Loses to China’s Chang Yongxiang http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/12/sixto-barrera-advances-to-quarter-finals-loses-to-chinas-chang-yongxiang/ http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/12/sixto-barrera-advances-to-quarter-finals-loses-to-chinas-chang-yongxiang/#comments Wed, 13 Aug 2008 04:45:38 +0000 Barbara http://americaninlima.com/?p=232 Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> Sixto Barrera trounced Lithuanian Valdemaras Venckaitis, ranked 3rd in the world, in the first qualifying rounds of Men's Greco-Roman 74 k, in Beijing, on August 12.

Barrera then went against China's Chang Yongxiang in the quarter finals and lost. Chang Yongxiang advances to the finals with Georgia's Manuchar Kvirkelia. This will be China's first-ever medal in wrestling.  Here is my professional opinion about Barrera's loss: Argggh!]]> http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/12/sixto-barrera-advances-to-quarter-finals-loses-to-chinas-chang-yongxiang/feed/ 0 Trying to Watch the Olympics in Peru http://americaninlima.com/2008/09/06/how-pitiful-peru-spends-3-soles-per-peruvian-on-sports/ http://americaninlima.com/2008/09/06/how-pitiful-peru-spends-3-soles-per-peruvian-on-sports/#comments Sat, 06 Sep 2008 15:40:46 +0000 Barbara http://americaninlima.com/?p=492 Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> El Comercio, summarized in English by reporter Israel Ruiz, exposes why Peru performs so abysmally in international sporting events like the Olympics. Here's Ruiz's complete story published today in Living in Peru:
Peruvian sports are trapped in time, said reporters for El Comercio, explaining there were records in the Andean country that had not been broken in almost 40 years. Fernando Acevedo, one of Peru's past athletes that has not had his records broken affirmed he was not proud of this or the difficult situation the country was facing. "The fact that no one has broken my records shows we have not progressed," said Acevedo, explaining that without proper funding and a serious plan for aspiring athletes history would not change. To these troubles is added the fact that the country's ministry of economy has announced it will cut the Peruvian Sports Institute's (IPD) budget. Arturo Woodman, head of the IPD, confirmed that the 2009 budget could be reduced by 20 million soles. "When Alan Garcia came into office there was a 40-million-sol budget for sports. In 2007 it doubled to 80 million soles and this year we have reached 100 million," said Woodman, explaining this was three soles per Peruvian. If this figure were cut, it would place the country's sports budget back at 80 million soles. Woodman explained these figures were minute when compared to other South American countries such as Chile, which has a budget of $90 million and spends $6 per Chilean. He added that Venezuela spends between eight and ten dollars per citizen.
The comparisons are shameful. (For the record: 3 soles translates to little more than US$1.) Surely Peru can do better by its athletes. The proposed IPD budget cuts should not be allowed to take place. Peru also should consider looking to the private sector to finance athletes. How about an annual tax on foreign companies that do business in Peru to go to an athletic fund?]]> http://americaninlima.com/2008/09/06/how-pitiful-peru-spends-3-soles-per-peruvian-on-sports/feed/ 0 An American in Lima » Peru Olympics http://americaninlima.com slices of my life in Peru Sat, 12 Mar 2011 22:55:48 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 How Pitiful! Peru Spends 3 Soles per Peruvian on Sports http://americaninlima.com/2008/09/06/how-pitiful-peru-spends-3-soles-per-peruvian-on-sports/ http://americaninlima.com/2008/09/06/how-pitiful-peru-spends-3-soles-per-peruvian-on-sports/#comments Sat, 06 Sep 2008 15:40:46 +0000 Barbara http://americaninlima.com/?p=492 Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> El Comercio, summarized in English by reporter Israel Ruiz, exposes why Peru performs so abysmally in international sporting events like the Olympics. Here's Ruiz's complete story published today in Living in Peru:
Peruvian sports are trapped in time, said reporters for El Comercio, explaining there were records in the Andean country that had not been broken in almost 40 years. Fernando Acevedo, one of Peru's past athletes that has not had his records broken affirmed he was not proud of this or the difficult situation the country was facing. "The fact that no one has broken my records shows we have not progressed," said Acevedo, explaining that without proper funding and a serious plan for aspiring athletes history would not change. To these troubles is added the fact that the country's ministry of economy has announced it will cut the Peruvian Sports Institute's (IPD) budget. Arturo Woodman, head of the IPD, confirmed that the 2009 budget could be reduced by 20 million soles. "When Alan Garcia came into office there was a 40-million-sol budget for sports. In 2007 it doubled to 80 million soles and this year we have reached 100 million," said Woodman, explaining this was three soles per Peruvian. If this figure were cut, it would place the country's sports budget back at 80 million soles. Woodman explained these figures were minute when compared to other South American countries such as Chile, which has a budget of million and spends per Chilean. He added that Venezuela spends between eight and ten dollars per citizen.
The comparisons are shameful. (For the record: 3 soles translates to little more than US.) Surely Peru can do better by its athletes. The proposed IPD budget cuts should not be allowed to take place. Peru also should consider looking to the private sector to finance athletes. How about an annual tax on foreign companies that do business in Peru to go to an athletic fund?]]> http://americaninlima.com/2008/09/06/how-pitiful-peru-spends-3-soles-per-peruvian-on-sports/feed/ 0 Peru’s Porters Win Ausangate Gold Medal for Weightlifting http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/28/peru%e2%80%99s-porters-win-ausangate-gold-medal-for-weightlifting/ http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/28/peru%e2%80%99s-porters-win-ausangate-gold-medal-for-weightlifting/#comments Thu, 28 Aug 2008 19:43:48 +0000 Barbara http://americaninlima.com/?p=421 Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> The Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics are officially over, the winners have scurried home with their medals, and the losing athletes are either chastised, pitied or forgotten by most of the world. No laurel wreath, no glory, the Olympic equation goes. Not on this blog, however. In the same spirit of honoring athletic excellence that inspired the first Olympic Games, An American in Lima introduces the Ausangate Awards for High-Altitude Athletic Achievement. Just as the Olympic Games are named after Greece's highest mountain, Mount Olympus (2,919 meters above sea level), the Ausangate Awards take as their namesake the tallest peak in the Cordillera Vilcanota, Mount Ausangate (6,384 meters / 20,945 feet above sea level), which towers over the south Peruvian Andes. The Andes are the second-highest mountain range in the world, after the Himalayas. The Gold Medal in High-Altitude Weightlifting goes to the porters of Cusco, Peru, who for hundreds of years have carried superhuman loads on their backs at altitudes of 4,000 to 5,000 meters and above. The Gold Medal is shared by the sherpas, high in the Himalayan mountain range. These high-altitude dwellers possess remarkable physical strength, stamina and ability to withstand staggering extremes of altitude and temperature. These qualities distinguish the Cusco porters and the Nepalese sherpas as among the world's elite athletes. Despite their physical prowess and lifetimes of service, however, the porters and sherpas are largely unknown to the world at large. They live and die literally in the clouds, often in extreme poverty. To understand their struggles is to realize the true meaning of "heroic" – a heroism that has nothing to do with million-dollar corporate sponsorships, winner-take-all competition, expensive doping cocktails and bloated nationalist sentiment. Curious to learn more about these unsung heroes? Read on…. The people who live within sight of high mountain ranges such as the Vilcanota, the Cordillera Blanca and the Himalayas endure extremely difficult and hazardous conditions: extreme cold, blinding sunlight, and decreased oxygen (up to 50% less than that at sea level) in high altitudes. Over thousands of years, the bodies of native mountain-dwellers have evolved various adaptation mechanisms to derive more oxygen from the air and to circulate oxygen more efficiently through the bloodstream. (Read this remarkable article in the 2/25/04 National Geographic about how mountain dwellers' bodies have adapted to their extreme environments.) People in the Andes and the Himalayas walk great distances each day, and develop strong muscles in their legs with which to navigate the rugged terrain. In many physical respects, they are superhuman. Yet despite these physical adaptations, porters and sherpas often succumb to illness, disease and fatal accidents. The porters of Cusco (known as cargadors in Spanish) perform a vital service for merchants and trekkers in the Andes region. Following pre-Columbian traditions, today's porters traverse on foot throughout the cities and mountains of the Andes region, carrying up to 240 pounds on their back. Porters typically work 14- to 16-hour days and traverse 20 to 30 miles daily across the abrupt geography of the Andes. Porters are hired to carry a variety of items. Some are paid by farmers to carry their produce (potatoes, corn, wool) and animals to market. Others haul mattresses, refrigerators, kerosene stoves and cabinets for merchants in Cusco. An even greater number tote trekkers' backpacks and camping gear along the Inca Trail, to the summits of Machu Picchu, Ausangate and the Cordillera Blanca. Without these porters, tens of thousands of tourists would not be able to experience the wonders of Peru's mountain settings. Porters also assist glaciologists, archaeologists and other scientists in their expeditions. The typical rate for a porter is just to per day (less than what it costs to rent a llama). Often porters cannot afford to buy food, so they sustain their energy on the trail by chewing coca leaves, whose juice provides energy and minerals. (Coca leaves are not a drug like cocaine.) Understandable, many porters are chronically malnourished. Not only do porters suffer physically, they also endure emotional abuse as members of Peru's ethnic underclass. Peruvian-born photographer Jorge Vera, who has documented the lives of Andean porters since 1995, notes that porters in Cusco are overwhelmingly of native Andean descent; most speak only their native Quechua and Aymara dialects. Unable to converse in Spanish with shop owners and merchants, who are often mestizo or white, the porters are vulnerable to being verbally abused or taken advantage of financially. In general, other Peruvians look down on porters, Vera notes:
"Porters are a cast of people set aside into social darkness and economic stigma and used exclusively as human beasts of burden. Without labor, medical and or social care programs, porters in Peru are truly modern-day outcasts, a disposable humanity in the midst of a booming multi-million dollar annual tourist industry."
He adds:
"I started to photograph porters in the Peruvian Andes during my wedding trip home in 1995. As a child growing up in Peru, I had never fully realized the role these porter children, women and men play in the commercial transportation of goods for hire. In some cases entire nomadic clans or families of porters are managed by Westernized, Spanish-speaking mestizo-operated businesses.
"Severely underpaid, Porters are recompensed sometimes only with meals, used shoes or clothing, and most commonly with coca leaves, a must to numb their bodies to the brutal labor and the exposure to the nightly frigid cold of the high Andes. Life expectancy for porters is short, often falling prey to tragic accidents in the precipices of the Andes, theft and most often sheer exhaustion."
In 2003 Vera came to Cusco to assist with a newly formed porter's union, the first in that city. Vera took photographs for the porter's first-ever ID tags. This documentation was crucial to establish the porters as full-fledged workers in the Cusco economy (prior to 2003, the ID-less porters often were made scapegoats for thefts). Vera's portraits of porters can be seen online at his photo.net site. Cusco porter, photo by Jorge Vera 2003 1 Other efforts to improve the lives of Andean porters were made in the early 2000s, when the NGO "Casa del Cargador" was launched in Peru. This social-assistance program provided refuge, education and support to porters in the Cusco area (read more about it here). Sadly, the program appears to have been dissolved as of 2008 (posts on the Web site ended in 2006). Worldwide, however, support for porters has grown in recent years. The International Porter Protection Group (IPPG) is dedicated to improving the safety of mountain porters. The IPPG website notes:
IPPG aims to improve safety and health for porter working in the mountains for the trekking industry worldwide. We work to eradicate avoidable illness, injury and death. We do this by raising awareness of the issues among travel companies, guides, trek leaders, sirdars (porters' foremen), and trekkers.
IPPG also supports porters in their quest for a decent wage and freedom from overloading (especially at high altitude).
Please visit the IPCC Web site to learn how you can help porters in Peru and elsewhere. More web resources include the blog The Mountain Porter, which provides current global news on porter issues, the 2006 Guardian Eco-Dilemma article on “Is It OK to Hire a Mountain Porter?” and Tourism Concert’s article “Trekking Wrongs: Porters’ Rights.”  For a list of UK tour operators with ethical porter policies, click here.  To the thousands of porters who cart their Sisyphean loads across the Andes and Himalayas: An American in Lima salutes you. ---Barbara R. Drake
]]> http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/28/peru%e2%80%99s-porters-win-ausangate-gold-medal-for-weightlifting/feed/ 2 Peru Olympic Wrap-up: Week 2 in Review http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/23/peru-olympic-wrap-up-week-2-in-review/ http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/23/peru-olympic-wrap-up-week-2-in-review/#comments Sun, 24 Aug 2008 01:43:35 +0000 Barbara http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/23/peru-olympic-wrap-up-week-2-in-review/ Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> Samuel Wansiru wins the gold with the impressive time of 2:06:32, setting a new Olympic Record. At 44 seconds behind Wansiru, Jaouad Gharib of Morocco grabs the silver with 2:07:16 (he also breaks the previous OR), and Deriba Merga, of Ethiopia, wins the bronze with 2:10:00. It's an African sweep. I keep hitting "refresh" on the official Olympics page for Men's Marathon Results: with each click, another exhausted runner clocks in his final time. Still no sign of León. I hope he didn't collapse. Thirteen runners have dropped out of the marathon thus far, including two runners from Brazil and another from Venezuela. Okay. León just crossed the 40-km mark, still in 63rd place. Corre, Constantino, corre! There's still time to improve your standing, carajo! While I have a moment, let me recap the week's events for Peru's Olympic athletes.
  1. Peru didn't win any Olympic medals.
  2. Peter López was in serious running for a bronze in taekwondo, but ceded victory to other athletes.
  3. Sailor Paloma Schmidt finished 26th in Laser Radial, after nine grueling races.
  4. María Portilla ran 39th in the Women's Marathon, beating her own personal best time.
And – now it's official – Peru's Constantino León has finished in 61st place in Men's Marathon, moving up two notches in the rankings. He must have heard me nagging him all the way from the Lima. Leon's final time was 2:28:04, 21 minutes and 32 seconds behind Wansiru.]]> http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/23/peru-olympic-wrap-up-week-2-in-review/feed/ 9 Constantino Leon Last Olympian to Compete for Peru; Peter Lopez Misses Bronze in Taekwondo http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/21/constantino-leon-peter-lopez/ http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/21/constantino-leon-peter-lopez/#comments Thu, 21 Aug 2008 18:41:09 +0000 Barbara http://americaninlima.com/?p=391 Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> Peru's Olympic marathon runner Constantino Leon competing in Nairobi[/caption] Peru's original field of 13 Olympic contenders is now down to one athlete: marathon runner Constantino Leon. Leon will compete Saturday, August 23, starting at 6:30 p.m. (Beijing time), in the Men's Marathon. For fans in Peru, that translates to Sunday, August 24, starting at 7:30 a.m. Thus far, no athletes representing Peru have won a medal in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Constantino became Peru's last Olympic contender after taekwondo athlete Peter Lopez failed to secure the bronze in the Men's 68 kg. competition on Thursday, August 21. [caption id="attachment_394" align="aligncenter" width="270" caption="Lopez battles Mohammad"][/caption] Lopez was victorious in his first two matches on Thursday, beating Australia's Burak Hasan 3-1 in the preliminaries and Nigeria's Isah Adam Mohammad 3-0 in the quarter finals. He advanced the semi-finals where he was defeated by USA's Mark Lopez (no relation) 2-1. The two Lopezes were training partners at Elite taekwondo center in Houston. A subsequent match between Peter Lopez and Servet Tazegul, of Turkey, saw Peru's chances at a bronze dashed with Tazegul beat Lopez 1-0. Korea's Son Taejin won gold and USA's Mark Lopez won silver in the event. The bronze medal was shared by Tazegul and Chinese Taipai's Sung Yu-Chi. For other reports from An American in Lima on Peru's Olympic athletes, see: Keeping Up with Peru's Olympians (Aug. 11, 2008) Trying to Watch the Olympics in Peru (Aug. 11, 2008)  "Sixto Barrera Wants to Win Medal for Peru, Self & God" (Aug. 12, 2008) Sixto Barrera Advances to Quarter Finals, Loses to China's Chang Yongxiang (Aug. 12, 2008) Peru's Olympians, Part II (Aug. 13, 2008) Peru's Olympic 13 Are a Horde Compared To... (Aug. 13, 2008) The Buzz on Peru's Olympians: Week 1 in Review (Aug. 16, 2008) Maria Portilla: I Am Thrilled to Have Given My All in Beijing (Aug. 19, 2008)]]> http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/21/constantino-leon-peter-lopez/feed/ 0 The Buzz on Peru’s Olympians, Week 1 in Review, Aug. 9 – 16 http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/16/the-buzz-on-peru%e2%80%99s-olympians-week-1-in-review/ http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/16/the-buzz-on-peru%e2%80%99s-olympians-week-1-in-review/#comments Sun, 17 Aug 2008 03:28:17 +0000 Barbara http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/16/the-buzz-on-peru%e2%80%99s-olympians-week-1-in-review/ Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> The first week (August 10 - 16) of competition at the Beijing 2008 Olympics saw some encouraging efforts by Peruvian athletes but no medals. Here is a roundup of how Peru's 13-member Olympic delegation has performed so far, along with buzz about the athletes from English-speaking media, bloggers and fans. (Plus blog reactions by Peru athletes like Peter Lopez, who posted the photo above on his Olympic blog "Camino a la Gloria" (Road to Glory) on Monday, Aug. 11.)

SIXTO BARRERA / WRESTLING 

Wrestler Sixto Barrera, considered by many to be Peru's best chance for a medal, got off to a strong start on Tuesday (Aug. 12), when he trounced the world's third-ranked Valdemaras Venckaitis of Lithuania, 3-1, in the first round of Men's Greco-Roman 74 k. That victory propelled him to the quarter finals against China's Chang Yongxiang, who turned the tables on Barrera, beating him 3-1. Barrera told RPP reporters in Beijing that his elbow was badly hurt in the match when Chang applied an "improper hold." Injured and in pain, Barrera suffered a total defeat to Bulgaria's Yavor Yanakiev in the Round 2 Repechage (score: 3-0). Yanakiev, the 2007 world champion, went on to win the Olympic bronze medal on Wedesday (Aug. 13), Chang won the silver. Georgia's Manuchar Kvirkelia won his country's first wrestling gold.

BUZZ ABOUT BARRERA

Sixto Barrera drew cheers from fans in Bird's Nest Stadium and Peruvian viewers around the world when he carried Peru's flag in the opening ceremonies on Saturday (Aug. 9). Barrera told reporters that the experience was "a dream come true." Barrera's life story drew attention from reporters and bloggers in Peru and the United States. Blogger CarlosQC from Washington, DC (who also scribes as Peruanista) highlighted Barrera's challenges as an Afro-Peruvian confronting racism and lack of support in his native country. An American in Lima explored the wrestler's spiritual faith and admiration for San Martin de Porres, the first black saint of the Americas.

CLAUDIA RIVERO / BADMINTON

 Claudia Rivero, Peru's top-ranked badminton player, lost in Women's Singles to France's Pi Hongyan 2 - 0 (21-6 and 21-6), on Sunday (Aug. 10). That defeat made Rivero ineligible for further competition at the Games. Gold and Silver in Women's Singles Badminton went to Zhang Ning and Zie Xingfang, both of China; Maria Kristin Yulianti, of Indonesia, won the Bronze on Saturday, August 16.

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ….

The 21-year-old Rivero trained for the games in Germany, thanks to an Olympic Solidarity Scholarship sponsored by the Badminton World Federation. Rivero blogged for CNN about her preparations for the Olympics (See Athlete's Blog: Claudia Rivero). Male admirers confessed to "falling in love" with Rivero on the Discussion Board at BadmintonCentral.com.

VALERIA SILVA / SWIMMING

Swimmer Valeria Silva finished 38th in the preliminaries of the 100-meter breaststroke with a personal-best time of 1:11.64 but did not advance. Australia's Leisel Jones won the gold in women's 100-meter breaststroke on Tuesday, August 12. Rebecca Soni (USA) and Mirna Jukic (Austria) won silver and bronze, respectively.

BUZZ ABOUT SILVA

A senior at University of Michigan, Silva competes for the UMich swim team along with Olympic god (we can call him that now) Michael Phelps. Silva's academic major is Brain, Behavior and Cognitive Science. She attended Lima's Humbolt school.

EMMANUEL JOSE CRESCIMBENI / SWIMMING

Eighteen-year-old swimmer Emmanuel José Crescimbeni finished 41st in the preliminaries of the 200-meter butterfly with a time of 2:02:13 but did not advance. Gold in the men's 200-meter butterfly went to Michael Phelps (USA), Silver to Laszlo Cseh (Hungary) and Bronze to Takeshi Matsuda (Japan), on Wednesday, August 13.

BUZZ ON EMMAN

Crescimbeni, known as "Emman" to his friends, attends Calvary Christian School in St. Petersburg, Florida. He has dual U.S./Peruvian citizenship. His parents are from Callao. He will attend the University of Florida next year. An in-depth profile of "the fastest swimmer you've never heard of" (to quote Crescimbeni's coach) ran in the Oct. 27, 2007, St. Petersburg Times ("Looking Back, Swimmer's Talent Couldn't Be Ignored").

MARIA LUISA DOIG / FENCING

In Women's Individual Foil fencer Maria Luisa Doig crossed swords last Sunday (Aug. 10) with Germany's Katja Waechter, who beat her 4-15. Italians Maria Valentina Vezzali and Margherita Granbassi won Gold and Bronze, respectively. Korea's Nam Hyunhee took the Silver.

MORE ABOUT DOIG

At 16 years old, Doig is Peru's youngest delegate to the Beijing games.  A widely publicized APF/Getty photo of Doig reacting to her loss against Waechter ran in USA Today and countless online sites.

PALOMA SCHMIDT / SAILING

Hard-working sailor Paloma Schmidt, who represents Peru in Laser Radial – One-person Dinghy, has competed in five races since Tuesday, August 12, and is schedule to sail in an additional five races on Sunday, August 17 and Monday, August 18, before the medal-winners are decided. Schmidt ranked No. 9 after her first race, then fell to 28 in race 4, before climbing to No. 14 in her latest race. Schmidt's individual race rankings are: 9 (Race 1), 26 (Race 2), 27 (Race 3), 28 (Race 4) and 14 (Race 5). The Olympics' sailing events take place in the Chinese coastal city of Qingdao.

BIRD BUZZ

Schmidt trains at Yacht Club Peruano, in La Punta, Callao, notes her sailor bio on ISAF. Her nickname is "Bird," in reference to her first name, which means "dove" in Spanish. Visit Schmidt's personal blog "Sailor Bird" (written in Spanish) to read about her preparations for the Olympics.

CARLOS ZEGARRA / JUDO

The "Peruvian giant" Carlos Zegarra competed in Men's Judo +100 kg on Friday, August 15, in USTB Gymnasium. Zegarra beat Argentina's Sandro Lopez in the 2:17 min. preliminary bout with a side four-corner hold. Less than an hour later, he lost to Cuba's Oscar Brayson and then to Lebanon's Rudy Hachache in Repechage, thus ending his chances for a medal. Medallists in Men's Judo +100 kg were Satoshi Ishii of Japan (Gold), Abdullo Tangriev of Uzbekistan (Silver) and Oscar Brayson of Cuba and Teddy Riner of France (sharing Bronze).

ZEGARRA FACTOIDS

  • Height: 6'8" tall
  • Weight: 352 pounds
  • Occupation: Security guard
  • Favorite food: fried calamari
  • Nickname: Chiquito

MARCO MATELLINI / SHOOTING

Skeet shooter Marco Matellini got off to a disappointing start on Friday, August 15, finishing last in a field of 41 competitors. He moved up one notch to 40th place on Saturday, August 16.

PERUVIANS DO KNOW HOW TO SHOOT

A photo of Matellini blowing into the barrel of his gun was featured in USA Today. Shooting is the one sport in which Peru has won Olympic gold. Peruvian Edward Vasquez Cam won the gold in Men's Free Pistol in 1946. More recently, Peru won silver medals in Trap Shooting (Francisco Boza, 1984) and Skeet Shooting (Juan Giha, 1992).

CRISTINA CORNEJO / WEIGHTLIFTING

Cornejo competes in Olympics +75 kg 1 Peru's powerful 22-year-old female weightlifter Cristina Cornejo went up against the big girls Saturday, August 16, in the +75 kg category. Cornejo finished 10th, tied with Eva Dimas of El Salvador. Cornejo lifted 97 kg in the Snatch, compared to first-place winner Jang Miran of Korea, who set new Olympic and World records with her 140-kg hoist that night. In the Clean & Jerk, Cornejo lifted 128 kg, nearly 60 kg below Miran's Olympic and World record-breaking lifts of 183 kg. and 186 kg. Cornejo took part in what will be remembered as a historic night in women's weightlifting. In Women's 75+ kg. Weightlifting, Miran took home the Gold for Korea, Olha Korobka took Silver for the Ukraine, and Mariya Grabovetskaya won Bronze for Kazakhstan.

THE CAMERA LOVES YOU, CRISTINA!

I love these APF/Getty images of Cornejo at Saturday's competition. This girl is mighty, mighty!   [caption id="attachment_339" align="alignleft" width="184" caption="Cristina Cornejo reacts after failing a lift in Beijing Olympics"]Cristina Cornejo reacts after failing a lift in Beijing Olympics[/caption]  

LOUIS TRISTAN / LONG JUMP

In the Men's Long Jump qualifying round, held Saturday, August 16, 24-year-old Peruvian jumper Louis Tristan finished 32nd out of 38 with a leap of 7.62 meters. That distance failed to qualify Tristan for the Long Jump final round.

THE BUZZ

Tristan was born in Lima and now lives and trains in Brazil. In a recent interview with Peruanista, he mentioned his frustration with the lack of support given to him, and other top athletes, by the Peruvian government and national sports federation.

MARIA PORTILLA / RUNNING

Runner Maria Portilla will compete in the Women's Marathon this Sunday, August 17, at 7:30 p.m., in National Stadium. Portilla will battle a strong field that includes world champion Catherine Ndereba of Kenya and Paula Radcliffe of Great Britain, who is the world record holder. Radcliffe joined the British team at the last minute before the Games, after having recovered from a stress fracture.

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING ABOUT PORTILLA

Born and raised in Peru's high Andes, 36-year-old Portilla began running in marathons eleven years ago, when she was in danger of failing a physical education exam for a teaching degree she was seeking. Her athletic abilities exceeded everyone's expectations, particularly since she ran her first races barefoot. "I didn't have money for trainers [athletic shoes]," she told a reporter for Reuters. "I ran in my bare feet. People started giving me trainers; that gave me the inspiration to continue," she says. Click here for Reuters' one-minute video interview with Peru's "unlikely marathoner."

PETER LOPEZ / TAEKWONDO

Medal hopes are riding on Peter López, who competes Thursday, August 21, in preliminaries for Men's Taekwondo 68 kg (featherweight).

MUCHO BUZZ ABOUT LOPEZ

Taekwondo insiders are eagerly anticipating a possible match-up between Peru's Peter López and USA's Mark López, who have trained with the same coaches. López is the American-born son of Peruvian parents, who raised him in Peru and the United States. Since the year 2000, he has trained at the prestigious Elite Tae Kwon Do club, in Houston, Texas, alongside world and Olympic champions. He is a six-time U.S. National Team member and a 4-time competing member for the Peruvian Taekwondo Federation. He is the first taekwondo athlete ever to represent Peru in the Olympics. According to one report, López receives US,000 per month for training from the Peru Taekwondo Federation. This contrasts with the situation of other members of the Peru Olympics delegation, who receive little to no support from their respective sports organizations in Peru (if such institutions exist at all). López blogs on his Olympic experience for Lenovo's "Voices of the Olympics" blog. Click here for Peter's own photos of his fellow Olympians doing everyday stuff in Beijing, like eating in the Olympic cafeteria, working out in the gym and getting a haircut. Click here for a short BBC article on López ("Peter Lopez: Going for the Gold") that includes a photo diary of his journey to the Olympics.]]> http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/16/the-buzz-on-peru%e2%80%99s-olympians-week-1-in-review/feed/ 7 Olympic Ceviche with a Political Bite – Pescados Capitales http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/14/olympic-ceviche-with-a-political-bite-%e2%80%93-pescados-capitales/ http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/14/olympic-ceviche-with-a-political-bite-%e2%80%93-pescados-capitales/#comments Thu, 14 Aug 2008 22:53:15 +0000 Barbara http://americaninlima.com/?p=264 Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> So delicious, with a kick of yellow ají: ceviche at Pescados Capitales The hip cevicheria Pescados Capitales, one of Lima's finest seafood restaurants, plays on the Beijing Summer Olympics theme in its current "Pescados Olímpicos" (Olympic Sins) menu. (When you remove the first "s" from "pescados," the Spanish word for fish, it becomes "pecados" or sins. Thus the dual meaning of the restaurant's name: Capital Fish or Capital Sins.) Featured dishes this week include "Tiro olímpico" (Olympic Shooting, 30 soles), a causa made of lenguado, tuna and shrimp; "Ciclismo" (Cycling, 31 soles), salmon rolls with perch and brandied vegetables; and "Natación" (lobster "swimming" in risotto, market price). Those with a reformist bent might try "Antidoping" (37 soles), tuna seared in demi-glace sauce with quail. "Zero tolerance doesn't seem to work," the menu comments (whether about diners being able to resist this dish or Olympic athletes refraining from doping, it's hard to say).  Restaurant owner Nguyen Chávez creates a special weekly menu based on Peruvian politics and controversies. The introduction to this week's Olympic Sins menu gives a taste of Chávez's satiric bite (my translation):
"The Olympic spirit has arrived; let's see who has already won his medal.
"In Obstacle Race: Peru's Minister of the Interior (he raffled everything to remain in office)
"In Throwing the Javelin, Hammer, Shot and Discus: Congress (that's all they do).
"Marathon: This is what the earthquake victims keep running one year after the tragedy [August 15].
"We announce that the president [Alan García] hasn't scored the minimum marks, according to polls. The race has not ended yet, but the public has been accused unjustly of being 'unjust.'
" 'Doping! Doping!' is heard in the bleachers. Alas, many medals are still up for grabs."
Aside from looking for an excuse to poke fun at Peruvian politics, Chávez seized on the Olympic theme for this week's menu because he's a fan of badminton, a sport that Peruvian athlete Claudia Rivero competed in early in the Beijing Games without making it to the finals. "Yes, I was sorry to see her lose," he tells An American in Lima. "And [wrestler] Sixto Barrera, too. They say he was Peru's best hope for a medal." The owner of Pescados Capitales looks forward to seeing Peru's Peter López compete in taekwondo next Thursday, August 21. "I think he could win a medal. We'll see." Chávez deplores Peru's lack of support for its Olympic competitors. "The government does nothing for the athletes," he says. "It's not just about Peru having little money. Look at Cuba, a really poor country, look at Venezuela: They support their athletes. Why not Peru?" He notes that Peru also refuses to give monetary support to its own chess superstar, 17-year-old Emilio Córdoba, who recently won the coveted title of International Grandmaster: "Córdoba had to pay his own way to go to the International Championship. It's not right." "Peru needs to stand behind its chess players and it athletes," says Chávez. "They deserve it, no?" I nod in agreement and dig into my plate of "Paciencia: Cevíche Ghandi" (30 soles), a heavenly dish of raw fish and seafood marinated in lime juice and curry, with slices of mango and mandarin orange. It was worth the ½-hour lunchtime wait. One does need a saint's patience to put up with Peruvian politics, as well as with "making a cola" for a table at one of Lima's hottest restaurants.  Visit Pescados Capitales at Av. La Mar 1337, Miraflores, Lima, Peru. (511) 421-8808 On the web at www.pescados-capitales.com/ Photo of ceviche by www.thousandflavors.com]]> http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/14/olympic-ceviche-with-a-political-bite-%e2%80%93-pescados-capitales/feed/ 2 Peru’s Olympic 13 Are a Horde Compared To… http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/13/peru%e2%80%99s-olympic-13-are-a-horde-compared-to%e2%80%a6/ http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/13/peru%e2%80%99s-olympic-13-are-a-horde-compared-to%e2%80%a6/#comments Wed, 13 Aug 2008 22:22:38 +0000 Barbara http://americaninlima.com/?p=257 Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> [/caption] I was feeling rather forlorn about Peru's small Olympic delegation of 13 athletes. Then I stumbled upon Mashable's "18 Smaller Olympic Countries to Root For." Sean P. Aune writes: It's easy to get wrapped up in all of the big name countries that go to the Olympics, such as the United States or Russia, but have you ever thought about those countries that don't have as much money for a team or only have a few athletes who qualify? My family has a tradition of picking one or two of the smaller countries that can only send one or two athletes to the games, and sort of "adopting" them for us to root for over the course of the competition. This year I am going to be watching Itte Detenamo in weightlifting.  He is from the Republic of Nauru, the world's smallest island nation at only 8.1 square miles.  GO ITTE! Check out Sean's Olympic country maps of lonely onlys and tiny duos, including Grenada, Botswana and the Republic of Mauritania. ]]> http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/13/peru%e2%80%99s-olympic-13-are-a-horde-compared-to%e2%80%a6/feed/ 0 Sixto Barrera Advances to Quarter Finals, Loses to China’s Chang Yongxiang http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/12/sixto-barrera-advances-to-quarter-finals-loses-to-chinas-chang-yongxiang/ http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/12/sixto-barrera-advances-to-quarter-finals-loses-to-chinas-chang-yongxiang/#comments Wed, 13 Aug 2008 04:45:38 +0000 Barbara http://americaninlima.com/?p=232 Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> Sixto Barrera trounced Lithuanian Valdemaras Venckaitis, ranked 3rd in the world, in the first qualifying rounds of Men's Greco-Roman 74 k, in Beijing, on August 12.

Barrera then went against China's Chang Yongxiang in the quarter finals and lost. Chang Yongxiang advances to the finals with Georgia's Manuchar Kvirkelia. This will be China's first-ever medal in wrestling.  Here is my professional opinion about Barrera's loss: Argggh!]]> http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/12/sixto-barrera-advances-to-quarter-finals-loses-to-chinas-chang-yongxiang/feed/ 0 Trying to Watch the Olympics in Peru http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/28/peru%e2%80%99s-porters-win-ausangate-gold-medal-for-weightlifting/ http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/28/peru%e2%80%99s-porters-win-ausangate-gold-medal-for-weightlifting/#comments Thu, 28 Aug 2008 19:43:48 +0000 Barbara http://americaninlima.com/?p=421 Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> The Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics are officially over, the winners have scurried home with their medals, and the losing athletes are either chastised, pitied or forgotten by most of the world. No laurel wreath, no glory, the Olympic equation goes. Not on this blog, however. In the same spirit of honoring athletic excellence that inspired the first Olympic Games, An American in Lima introduces the Ausangate Awards for High-Altitude Athletic Achievement. Just as the Olympic Games are named after Greece's highest mountain, Mount Olympus (2,919 meters above sea level), the Ausangate Awards take as their namesake the tallest peak in the Cordillera Vilcanota, Mount Ausangate (6,384 meters / 20,945 feet above sea level), which towers over the south Peruvian Andes. The Andes are the second-highest mountain range in the world, after the Himalayas. The Gold Medal in High-Altitude Weightlifting goes to the porters of Cusco, Peru, who for hundreds of years have carried superhuman loads on their backs at altitudes of 4,000 to 5,000 meters and above. The Gold Medal is shared by the sherpas, high in the Himalayan mountain range. These high-altitude dwellers possess remarkable physical strength, stamina and ability to withstand staggering extremes of altitude and temperature. These qualities distinguish the Cusco porters and the Nepalese sherpas as among the world's elite athletes. Despite their physical prowess and lifetimes of service, however, the porters and sherpas are largely unknown to the world at large. They live and die literally in the clouds, often in extreme poverty. To understand their struggles is to realize the true meaning of "heroic" – a heroism that has nothing to do with million-dollar corporate sponsorships, winner-take-all competition, expensive doping cocktails and bloated nationalist sentiment. Curious to learn more about these unsung heroes? Read on…. The people who live within sight of high mountain ranges such as the Vilcanota, the Cordillera Blanca and the Himalayas endure extremely difficult and hazardous conditions: extreme cold, blinding sunlight, and decreased oxygen (up to 50% less than that at sea level) in high altitudes. Over thousands of years, the bodies of native mountain-dwellers have evolved various adaptation mechanisms to derive more oxygen from the air and to circulate oxygen more efficiently through the bloodstream. (Read this remarkable article in the 2/25/04 National Geographic about how mountain dwellers' bodies have adapted to their extreme environments.) People in the Andes and the Himalayas walk great distances each day, and develop strong muscles in their legs with which to navigate the rugged terrain. In many physical respects, they are superhuman. Yet despite these physical adaptations, porters and sherpas often succumb to illness, disease and fatal accidents. The porters of Cusco (known as cargadors in Spanish) perform a vital service for merchants and trekkers in the Andes region. Following pre-Columbian traditions, today's porters traverse on foot throughout the cities and mountains of the Andes region, carrying up to 240 pounds on their back. Porters typically work 14- to 16-hour days and traverse 20 to 30 miles daily across the abrupt geography of the Andes. Porters are hired to carry a variety of items. Some are paid by farmers to carry their produce (potatoes, corn, wool) and animals to market. Others haul mattresses, refrigerators, kerosene stoves and cabinets for merchants in Cusco. An even greater number tote trekkers' backpacks and camping gear along the Inca Trail, to the summits of Machu Picchu, Ausangate and the Cordillera Blanca. Without these porters, tens of thousands of tourists would not be able to experience the wonders of Peru's mountain settings. Porters also assist glaciologists, archaeologists and other scientists in their expeditions. The typical rate for a porter is just $3 to $5 per day (less than what it costs to rent a llama). Often porters cannot afford to buy food, so they sustain their energy on the trail by chewing coca leaves, whose juice provides energy and minerals. (Coca leaves are not a drug like cocaine.) Understandable, many porters are chronically malnourished. Not only do porters suffer physically, they also endure emotional abuse as members of Peru's ethnic underclass. Peruvian-born photographer Jorge Vera, who has documented the lives of Andean porters since 1995, notes that porters in Cusco are overwhelmingly of native Andean descent; most speak only their native Quechua and Aymara dialects. Unable to converse in Spanish with shop owners and merchants, who are often mestizo or white, the porters are vulnerable to being verbally abused or taken advantage of financially. In general, other Peruvians look down on porters, Vera notes:
"Porters are a cast of people set aside into social darkness and economic stigma and used exclusively as human beasts of burden. Without labor, medical and or social care programs, porters in Peru are truly modern-day outcasts, a disposable humanity in the midst of a booming multi-million dollar annual tourist industry."
He adds:
"I started to photograph porters in the Peruvian Andes during my wedding trip home in 1995. As a child growing up in Peru, I had never fully realized the role these porter children, women and men play in the commercial transportation of goods for hire. In some cases entire nomadic clans or families of porters are managed by Westernized, Spanish-speaking mestizo-operated businesses.
"Severely underpaid, Porters are recompensed sometimes only with meals, used shoes or clothing, and most commonly with coca leaves, a must to numb their bodies to the brutal labor and the exposure to the nightly frigid cold of the high Andes. Life expectancy for porters is short, often falling prey to tragic accidents in the precipices of the Andes, theft and most often sheer exhaustion."
In 2003 Vera came to Cusco to assist with a newly formed porter's union, the first in that city. Vera took photographs for the porter's first-ever ID tags. This documentation was crucial to establish the porters as full-fledged workers in the Cusco economy (prior to 2003, the ID-less porters often were made scapegoats for thefts). Vera's portraits of porters can be seen online at his photo.net site. Cusco porter, photo by Jorge Vera 2003 1 Other efforts to improve the lives of Andean porters were made in the early 2000s, when the NGO "Casa del Cargador" was launched in Peru. This social-assistance program provided refuge, education and support to porters in the Cusco area (read more about it here). Sadly, the program appears to have been dissolved as of 2008 (posts on the Web site ended in 2006). Worldwide, however, support for porters has grown in recent years. The International Porter Protection Group (IPPG) is dedicated to improving the safety of mountain porters. The IPPG website notes:
IPPG aims to improve safety and health for porter working in the mountains for the trekking industry worldwide. We work to eradicate avoidable illness, injury and death. We do this by raising awareness of the issues among travel companies, guides, trek leaders, sirdars (porters' foremen), and trekkers.
IPPG also supports porters in their quest for a decent wage and freedom from overloading (especially at high altitude).
Please visit the IPCC Web site to learn how you can help porters in Peru and elsewhere. More web resources include the blog The Mountain Porter, which provides current global news on porter issues, the 2006 Guardian Eco-Dilemma article on “Is It OK to Hire a Mountain Porter?” and Tourism Concert’s article “Trekking Wrongs: Porters’ Rights.”  For a list of UK tour operators with ethical porter policies, click here.  To the thousands of porters who cart their Sisyphean loads across the Andes and Himalayas: An American in Lima salutes you. ---Barbara R. Drake
]]> http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/28/peru%e2%80%99s-porters-win-ausangate-gold-medal-for-weightlifting/feed/ 2 An American in Lima » Peru Olympics http://americaninlima.com slices of my life in Peru Sat, 12 Mar 2011 22:55:48 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 How Pitiful! Peru Spends 3 Soles per Peruvian on Sports http://americaninlima.com/2008/09/06/how-pitiful-peru-spends-3-soles-per-peruvian-on-sports/ http://americaninlima.com/2008/09/06/how-pitiful-peru-spends-3-soles-per-peruvian-on-sports/#comments Sat, 06 Sep 2008 15:40:46 +0000 Barbara http://americaninlima.com/?p=492 Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> El Comercio, summarized in English by reporter Israel Ruiz, exposes why Peru performs so abysmally in international sporting events like the Olympics. Here's Ruiz's complete story published today in Living in Peru:
Peruvian sports are trapped in time, said reporters for El Comercio, explaining there were records in the Andean country that had not been broken in almost 40 years. Fernando Acevedo, one of Peru's past athletes that has not had his records broken affirmed he was not proud of this or the difficult situation the country was facing. "The fact that no one has broken my records shows we have not progressed," said Acevedo, explaining that without proper funding and a serious plan for aspiring athletes history would not change. To these troubles is added the fact that the country's ministry of economy has announced it will cut the Peruvian Sports Institute's (IPD) budget. Arturo Woodman, head of the IPD, confirmed that the 2009 budget could be reduced by 20 million soles. "When Alan Garcia came into office there was a 40-million-sol budget for sports. In 2007 it doubled to 80 million soles and this year we have reached 100 million," said Woodman, explaining this was three soles per Peruvian. If this figure were cut, it would place the country's sports budget back at 80 million soles. Woodman explained these figures were minute when compared to other South American countries such as Chile, which has a budget of million and spends per Chilean. He added that Venezuela spends between eight and ten dollars per citizen.
The comparisons are shameful. (For the record: 3 soles translates to little more than US.) Surely Peru can do better by its athletes. The proposed IPD budget cuts should not be allowed to take place. Peru also should consider looking to the private sector to finance athletes. How about an annual tax on foreign companies that do business in Peru to go to an athletic fund?]]> http://americaninlima.com/2008/09/06/how-pitiful-peru-spends-3-soles-per-peruvian-on-sports/feed/ 0 Peru’s Porters Win Ausangate Gold Medal for Weightlifting http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/28/peru%e2%80%99s-porters-win-ausangate-gold-medal-for-weightlifting/ http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/28/peru%e2%80%99s-porters-win-ausangate-gold-medal-for-weightlifting/#comments Thu, 28 Aug 2008 19:43:48 +0000 Barbara http://americaninlima.com/?p=421 Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> The Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics are officially over, the winners have scurried home with their medals, and the losing athletes are either chastised, pitied or forgotten by most of the world. No laurel wreath, no glory, the Olympic equation goes. Not on this blog, however. In the same spirit of honoring athletic excellence that inspired the first Olympic Games, An American in Lima introduces the Ausangate Awards for High-Altitude Athletic Achievement. Just as the Olympic Games are named after Greece's highest mountain, Mount Olympus (2,919 meters above sea level), the Ausangate Awards take as their namesake the tallest peak in the Cordillera Vilcanota, Mount Ausangate (6,384 meters / 20,945 feet above sea level), which towers over the south Peruvian Andes. The Andes are the second-highest mountain range in the world, after the Himalayas. The Gold Medal in High-Altitude Weightlifting goes to the porters of Cusco, Peru, who for hundreds of years have carried superhuman loads on their backs at altitudes of 4,000 to 5,000 meters and above. The Gold Medal is shared by the sherpas, high in the Himalayan mountain range. These high-altitude dwellers possess remarkable physical strength, stamina and ability to withstand staggering extremes of altitude and temperature. These qualities distinguish the Cusco porters and the Nepalese sherpas as among the world's elite athletes. Despite their physical prowess and lifetimes of service, however, the porters and sherpas are largely unknown to the world at large. They live and die literally in the clouds, often in extreme poverty. To understand their struggles is to realize the true meaning of "heroic" – a heroism that has nothing to do with million-dollar corporate sponsorships, winner-take-all competition, expensive doping cocktails and bloated nationalist sentiment. Curious to learn more about these unsung heroes? Read on…. The people who live within sight of high mountain ranges such as the Vilcanota, the Cordillera Blanca and the Himalayas endure extremely difficult and hazardous conditions: extreme cold, blinding sunlight, and decreased oxygen (up to 50% less than that at sea level) in high altitudes. Over thousands of years, the bodies of native mountain-dwellers have evolved various adaptation mechanisms to derive more oxygen from the air and to circulate oxygen more efficiently through the bloodstream. (Read this remarkable article in the 2/25/04 National Geographic about how mountain dwellers' bodies have adapted to their extreme environments.) People in the Andes and the Himalayas walk great distances each day, and develop strong muscles in their legs with which to navigate the rugged terrain. In many physical respects, they are superhuman. Yet despite these physical adaptations, porters and sherpas often succumb to illness, disease and fatal accidents. The porters of Cusco (known as cargadors in Spanish) perform a vital service for merchants and trekkers in the Andes region. Following pre-Columbian traditions, today's porters traverse on foot throughout the cities and mountains of the Andes region, carrying up to 240 pounds on their back. Porters typically work 14- to 16-hour days and traverse 20 to 30 miles daily across the abrupt geography of the Andes. Porters are hired to carry a variety of items. Some are paid by farmers to carry their produce (potatoes, corn, wool) and animals to market. Others haul mattresses, refrigerators, kerosene stoves and cabinets for merchants in Cusco. An even greater number tote trekkers' backpacks and camping gear along the Inca Trail, to the summits of Machu Picchu, Ausangate and the Cordillera Blanca. Without these porters, tens of thousands of tourists would not be able to experience the wonders of Peru's mountain settings. Porters also assist glaciologists, archaeologists and other scientists in their expeditions. The typical rate for a porter is just to per day (less than what it costs to rent a llama). Often porters cannot afford to buy food, so they sustain their energy on the trail by chewing coca leaves, whose juice provides energy and minerals. (Coca leaves are not a drug like cocaine.) Understandable, many porters are chronically malnourished. Not only do porters suffer physically, they also endure emotional abuse as members of Peru's ethnic underclass. Peruvian-born photographer Jorge Vera, who has documented the lives of Andean porters since 1995, notes that porters in Cusco are overwhelmingly of native Andean descent; most speak only their native Quechua and Aymara dialects. Unable to converse in Spanish with shop owners and merchants, who are often mestizo or white, the porters are vulnerable to being verbally abused or taken advantage of financially. In general, other Peruvians look down on porters, Vera notes:
"Porters are a cast of people set aside into social darkness and economic stigma and used exclusively as human beasts of burden. Without labor, medical and or social care programs, porters in Peru are truly modern-day outcasts, a disposable humanity in the midst of a booming multi-million dollar annual tourist industry."
He adds:
"I started to photograph porters in the Peruvian Andes during my wedding trip home in 1995. As a child growing up in Peru, I had never fully realized the role these porter children, women and men play in the commercial transportation of goods for hire. In some cases entire nomadic clans or families of porters are managed by Westernized, Spanish-speaking mestizo-operated businesses.
"Severely underpaid, Porters are recompensed sometimes only with meals, used shoes or clothing, and most commonly with coca leaves, a must to numb their bodies to the brutal labor and the exposure to the nightly frigid cold of the high Andes. Life expectancy for porters is short, often falling prey to tragic accidents in the precipices of the Andes, theft and most often sheer exhaustion."
In 2003 Vera came to Cusco to assist with a newly formed porter's union, the first in that city. Vera took photographs for the porter's first-ever ID tags. This documentation was crucial to establish the porters as full-fledged workers in the Cusco economy (prior to 2003, the ID-less porters often were made scapegoats for thefts). Vera's portraits of porters can be seen online at his photo.net site. Cusco porter, photo by Jorge Vera 2003 1 Other efforts to improve the lives of Andean porters were made in the early 2000s, when the NGO "Casa del Cargador" was launched in Peru. This social-assistance program provided refuge, education and support to porters in the Cusco area (read more about it here). Sadly, the program appears to have been dissolved as of 2008 (posts on the Web site ended in 2006). Worldwide, however, support for porters has grown in recent years. The International Porter Protection Group (IPPG) is dedicated to improving the safety of mountain porters. The IPPG website notes:
IPPG aims to improve safety and health for porter working in the mountains for the trekking industry worldwide. We work to eradicate avoidable illness, injury and death. We do this by raising awareness of the issues among travel companies, guides, trek leaders, sirdars (porters' foremen), and trekkers.
IPPG also supports porters in their quest for a decent wage and freedom from overloading (especially at high altitude).
Please visit the IPCC Web site to learn how you can help porters in Peru and elsewhere. More web resources include the blog The Mountain Porter, which provides current global news on porter issues, the 2006 Guardian Eco-Dilemma article on “Is It OK to Hire a Mountain Porter?” and Tourism Concert’s article “Trekking Wrongs: Porters’ Rights.”  For a list of UK tour operators with ethical porter policies, click here.  To the thousands of porters who cart their Sisyphean loads across the Andes and Himalayas: An American in Lima salutes you. ---Barbara R. Drake
]]> http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/28/peru%e2%80%99s-porters-win-ausangate-gold-medal-for-weightlifting/feed/ 2 Peru Olympic Wrap-up: Week 2 in Review http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/23/peru-olympic-wrap-up-week-2-in-review/ http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/23/peru-olympic-wrap-up-week-2-in-review/#comments Sun, 24 Aug 2008 01:43:35 +0000 Barbara http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/23/peru-olympic-wrap-up-week-2-in-review/ Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> Samuel Wansiru wins the gold with the impressive time of 2:06:32, setting a new Olympic Record. At 44 seconds behind Wansiru, Jaouad Gharib of Morocco grabs the silver with 2:07:16 (he also breaks the previous OR), and Deriba Merga, of Ethiopia, wins the bronze with 2:10:00. It's an African sweep. I keep hitting "refresh" on the official Olympics page for Men's Marathon Results: with each click, another exhausted runner clocks in his final time. Still no sign of León. I hope he didn't collapse. Thirteen runners have dropped out of the marathon thus far, including two runners from Brazil and another from Venezuela. Okay. León just crossed the 40-km mark, still in 63rd place. Corre, Constantino, corre! There's still time to improve your standing, carajo! While I have a moment, let me recap the week's events for Peru's Olympic athletes.
  1. Peru didn't win any Olympic medals.
  2. Peter López was in serious running for a bronze in taekwondo, but ceded victory to other athletes.
  3. Sailor Paloma Schmidt finished 26th in Laser Radial, after nine grueling races.
  4. María Portilla ran 39th in the Women's Marathon, beating her own personal best time.
And – now it's official – Peru's Constantino León has finished in 61st place in Men's Marathon, moving up two notches in the rankings. He must have heard me nagging him all the way from the Lima. Leon's final time was 2:28:04, 21 minutes and 32 seconds behind Wansiru.]]> http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/23/peru-olympic-wrap-up-week-2-in-review/feed/ 9 Constantino Leon Last Olympian to Compete for Peru; Peter Lopez Misses Bronze in Taekwondo http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/21/constantino-leon-peter-lopez/ http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/21/constantino-leon-peter-lopez/#comments Thu, 21 Aug 2008 18:41:09 +0000 Barbara http://americaninlima.com/?p=391 Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> Peru's Olympic marathon runner Constantino Leon competing in Nairobi[/caption] Peru's original field of 13 Olympic contenders is now down to one athlete: marathon runner Constantino Leon. Leon will compete Saturday, August 23, starting at 6:30 p.m. (Beijing time), in the Men's Marathon. For fans in Peru, that translates to Sunday, August 24, starting at 7:30 a.m. Thus far, no athletes representing Peru have won a medal in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Constantino became Peru's last Olympic contender after taekwondo athlete Peter Lopez failed to secure the bronze in the Men's 68 kg. competition on Thursday, August 21. [caption id="attachment_394" align="aligncenter" width="270" caption="Lopez battles Mohammad"][/caption] Lopez was victorious in his first two matches on Thursday, beating Australia's Burak Hasan 3-1 in the preliminaries and Nigeria's Isah Adam Mohammad 3-0 in the quarter finals. He advanced the semi-finals where he was defeated by USA's Mark Lopez (no relation) 2-1. The two Lopezes were training partners at Elite taekwondo center in Houston. A subsequent match between Peter Lopez and Servet Tazegul, of Turkey, saw Peru's chances at a bronze dashed with Tazegul beat Lopez 1-0. Korea's Son Taejin won gold and USA's Mark Lopez won silver in the event. The bronze medal was shared by Tazegul and Chinese Taipai's Sung Yu-Chi. For other reports from An American in Lima on Peru's Olympic athletes, see: Keeping Up with Peru's Olympians (Aug. 11, 2008) Trying to Watch the Olympics in Peru (Aug. 11, 2008)  "Sixto Barrera Wants to Win Medal for Peru, Self & God" (Aug. 12, 2008) Sixto Barrera Advances to Quarter Finals, Loses to China's Chang Yongxiang (Aug. 12, 2008) Peru's Olympians, Part II (Aug. 13, 2008) Peru's Olympic 13 Are a Horde Compared To... (Aug. 13, 2008) The Buzz on Peru's Olympians: Week 1 in Review (Aug. 16, 2008) Maria Portilla: I Am Thrilled to Have Given My All in Beijing (Aug. 19, 2008)]]> http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/21/constantino-leon-peter-lopez/feed/ 0 The Buzz on Peru’s Olympians, Week 1 in Review, Aug. 9 – 16 http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/16/the-buzz-on-peru%e2%80%99s-olympians-week-1-in-review/ http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/16/the-buzz-on-peru%e2%80%99s-olympians-week-1-in-review/#comments Sun, 17 Aug 2008 03:28:17 +0000 Barbara http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/16/the-buzz-on-peru%e2%80%99s-olympians-week-1-in-review/ Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> The first week (August 10 - 16) of competition at the Beijing 2008 Olympics saw some encouraging efforts by Peruvian athletes but no medals. Here is a roundup of how Peru's 13-member Olympic delegation has performed so far, along with buzz about the athletes from English-speaking media, bloggers and fans. (Plus blog reactions by Peru athletes like Peter Lopez, who posted the photo above on his Olympic blog "Camino a la Gloria" (Road to Glory) on Monday, Aug. 11.)

SIXTO BARRERA / WRESTLING 

Wrestler Sixto Barrera, considered by many to be Peru's best chance for a medal, got off to a strong start on Tuesday (Aug. 12), when he trounced the world's third-ranked Valdemaras Venckaitis of Lithuania, 3-1, in the first round of Men's Greco-Roman 74 k. That victory propelled him to the quarter finals against China's Chang Yongxiang, who turned the tables on Barrera, beating him 3-1. Barrera told RPP reporters in Beijing that his elbow was badly hurt in the match when Chang applied an "improper hold." Injured and in pain, Barrera suffered a total defeat to Bulgaria's Yavor Yanakiev in the Round 2 Repechage (score: 3-0). Yanakiev, the 2007 world champion, went on to win the Olympic bronze medal on Wedesday (Aug. 13), Chang won the silver. Georgia's Manuchar Kvirkelia won his country's first wrestling gold.

BUZZ ABOUT BARRERA

Sixto Barrera drew cheers from fans in Bird's Nest Stadium and Peruvian viewers around the world when he carried Peru's flag in the opening ceremonies on Saturday (Aug. 9). Barrera told reporters that the experience was "a dream come true." Barrera's life story drew attention from reporters and bloggers in Peru and the United States. Blogger CarlosQC from Washington, DC (who also scribes as Peruanista) highlighted Barrera's challenges as an Afro-Peruvian confronting racism and lack of support in his native country. An American in Lima explored the wrestler's spiritual faith and admiration for San Martin de Porres, the first black saint of the Americas.

CLAUDIA RIVERO / BADMINTON

 Claudia Rivero, Peru's top-ranked badminton player, lost in Women's Singles to France's Pi Hongyan 2 - 0 (21-6 and 21-6), on Sunday (Aug. 10). That defeat made Rivero ineligible for further competition at the Games. Gold and Silver in Women's Singles Badminton went to Zhang Ning and Zie Xingfang, both of China; Maria Kristin Yulianti, of Indonesia, won the Bronze on Saturday, August 16.

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ….

The 21-year-old Rivero trained for the games in Germany, thanks to an Olympic Solidarity Scholarship sponsored by the Badminton World Federation. Rivero blogged for CNN about her preparations for the Olympics (See Athlete's Blog: Claudia Rivero). Male admirers confessed to "falling in love" with Rivero on the Discussion Board at BadmintonCentral.com.

VALERIA SILVA / SWIMMING

Swimmer Valeria Silva finished 38th in the preliminaries of the 100-meter breaststroke with a personal-best time of 1:11.64 but did not advance. Australia's Leisel Jones won the gold in women's 100-meter breaststroke on Tuesday, August 12. Rebecca Soni (USA) and Mirna Jukic (Austria) won silver and bronze, respectively.

BUZZ ABOUT SILVA

A senior at University of Michigan, Silva competes for the UMich swim team along with Olympic god (we can call him that now) Michael Phelps. Silva's academic major is Brain, Behavior and Cognitive Science. She attended Lima's Humbolt school.

EMMANUEL JOSE CRESCIMBENI / SWIMMING

Eighteen-year-old swimmer Emmanuel José Crescimbeni finished 41st in the preliminaries of the 200-meter butterfly with a time of 2:02:13 but did not advance. Gold in the men's 200-meter butterfly went to Michael Phelps (USA), Silver to Laszlo Cseh (Hungary) and Bronze to Takeshi Matsuda (Japan), on Wednesday, August 13.

BUZZ ON EMMAN

Crescimbeni, known as "Emman" to his friends, attends Calvary Christian School in St. Petersburg, Florida. He has dual U.S./Peruvian citizenship. His parents are from Callao. He will attend the University of Florida next year. An in-depth profile of "the fastest swimmer you've never heard of" (to quote Crescimbeni's coach) ran in the Oct. 27, 2007, St. Petersburg Times ("Looking Back, Swimmer's Talent Couldn't Be Ignored").

MARIA LUISA DOIG / FENCING

In Women's Individual Foil fencer Maria Luisa Doig crossed swords last Sunday (Aug. 10) with Germany's Katja Waechter, who beat her 4-15. Italians Maria Valentina Vezzali and Margherita Granbassi won Gold and Bronze, respectively. Korea's Nam Hyunhee took the Silver.

MORE ABOUT DOIG

At 16 years old, Doig is Peru's youngest delegate to the Beijing games.  A widely publicized APF/Getty photo of Doig reacting to her loss against Waechter ran in USA Today and countless online sites.

PALOMA SCHMIDT / SAILING

Hard-working sailor Paloma Schmidt, who represents Peru in Laser Radial – One-person Dinghy, has competed in five races since Tuesday, August 12, and is schedule to sail in an additional five races on Sunday, August 17 and Monday, August 18, before the medal-winners are decided. Schmidt ranked No. 9 after her first race, then fell to 28 in race 4, before climbing to No. 14 in her latest race. Schmidt's individual race rankings are: 9 (Race 1), 26 (Race 2), 27 (Race 3), 28 (Race 4) and 14 (Race 5). The Olympics' sailing events take place in the Chinese coastal city of Qingdao.

BIRD BUZZ

Schmidt trains at Yacht Club Peruano, in La Punta, Callao, notes her sailor bio on ISAF. Her nickname is "Bird," in reference to her first name, which means "dove" in Spanish. Visit Schmidt's personal blog "Sailor Bird" (written in Spanish) to read about her preparations for the Olympics.

CARLOS ZEGARRA / JUDO

The "Peruvian giant" Carlos Zegarra competed in Men's Judo +100 kg on Friday, August 15, in USTB Gymnasium. Zegarra beat Argentina's Sandro Lopez in the 2:17 min. preliminary bout with a side four-corner hold. Less than an hour later, he lost to Cuba's Oscar Brayson and then to Lebanon's Rudy Hachache in Repechage, thus ending his chances for a medal. Medallists in Men's Judo +100 kg were Satoshi Ishii of Japan (Gold), Abdullo Tangriev of Uzbekistan (Silver) and Oscar Brayson of Cuba and Teddy Riner of France (sharing Bronze).

ZEGARRA FACTOIDS

  • Height: 6'8" tall
  • Weight: 352 pounds
  • Occupation: Security guard
  • Favorite food: fried calamari
  • Nickname: Chiquito

MARCO MATELLINI / SHOOTING

Skeet shooter Marco Matellini got off to a disappointing start on Friday, August 15, finishing last in a field of 41 competitors. He moved up one notch to 40th place on Saturday, August 16.

PERUVIANS DO KNOW HOW TO SHOOT

A photo of Matellini blowing into the barrel of his gun was featured in USA Today. Shooting is the one sport in which Peru has won Olympic gold. Peruvian Edward Vasquez Cam won the gold in Men's Free Pistol in 1946. More recently, Peru won silver medals in Trap Shooting (Francisco Boza, 1984) and Skeet Shooting (Juan Giha, 1992).

CRISTINA CORNEJO / WEIGHTLIFTING

Cornejo competes in Olympics +75 kg 1 Peru's powerful 22-year-old female weightlifter Cristina Cornejo went up against the big girls Saturday, August 16, in the +75 kg category. Cornejo finished 10th, tied with Eva Dimas of El Salvador. Cornejo lifted 97 kg in the Snatch, compared to first-place winner Jang Miran of Korea, who set new Olympic and World records with her 140-kg hoist that night. In the Clean & Jerk, Cornejo lifted 128 kg, nearly 60 kg below Miran's Olympic and World record-breaking lifts of 183 kg. and 186 kg. Cornejo took part in what will be remembered as a historic night in women's weightlifting. In Women's 75+ kg. Weightlifting, Miran took home the Gold for Korea, Olha Korobka took Silver for the Ukraine, and Mariya Grabovetskaya won Bronze for Kazakhstan.

THE CAMERA LOVES YOU, CRISTINA!

I love these APF/Getty images of Cornejo at Saturday's competition. This girl is mighty, mighty!   [caption id="attachment_339" align="alignleft" width="184" caption="Cristina Cornejo reacts after failing a lift in Beijing Olympics"]Cristina Cornejo reacts after failing a lift in Beijing Olympics[/caption]  

LOUIS TRISTAN / LONG JUMP

In the Men's Long Jump qualifying round, held Saturday, August 16, 24-year-old Peruvian jumper Louis Tristan finished 32nd out of 38 with a leap of 7.62 meters. That distance failed to qualify Tristan for the Long Jump final round.

THE BUZZ

Tristan was born in Lima and now lives and trains in Brazil. In a recent interview with Peruanista, he mentioned his frustration with the lack of support given to him, and other top athletes, by the Peruvian government and national sports federation.

MARIA PORTILLA / RUNNING

Runner Maria Portilla will compete in the Women's Marathon this Sunday, August 17, at 7:30 p.m., in National Stadium. Portilla will battle a strong field that includes world champion Catherine Ndereba of Kenya and Paula Radcliffe of Great Britain, who is the world record holder. Radcliffe joined the British team at the last minute before the Games, after having recovered from a stress fracture.

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING ABOUT PORTILLA

Born and raised in Peru's high Andes, 36-year-old Portilla began running in marathons eleven years ago, when she was in danger of failing a physical education exam for a teaching degree she was seeking. Her athletic abilities exceeded everyone's expectations, particularly since she ran her first races barefoot. "I didn't have money for trainers [athletic shoes]," she told a reporter for Reuters. "I ran in my bare feet. People started giving me trainers; that gave me the inspiration to continue," she says. Click here for Reuters' one-minute video interview with Peru's "unlikely marathoner."

PETER LOPEZ / TAEKWONDO

Medal hopes are riding on Peter López, who competes Thursday, August 21, in preliminaries for Men's Taekwondo 68 kg (featherweight).

MUCHO BUZZ ABOUT LOPEZ

Taekwondo insiders are eagerly anticipating a possible match-up between Peru's Peter López and USA's Mark López, who have trained with the same coaches. López is the American-born son of Peruvian parents, who raised him in Peru and the United States. Since the year 2000, he has trained at the prestigious Elite Tae Kwon Do club, in Houston, Texas, alongside world and Olympic champions. He is a six-time U.S. National Team member and a 4-time competing member for the Peruvian Taekwondo Federation. He is the first taekwondo athlete ever to represent Peru in the Olympics. According to one report, López receives US,000 per month for training from the Peru Taekwondo Federation. This contrasts with the situation of other members of the Peru Olympics delegation, who receive little to no support from their respective sports organizations in Peru (if such institutions exist at all). López blogs on his Olympic experience for Lenovo's "Voices of the Olympics" blog. Click here for Peter's own photos of his fellow Olympians doing everyday stuff in Beijing, like eating in the Olympic cafeteria, working out in the gym and getting a haircut. Click here for a short BBC article on López ("Peter Lopez: Going for the Gold") that includes a photo diary of his journey to the Olympics.]]> http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/16/the-buzz-on-peru%e2%80%99s-olympians-week-1-in-review/feed/ 7 Olympic Ceviche with a Political Bite – Pescados Capitales http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/14/olympic-ceviche-with-a-political-bite-%e2%80%93-pescados-capitales/ http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/14/olympic-ceviche-with-a-political-bite-%e2%80%93-pescados-capitales/#comments Thu, 14 Aug 2008 22:53:15 +0000 Barbara http://americaninlima.com/?p=264 Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> So delicious, with a kick of yellow ají: ceviche at Pescados Capitales The hip cevicheria Pescados Capitales, one of Lima's finest seafood restaurants, plays on the Beijing Summer Olympics theme in its current "Pescados Olímpicos" (Olympic Sins) menu. (When you remove the first "s" from "pescados," the Spanish word for fish, it becomes "pecados" or sins. Thus the dual meaning of the restaurant's name: Capital Fish or Capital Sins.) Featured dishes this week include "Tiro olímpico" (Olympic Shooting, 30 soles), a causa made of lenguado, tuna and shrimp; "Ciclismo" (Cycling, 31 soles), salmon rolls with perch and brandied vegetables; and "Natación" (lobster "swimming" in risotto, market price). Those with a reformist bent might try "Antidoping" (37 soles), tuna seared in demi-glace sauce with quail. "Zero tolerance doesn't seem to work," the menu comments (whether about diners being able to resist this dish or Olympic athletes refraining from doping, it's hard to say).  Restaurant owner Nguyen Chávez creates a special weekly menu based on Peruvian politics and controversies. The introduction to this week's Olympic Sins menu gives a taste of Chávez's satiric bite (my translation):
"The Olympic spirit has arrived; let's see who has already won his medal.
"In Obstacle Race: Peru's Minister of the Interior (he raffled everything to remain in office)
"In Throwing the Javelin, Hammer, Shot and Discus: Congress (that's all they do).
"Marathon: This is what the earthquake victims keep running one year after the tragedy [August 15].
"We announce that the president [Alan García] hasn't scored the minimum marks, according to polls. The race has not ended yet, but the public has been accused unjustly of being 'unjust.'
" 'Doping! Doping!' is heard in the bleachers. Alas, many medals are still up for grabs."
Aside from looking for an excuse to poke fun at Peruvian politics, Chávez seized on the Olympic theme for this week's menu because he's a fan of badminton, a sport that Peruvian athlete Claudia Rivero competed in early in the Beijing Games without making it to the finals. "Yes, I was sorry to see her lose," he tells An American in Lima. "And [wrestler] Sixto Barrera, too. They say he was Peru's best hope for a medal." The owner of Pescados Capitales looks forward to seeing Peru's Peter López compete in taekwondo next Thursday, August 21. "I think he could win a medal. We'll see." Chávez deplores Peru's lack of support for its Olympic competitors. "The government does nothing for the athletes," he says. "It's not just about Peru having little money. Look at Cuba, a really poor country, look at Venezuela: They support their athletes. Why not Peru?" He notes that Peru also refuses to give monetary support to its own chess superstar, 17-year-old Emilio Córdoba, who recently won the coveted title of International Grandmaster: "Córdoba had to pay his own way to go to the International Championship. It's not right." "Peru needs to stand behind its chess players and it athletes," says Chávez. "They deserve it, no?" I nod in agreement and dig into my plate of "Paciencia: Cevíche Ghandi" (30 soles), a heavenly dish of raw fish and seafood marinated in lime juice and curry, with slices of mango and mandarin orange. It was worth the ½-hour lunchtime wait. One does need a saint's patience to put up with Peruvian politics, as well as with "making a cola" for a table at one of Lima's hottest restaurants.  Visit Pescados Capitales at Av. La Mar 1337, Miraflores, Lima, Peru. (511) 421-8808 On the web at www.pescados-capitales.com/ Photo of ceviche by www.thousandflavors.com]]> http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/14/olympic-ceviche-with-a-political-bite-%e2%80%93-pescados-capitales/feed/ 2 Peru’s Olympic 13 Are a Horde Compared To… http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/13/peru%e2%80%99s-olympic-13-are-a-horde-compared-to%e2%80%a6/ http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/13/peru%e2%80%99s-olympic-13-are-a-horde-compared-to%e2%80%a6/#comments Wed, 13 Aug 2008 22:22:38 +0000 Barbara http://americaninlima.com/?p=257 Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> [/caption] I was feeling rather forlorn about Peru's small Olympic delegation of 13 athletes. Then I stumbled upon Mashable's "18 Smaller Olympic Countries to Root For." Sean P. Aune writes: It's easy to get wrapped up in all of the big name countries that go to the Olympics, such as the United States or Russia, but have you ever thought about those countries that don't have as much money for a team or only have a few athletes who qualify? My family has a tradition of picking one or two of the smaller countries that can only send one or two athletes to the games, and sort of "adopting" them for us to root for over the course of the competition. This year I am going to be watching Itte Detenamo in weightlifting.  He is from the Republic of Nauru, the world's smallest island nation at only 8.1 square miles.  GO ITTE! Check out Sean's Olympic country maps of lonely onlys and tiny duos, including Grenada, Botswana and the Republic of Mauritania. ]]> http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/13/peru%e2%80%99s-olympic-13-are-a-horde-compared-to%e2%80%a6/feed/ 0 Sixto Barrera Advances to Quarter Finals, Loses to China’s Chang Yongxiang http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/12/sixto-barrera-advances-to-quarter-finals-loses-to-chinas-chang-yongxiang/ http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/12/sixto-barrera-advances-to-quarter-finals-loses-to-chinas-chang-yongxiang/#comments Wed, 13 Aug 2008 04:45:38 +0000 Barbara http://americaninlima.com/?p=232 Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> Sixto Barrera trounced Lithuanian Valdemaras Venckaitis, ranked 3rd in the world, in the first qualifying rounds of Men's Greco-Roman 74 k, in Beijing, on August 12.

Barrera then went against China's Chang Yongxiang in the quarter finals and lost. Chang Yongxiang advances to the finals with Georgia's Manuchar Kvirkelia. This will be China's first-ever medal in wrestling.  Here is my professional opinion about Barrera's loss: Argggh!]]> http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/12/sixto-barrera-advances-to-quarter-finals-loses-to-chinas-chang-yongxiang/feed/ 0 Trying to Watch the Olympics in Peru http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/23/peru-olympic-wrap-up-week-2-in-review/ http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/23/peru-olympic-wrap-up-week-2-in-review/#comments Sun, 24 Aug 2008 01:43:35 +0000 Barbara http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/23/peru-olympic-wrap-up-week-2-in-review/ Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> Samuel Wansiru wins the gold with the impressive time of 2:06:32, setting a new Olympic Record. At 44 seconds behind Wansiru, Jaouad Gharib of Morocco grabs the silver with 2:07:16 (he also breaks the previous OR), and Deriba Merga, of Ethiopia, wins the bronze with 2:10:00. It's an African sweep. I keep hitting "refresh" on the official Olympics page for Men's Marathon Results: with each click, another exhausted runner clocks in his final time. Still no sign of León. I hope he didn't collapse. Thirteen runners have dropped out of the marathon thus far, including two runners from Brazil and another from Venezuela. Okay. León just crossed the 40-km mark, still in 63rd place. Corre, Constantino, corre! There's still time to improve your standing, carajo! While I have a moment, let me recap the week's events for Peru's Olympic athletes.
  1. Peru didn't win any Olympic medals.
  2. Peter López was in serious running for a bronze in taekwondo, but ceded victory to other athletes.
  3. Sailor Paloma Schmidt finished 26th in Laser Radial, after nine grueling races.
  4. María Portilla ran 39th in the Women's Marathon, beating her own personal best time.
And – now it's official – Peru's Constantino León has finished in 61st place in Men's Marathon, moving up two notches in the rankings. He must have heard me nagging him all the way from the Lima. Leon's final time was 2:28:04, 21 minutes and 32 seconds behind Wansiru.]]> http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/23/peru-olympic-wrap-up-week-2-in-review/feed/ 9 An American in Lima » Peru Olympics http://americaninlima.com slices of my life in Peru Sat, 12 Mar 2011 22:55:48 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 How Pitiful! Peru Spends 3 Soles per Peruvian on Sports http://americaninlima.com/2008/09/06/how-pitiful-peru-spends-3-soles-per-peruvian-on-sports/ http://americaninlima.com/2008/09/06/how-pitiful-peru-spends-3-soles-per-peruvian-on-sports/#comments Sat, 06 Sep 2008 15:40:46 +0000 Barbara http://americaninlima.com/?p=492 Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> El Comercio, summarized in English by reporter Israel Ruiz, exposes why Peru performs so abysmally in international sporting events like the Olympics. Here's Ruiz's complete story published today in Living in Peru:
Peruvian sports are trapped in time, said reporters for El Comercio, explaining there were records in the Andean country that had not been broken in almost 40 years. Fernando Acevedo, one of Peru's past athletes that has not had his records broken affirmed he was not proud of this or the difficult situation the country was facing. "The fact that no one has broken my records shows we have not progressed," said Acevedo, explaining that without proper funding and a serious plan for aspiring athletes history would not change. To these troubles is added the fact that the country's ministry of economy has announced it will cut the Peruvian Sports Institute's (IPD) budget. Arturo Woodman, head of the IPD, confirmed that the 2009 budget could be reduced by 20 million soles. "When Alan Garcia came into office there was a 40-million-sol budget for sports. In 2007 it doubled to 80 million soles and this year we have reached 100 million," said Woodman, explaining this was three soles per Peruvian. If this figure were cut, it would place the country's sports budget back at 80 million soles. Woodman explained these figures were minute when compared to other South American countries such as Chile, which has a budget of million and spends per Chilean. He added that Venezuela spends between eight and ten dollars per citizen.
The comparisons are shameful. (For the record: 3 soles translates to little more than US.) Surely Peru can do better by its athletes. The proposed IPD budget cuts should not be allowed to take place. Peru also should consider looking to the private sector to finance athletes. How about an annual tax on foreign companies that do business in Peru to go to an athletic fund?]]> http://americaninlima.com/2008/09/06/how-pitiful-peru-spends-3-soles-per-peruvian-on-sports/feed/ 0 Peru’s Porters Win Ausangate Gold Medal for Weightlifting http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/28/peru%e2%80%99s-porters-win-ausangate-gold-medal-for-weightlifting/ http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/28/peru%e2%80%99s-porters-win-ausangate-gold-medal-for-weightlifting/#comments Thu, 28 Aug 2008 19:43:48 +0000 Barbara http://americaninlima.com/?p=421 Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> The Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics are officially over, the winners have scurried home with their medals, and the losing athletes are either chastised, pitied or forgotten by most of the world. No laurel wreath, no glory, the Olympic equation goes. Not on this blog, however. In the same spirit of honoring athletic excellence that inspired the first Olympic Games, An American in Lima introduces the Ausangate Awards for High-Altitude Athletic Achievement. Just as the Olympic Games are named after Greece's highest mountain, Mount Olympus (2,919 meters above sea level), the Ausangate Awards take as their namesake the tallest peak in the Cordillera Vilcanota, Mount Ausangate (6,384 meters / 20,945 feet above sea level), which towers over the south Peruvian Andes. The Andes are the second-highest mountain range in the world, after the Himalayas. The Gold Medal in High-Altitude Weightlifting goes to the porters of Cusco, Peru, who for hundreds of years have carried superhuman loads on their backs at altitudes of 4,000 to 5,000 meters and above. The Gold Medal is shared by the sherpas, high in the Himalayan mountain range. These high-altitude dwellers possess remarkable physical strength, stamina and ability to withstand staggering extremes of altitude and temperature. These qualities distinguish the Cusco porters and the Nepalese sherpas as among the world's elite athletes. Despite their physical prowess and lifetimes of service, however, the porters and sherpas are largely unknown to the world at large. They live and die literally in the clouds, often in extreme poverty. To understand their struggles is to realize the true meaning of "heroic" – a heroism that has nothing to do with million-dollar corporate sponsorships, winner-take-all competition, expensive doping cocktails and bloated nationalist sentiment. Curious to learn more about these unsung heroes? Read on…. The people who live within sight of high mountain ranges such as the Vilcanota, the Cordillera Blanca and the Himalayas endure extremely difficult and hazardous conditions: extreme cold, blinding sunlight, and decreased oxygen (up to 50% less than that at sea level) in high altitudes. Over thousands of years, the bodies of native mountain-dwellers have evolved various adaptation mechanisms to derive more oxygen from the air and to circulate oxygen more efficiently through the bloodstream. (Read this remarkable article in the 2/25/04 National Geographic about how mountain dwellers' bodies have adapted to their extreme environments.) People in the Andes and the Himalayas walk great distances each day, and develop strong muscles in their legs with which to navigate the rugged terrain. In many physical respects, they are superhuman. Yet despite these physical adaptations, porters and sherpas often succumb to illness, disease and fatal accidents. The porters of Cusco (known as cargadors in Spanish) perform a vital service for merchants and trekkers in the Andes region. Following pre-Columbian traditions, today's porters traverse on foot throughout the cities and mountains of the Andes region, carrying up to 240 pounds on their back. Porters typically work 14- to 16-hour days and traverse 20 to 30 miles daily across the abrupt geography of the Andes. Porters are hired to carry a variety of items. Some are paid by farmers to carry their produce (potatoes, corn, wool) and animals to market. Others haul mattresses, refrigerators, kerosene stoves and cabinets for merchants in Cusco. An even greater number tote trekkers' backpacks and camping gear along the Inca Trail, to the summits of Machu Picchu, Ausangate and the Cordillera Blanca. Without these porters, tens of thousands of tourists would not be able to experience the wonders of Peru's mountain settings. Porters also assist glaciologists, archaeologists and other scientists in their expeditions. The typical rate for a porter is just to per day (less than what it costs to rent a llama). Often porters cannot afford to buy food, so they sustain their energy on the trail by chewing coca leaves, whose juice provides energy and minerals. (Coca leaves are not a drug like cocaine.) Understandable, many porters are chronically malnourished. Not only do porters suffer physically, they also endure emotional abuse as members of Peru's ethnic underclass. Peruvian-born photographer Jorge Vera, who has documented the lives of Andean porters since 1995, notes that porters in Cusco are overwhelmingly of native Andean descent; most speak only their native Quechua and Aymara dialects. Unable to converse in Spanish with shop owners and merchants, who are often mestizo or white, the porters are vulnerable to being verbally abused or taken advantage of financially. In general, other Peruvians look down on porters, Vera notes:
"Porters are a cast of people set aside into social darkness and economic stigma and used exclusively as human beasts of burden. Without labor, medical and or social care programs, porters in Peru are truly modern-day outcasts, a disposable humanity in the midst of a booming multi-million dollar annual tourist industry."
He adds:
"I started to photograph porters in the Peruvian Andes during my wedding trip home in 1995. As a child growing up in Peru, I had never fully realized the role these porter children, women and men play in the commercial transportation of goods for hire. In some cases entire nomadic clans or families of porters are managed by Westernized, Spanish-speaking mestizo-operated businesses.
"Severely underpaid, Porters are recompensed sometimes only with meals, used shoes or clothing, and most commonly with coca leaves, a must to numb their bodies to the brutal labor and the exposure to the nightly frigid cold of the high Andes. Life expectancy for porters is short, often falling prey to tragic accidents in the precipices of the Andes, theft and most often sheer exhaustion."
In 2003 Vera came to Cusco to assist with a newly formed porter's union, the first in that city. Vera took photographs for the porter's first-ever ID tags. This documentation was crucial to establish the porters as full-fledged workers in the Cusco economy (prior to 2003, the ID-less porters often were made scapegoats for thefts). Vera's portraits of porters can be seen online at his photo.net site. Cusco porter, photo by Jorge Vera 2003 1 Other efforts to improve the lives of Andean porters were made in the early 2000s, when the NGO "Casa del Cargador" was launched in Peru. This social-assistance program provided refuge, education and support to porters in the Cusco area (read more about it here). Sadly, the program appears to have been dissolved as of 2008 (posts on the Web site ended in 2006). Worldwide, however, support for porters has grown in recent years. The International Porter Protection Group (IPPG) is dedicated to improving the safety of mountain porters. The IPPG website notes:
IPPG aims to improve safety and health for porter working in the mountains for the trekking industry worldwide. We work to eradicate avoidable illness, injury and death. We do this by raising awareness of the issues among travel companies, guides, trek leaders, sirdars (porters' foremen), and trekkers.
IPPG also supports porters in their quest for a decent wage and freedom from overloading (especially at high altitude).
Please visit the IPCC Web site to learn how you can help porters in Peru and elsewhere. More web resources include the blog The Mountain Porter, which provides current global news on porter issues, the 2006 Guardian Eco-Dilemma article on “Is It OK to Hire a Mountain Porter?” and Tourism Concert’s article “Trekking Wrongs: Porters’ Rights.”  For a list of UK tour operators with ethical porter policies, click here.  To the thousands of porters who cart their Sisyphean loads across the Andes and Himalayas: An American in Lima salutes you. ---Barbara R. Drake
]]> http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/28/peru%e2%80%99s-porters-win-ausangate-gold-medal-for-weightlifting/feed/ 2 Peru Olympic Wrap-up: Week 2 in Review http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/23/peru-olympic-wrap-up-week-2-in-review/ http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/23/peru-olympic-wrap-up-week-2-in-review/#comments Sun, 24 Aug 2008 01:43:35 +0000 Barbara http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/23/peru-olympic-wrap-up-week-2-in-review/ Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> Samuel Wansiru wins the gold with the impressive time of 2:06:32, setting a new Olympic Record. At 44 seconds behind Wansiru, Jaouad Gharib of Morocco grabs the silver with 2:07:16 (he also breaks the previous OR), and Deriba Merga, of Ethiopia, wins the bronze with 2:10:00. It's an African sweep. I keep hitting "refresh" on the official Olympics page for Men's Marathon Results: with each click, another exhausted runner clocks in his final time. Still no sign of León. I hope he didn't collapse. Thirteen runners have dropped out of the marathon thus far, including two runners from Brazil and another from Venezuela. Okay. León just crossed the 40-km mark, still in 63rd place. Corre, Constantino, corre! There's still time to improve your standing, carajo! While I have a moment, let me recap the week's events for Peru's Olympic athletes.
  1. Peru didn't win any Olympic medals.
  2. Peter López was in serious running for a bronze in taekwondo, but ceded victory to other athletes.
  3. Sailor Paloma Schmidt finished 26th in Laser Radial, after nine grueling races.
  4. María Portilla ran 39th in the Women's Marathon, beating her own personal best time.
And – now it's official – Peru's Constantino León has finished in 61st place in Men's Marathon, moving up two notches in the rankings. He must have heard me nagging him all the way from the Lima. Leon's final time was 2:28:04, 21 minutes and 32 seconds behind Wansiru.]]> http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/23/peru-olympic-wrap-up-week-2-in-review/feed/ 9 Constantino Leon Last Olympian to Compete for Peru; Peter Lopez Misses Bronze in Taekwondo http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/21/constantino-leon-peter-lopez/ http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/21/constantino-leon-peter-lopez/#comments Thu, 21 Aug 2008 18:41:09 +0000 Barbara http://americaninlima.com/?p=391 Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> Peru's Olympic marathon runner Constantino Leon competing in Nairobi[/caption] Peru's original field of 13 Olympic contenders is now down to one athlete: marathon runner Constantino Leon. Leon will compete Saturday, August 23, starting at 6:30 p.m. (Beijing time), in the Men's Marathon. For fans in Peru, that translates to Sunday, August 24, starting at 7:30 a.m. Thus far, no athletes representing Peru have won a medal in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Constantino became Peru's last Olympic contender after taekwondo athlete Peter Lopez failed to secure the bronze in the Men's 68 kg. competition on Thursday, August 21. [caption id="attachment_394" align="aligncenter" width="270" caption="Lopez battles Mohammad"][/caption] Lopez was victorious in his first two matches on Thursday, beating Australia's Burak Hasan 3-1 in the preliminaries and Nigeria's Isah Adam Mohammad 3-0 in the quarter finals. He advanced the semi-finals where he was defeated by USA's Mark Lopez (no relation) 2-1. The two Lopezes were training partners at Elite taekwondo center in Houston. A subsequent match between Peter Lopez and Servet Tazegul, of Turkey, saw Peru's chances at a bronze dashed with Tazegul beat Lopez 1-0. Korea's Son Taejin won gold and USA's Mark Lopez won silver in the event. The bronze medal was shared by Tazegul and Chinese Taipai's Sung Yu-Chi. For other reports from An American in Lima on Peru's Olympic athletes, see: Keeping Up with Peru's Olympians (Aug. 11, 2008) Trying to Watch the Olympics in Peru (Aug. 11, 2008)  "Sixto Barrera Wants to Win Medal for Peru, Self & God" (Aug. 12, 2008) Sixto Barrera Advances to Quarter Finals, Loses to China's Chang Yongxiang (Aug. 12, 2008) Peru's Olympians, Part II (Aug. 13, 2008) Peru's Olympic 13 Are a Horde Compared To... (Aug. 13, 2008) The Buzz on Peru's Olympians: Week 1 in Review (Aug. 16, 2008) Maria Portilla: I Am Thrilled to Have Given My All in Beijing (Aug. 19, 2008)]]> http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/21/constantino-leon-peter-lopez/feed/ 0 The Buzz on Peru’s Olympians, Week 1 in Review, Aug. 9 – 16 http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/16/the-buzz-on-peru%e2%80%99s-olympians-week-1-in-review/ http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/16/the-buzz-on-peru%e2%80%99s-olympians-week-1-in-review/#comments Sun, 17 Aug 2008 03:28:17 +0000 Barbara http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/16/the-buzz-on-peru%e2%80%99s-olympians-week-1-in-review/ Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> The first week (August 10 - 16) of competition at the Beijing 2008 Olympics saw some encouraging efforts by Peruvian athletes but no medals. Here is a roundup of how Peru's 13-member Olympic delegation has performed so far, along with buzz about the athletes from English-speaking media, bloggers and fans. (Plus blog reactions by Peru athletes like Peter Lopez, who posted the photo above on his Olympic blog "Camino a la Gloria" (Road to Glory) on Monday, Aug. 11.)

SIXTO BARRERA / WRESTLING 

Wrestler Sixto Barrera, considered by many to be Peru's best chance for a medal, got off to a strong start on Tuesday (Aug. 12), when he trounced the world's third-ranked Valdemaras Venckaitis of Lithuania, 3-1, in the first round of Men's Greco-Roman 74 k. That victory propelled him to the quarter finals against China's Chang Yongxiang, who turned the tables on Barrera, beating him 3-1. Barrera told RPP reporters in Beijing that his elbow was badly hurt in the match when Chang applied an "improper hold." Injured and in pain, Barrera suffered a total defeat to Bulgaria's Yavor Yanakiev in the Round 2 Repechage (score: 3-0). Yanakiev, the 2007 world champion, went on to win the Olympic bronze medal on Wedesday (Aug. 13), Chang won the silver. Georgia's Manuchar Kvirkelia won his country's first wrestling gold.

BUZZ ABOUT BARRERA

Sixto Barrera drew cheers from fans in Bird's Nest Stadium and Peruvian viewers around the world when he carried Peru's flag in the opening ceremonies on Saturday (Aug. 9). Barrera told reporters that the experience was "a dream come true." Barrera's life story drew attention from reporters and bloggers in Peru and the United States. Blogger CarlosQC from Washington, DC (who also scribes as Peruanista) highlighted Barrera's challenges as an Afro-Peruvian confronting racism and lack of support in his native country. An American in Lima explored the wrestler's spiritual faith and admiration for San Martin de Porres, the first black saint of the Americas.

CLAUDIA RIVERO / BADMINTON

 Claudia Rivero, Peru's top-ranked badminton player, lost in Women's Singles to France's Pi Hongyan 2 - 0 (21-6 and 21-6), on Sunday (Aug. 10). That defeat made Rivero ineligible for further competition at the Games. Gold and Silver in Women's Singles Badminton went to Zhang Ning and Zie Xingfang, both of China; Maria Kristin Yulianti, of Indonesia, won the Bronze on Saturday, August 16.

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ….

The 21-year-old Rivero trained for the games in Germany, thanks to an Olympic Solidarity Scholarship sponsored by the Badminton World Federation. Rivero blogged for CNN about her preparations for the Olympics (See Athlete's Blog: Claudia Rivero). Male admirers confessed to "falling in love" with Rivero on the Discussion Board at BadmintonCentral.com.

VALERIA SILVA / SWIMMING

Swimmer Valeria Silva finished 38th in the preliminaries of the 100-meter breaststroke with a personal-best time of 1:11.64 but did not advance. Australia's Leisel Jones won the gold in women's 100-meter breaststroke on Tuesday, August 12. Rebecca Soni (USA) and Mirna Jukic (Austria) won silver and bronze, respectively.

BUZZ ABOUT SILVA

A senior at University of Michigan, Silva competes for the UMich swim team along with Olympic god (we can call him that now) Michael Phelps. Silva's academic major is Brain, Behavior and Cognitive Science. She attended Lima's Humbolt school.

EMMANUEL JOSE CRESCIMBENI / SWIMMING

Eighteen-year-old swimmer Emmanuel José Crescimbeni finished 41st in the preliminaries of the 200-meter butterfly with a time of 2:02:13 but did not advance. Gold in the men's 200-meter butterfly went to Michael Phelps (USA), Silver to Laszlo Cseh (Hungary) and Bronze to Takeshi Matsuda (Japan), on Wednesday, August 13.

BUZZ ON EMMAN

Crescimbeni, known as "Emman" to his friends, attends Calvary Christian School in St. Petersburg, Florida. He has dual U.S./Peruvian citizenship. His parents are from Callao. He will attend the University of Florida next year. An in-depth profile of "the fastest swimmer you've never heard of" (to quote Crescimbeni's coach) ran in the Oct. 27, 2007, St. Petersburg Times ("Looking Back, Swimmer's Talent Couldn't Be Ignored").

MARIA LUISA DOIG / FENCING

In Women's Individual Foil fencer Maria Luisa Doig crossed swords last Sunday (Aug. 10) with Germany's Katja Waechter, who beat her 4-15. Italians Maria Valentina Vezzali and Margherita Granbassi won Gold and Bronze, respectively. Korea's Nam Hyunhee took the Silver.

MORE ABOUT DOIG

At 16 years old, Doig is Peru's youngest delegate to the Beijing games.  A widely publicized APF/Getty photo of Doig reacting to her loss against Waechter ran in USA Today and countless online sites.

PALOMA SCHMIDT / SAILING

Hard-working sailor Paloma Schmidt, who represents Peru in Laser Radial – One-person Dinghy, has competed in five races since Tuesday, August 12, and is schedule to sail in an additional five races on Sunday, August 17 and Monday, August 18, before the medal-winners are decided. Schmidt ranked No. 9 after her first race, then fell to 28 in race 4, before climbing to No. 14 in her latest race. Schmidt's individual race rankings are: 9 (Race 1), 26 (Race 2), 27 (Race 3), 28 (Race 4) and 14 (Race 5). The Olympics' sailing events take place in the Chinese coastal city of Qingdao.

BIRD BUZZ

Schmidt trains at Yacht Club Peruano, in La Punta, Callao, notes her sailor bio on ISAF. Her nickname is "Bird," in reference to her first name, which means "dove" in Spanish. Visit Schmidt's personal blog "Sailor Bird" (written in Spanish) to read about her preparations for the Olympics.

CARLOS ZEGARRA / JUDO

The "Peruvian giant" Carlos Zegarra competed in Men's Judo +100 kg on Friday, August 15, in USTB Gymnasium. Zegarra beat Argentina's Sandro Lopez in the 2:17 min. preliminary bout with a side four-corner hold. Less than an hour later, he lost to Cuba's Oscar Brayson and then to Lebanon's Rudy Hachache in Repechage, thus ending his chances for a medal. Medallists in Men's Judo +100 kg were Satoshi Ishii of Japan (Gold), Abdullo Tangriev of Uzbekistan (Silver) and Oscar Brayson of Cuba and Teddy Riner of France (sharing Bronze).

ZEGARRA FACTOIDS

  • Height: 6'8" tall
  • Weight: 352 pounds
  • Occupation: Security guard
  • Favorite food: fried calamari
  • Nickname: Chiquito

MARCO MATELLINI / SHOOTING

Skeet shooter Marco Matellini got off to a disappointing start on Friday, August 15, finishing last in a field of 41 competitors. He moved up one notch to 40th place on Saturday, August 16.

PERUVIANS DO KNOW HOW TO SHOOT

A photo of Matellini blowing into the barrel of his gun was featured in USA Today. Shooting is the one sport in which Peru has won Olympic gold. Peruvian Edward Vasquez Cam won the gold in Men's Free Pistol in 1946. More recently, Peru won silver medals in Trap Shooting (Francisco Boza, 1984) and Skeet Shooting (Juan Giha, 1992).

CRISTINA CORNEJO / WEIGHTLIFTING

Cornejo competes in Olympics +75 kg 1 Peru's powerful 22-year-old female weightlifter Cristina Cornejo went up against the big girls Saturday, August 16, in the +75 kg category. Cornejo finished 10th, tied with Eva Dimas of El Salvador. Cornejo lifted 97 kg in the Snatch, compared to first-place winner Jang Miran of Korea, who set new Olympic and World records with her 140-kg hoist that night. In the Clean & Jerk, Cornejo lifted 128 kg, nearly 60 kg below Miran's Olympic and World record-breaking lifts of 183 kg. and 186 kg. Cornejo took part in what will be remembered as a historic night in women's weightlifting. In Women's 75+ kg. Weightlifting, Miran took home the Gold for Korea, Olha Korobka took Silver for the Ukraine, and Mariya Grabovetskaya won Bronze for Kazakhstan.

THE CAMERA LOVES YOU, CRISTINA!

I love these APF/Getty images of Cornejo at Saturday's competition. This girl is mighty, mighty!   [caption id="attachment_339" align="alignleft" width="184" caption="Cristina Cornejo reacts after failing a lift in Beijing Olympics"]Cristina Cornejo reacts after failing a lift in Beijing Olympics[/caption]  

LOUIS TRISTAN / LONG JUMP

In the Men's Long Jump qualifying round, held Saturday, August 16, 24-year-old Peruvian jumper Louis Tristan finished 32nd out of 38 with a leap of 7.62 meters. That distance failed to qualify Tristan for the Long Jump final round.

THE BUZZ

Tristan was born in Lima and now lives and trains in Brazil. In a recent interview with Peruanista, he mentioned his frustration with the lack of support given to him, and other top athletes, by the Peruvian government and national sports federation.

MARIA PORTILLA / RUNNING

Runner Maria Portilla will compete in the Women's Marathon this Sunday, August 17, at 7:30 p.m., in National Stadium. Portilla will battle a strong field that includes world champion Catherine Ndereba of Kenya and Paula Radcliffe of Great Britain, who is the world record holder. Radcliffe joined the British team at the last minute before the Games, after having recovered from a stress fracture.

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING ABOUT PORTILLA

Born and raised in Peru's high Andes, 36-year-old Portilla began running in marathons eleven years ago, when she was in danger of failing a physical education exam for a teaching degree she was seeking. Her athletic abilities exceeded everyone's expectations, particularly since she ran her first races barefoot. "I didn't have money for trainers [athletic shoes]," she told a reporter for Reuters. "I ran in my bare feet. People started giving me trainers; that gave me the inspiration to continue," she says. Click here for Reuters' one-minute video interview with Peru's "unlikely marathoner."

PETER LOPEZ / TAEKWONDO

Medal hopes are riding on Peter López, who competes Thursday, August 21, in preliminaries for Men's Taekwondo 68 kg (featherweight).

MUCHO BUZZ ABOUT LOPEZ

Taekwondo insiders are eagerly anticipating a possible match-up between Peru's Peter López and USA's Mark López, who have trained with the same coaches. López is the American-born son of Peruvian parents, who raised him in Peru and the United States. Since the year 2000, he has trained at the prestigious Elite Tae Kwon Do club, in Houston, Texas, alongside world and Olympic champions. He is a six-time U.S. National Team member and a 4-time competing member for the Peruvian Taekwondo Federation. He is the first taekwondo athlete ever to represent Peru in the Olympics. According to one report, López receives US,000 per month for training from the Peru Taekwondo Federation. This contrasts with the situation of other members of the Peru Olympics delegation, who receive little to no support from their respective sports organizations in Peru (if such institutions exist at all). López blogs on his Olympic experience for Lenovo's "Voices of the Olympics" blog. Click here for Peter's own photos of his fellow Olympians doing everyday stuff in Beijing, like eating in the Olympic cafeteria, working out in the gym and getting a haircut. Click here for a short BBC article on López ("Peter Lopez: Going for the Gold") that includes a photo diary of his journey to the Olympics.]]> http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/16/the-buzz-on-peru%e2%80%99s-olympians-week-1-in-review/feed/ 7 Olympic Ceviche with a Political Bite – Pescados Capitales http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/14/olympic-ceviche-with-a-political-bite-%e2%80%93-pescados-capitales/ http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/14/olympic-ceviche-with-a-political-bite-%e2%80%93-pescados-capitales/#comments Thu, 14 Aug 2008 22:53:15 +0000 Barbara http://americaninlima.com/?p=264 Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> So delicious, with a kick of yellow ají: ceviche at Pescados Capitales The hip cevicheria Pescados Capitales, one of Lima's finest seafood restaurants, plays on the Beijing Summer Olympics theme in its current "Pescados Olímpicos" (Olympic Sins) menu. (When you remove the first "s" from "pescados," the Spanish word for fish, it becomes "pecados" or sins. Thus the dual meaning of the restaurant's name: Capital Fish or Capital Sins.) Featured dishes this week include "Tiro olímpico" (Olympic Shooting, 30 soles), a causa made of lenguado, tuna and shrimp; "Ciclismo" (Cycling, 31 soles), salmon rolls with perch and brandied vegetables; and "Natación" (lobster "swimming" in risotto, market price). Those with a reformist bent might try "Antidoping" (37 soles), tuna seared in demi-glace sauce with quail. "Zero tolerance doesn't seem to work," the menu comments (whether about diners being able to resist this dish or Olympic athletes refraining from doping, it's hard to say).  Restaurant owner Nguyen Chávez creates a special weekly menu based on Peruvian politics and controversies. The introduction to this week's Olympic Sins menu gives a taste of Chávez's satiric bite (my translation):
"The Olympic spirit has arrived; let's see who has already won his medal.
"In Obstacle Race: Peru's Minister of the Interior (he raffled everything to remain in office)
"In Throwing the Javelin, Hammer, Shot and Discus: Congress (that's all they do).
"Marathon: This is what the earthquake victims keep running one year after the tragedy [August 15].
"We announce that the president [Alan García] hasn't scored the minimum marks, according to polls. The race has not ended yet, but the public has been accused unjustly of being 'unjust.'
" 'Doping! Doping!' is heard in the bleachers. Alas, many medals are still up for grabs."
Aside from looking for an excuse to poke fun at Peruvian politics, Chávez seized on the Olympic theme for this week's menu because he's a fan of badminton, a sport that Peruvian athlete Claudia Rivero competed in early in the Beijing Games without making it to the finals. "Yes, I was sorry to see her lose," he tells An American in Lima. "And [wrestler] Sixto Barrera, too. They say he was Peru's best hope for a medal." The owner of Pescados Capitales looks forward to seeing Peru's Peter López compete in taekwondo next Thursday, August 21. "I think he could win a medal. We'll see." Chávez deplores Peru's lack of support for its Olympic competitors. "The government does nothing for the athletes," he says. "It's not just about Peru having little money. Look at Cuba, a really poor country, look at Venezuela: They support their athletes. Why not Peru?" He notes that Peru also refuses to give monetary support to its own chess superstar, 17-year-old Emilio Córdoba, who recently won the coveted title of International Grandmaster: "Córdoba had to pay his own way to go to the International Championship. It's not right." "Peru needs to stand behind its chess players and it athletes," says Chávez. "They deserve it, no?" I nod in agreement and dig into my plate of "Paciencia: Cevíche Ghandi" (30 soles), a heavenly dish of raw fish and seafood marinated in lime juice and curry, with slices of mango and mandarin orange. It was worth the ½-hour lunchtime wait. One does need a saint's patience to put up with Peruvian politics, as well as with "making a cola" for a table at one of Lima's hottest restaurants.  Visit Pescados Capitales at Av. La Mar 1337, Miraflores, Lima, Peru. (511) 421-8808 On the web at www.pescados-capitales.com/ Photo of ceviche by www.thousandflavors.com]]> http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/14/olympic-ceviche-with-a-political-bite-%e2%80%93-pescados-capitales/feed/ 2 Peru’s Olympic 13 Are a Horde Compared To… http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/13/peru%e2%80%99s-olympic-13-are-a-horde-compared-to%e2%80%a6/ http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/13/peru%e2%80%99s-olympic-13-are-a-horde-compared-to%e2%80%a6/#comments Wed, 13 Aug 2008 22:22:38 +0000 Barbara http://americaninlima.com/?p=257 Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> [/caption] I was feeling rather forlorn about Peru's small Olympic delegation of 13 athletes. Then I stumbled upon Mashable's "18 Smaller Olympic Countries to Root For." Sean P. Aune writes: It's easy to get wrapped up in all of the big name countries that go to the Olympics, such as the United States or Russia, but have you ever thought about those countries that don't have as much money for a team or only have a few athletes who qualify? My family has a tradition of picking one or two of the smaller countries that can only send one or two athletes to the games, and sort of "adopting" them for us to root for over the course of the competition. This year I am going to be watching Itte Detenamo in weightlifting.  He is from the Republic of Nauru, the world's smallest island nation at only 8.1 square miles.  GO ITTE! Check out Sean's Olympic country maps of lonely onlys and tiny duos, including Grenada, Botswana and the Republic of Mauritania. ]]> http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/13/peru%e2%80%99s-olympic-13-are-a-horde-compared-to%e2%80%a6/feed/ 0 Sixto Barrera Advances to Quarter Finals, Loses to China’s Chang Yongxiang http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/12/sixto-barrera-advances-to-quarter-finals-loses-to-chinas-chang-yongxiang/ http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/12/sixto-barrera-advances-to-quarter-finals-loses-to-chinas-chang-yongxiang/#comments Wed, 13 Aug 2008 04:45:38 +0000 Barbara http://americaninlima.com/?p=232 Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> Sixto Barrera trounced Lithuanian Valdemaras Venckaitis, ranked 3rd in the world, in the first qualifying rounds of Men's Greco-Roman 74 k, in Beijing, on August 12.

Barrera then went against China's Chang Yongxiang in the quarter finals and lost. Chang Yongxiang advances to the finals with Georgia's Manuchar Kvirkelia. This will be China's first-ever medal in wrestling.  Here is my professional opinion about Barrera's loss: Argggh!]]> http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/12/sixto-barrera-advances-to-quarter-finals-loses-to-chinas-chang-yongxiang/feed/ 0 Trying to Watch the Olympics in Peru http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/21/constantino-leon-peter-lopez/ http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/21/constantino-leon-peter-lopez/#comments Thu, 21 Aug 2008 18:41:09 +0000 Barbara http://americaninlima.com/?p=391 Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> Peru's Olympic marathon runner Constantino Leon competing in Nairobi[/caption] Peru's original field of 13 Olympic contenders is now down to one athlete: marathon runner Constantino Leon. Leon will compete Saturday, August 23, starting at 6:30 p.m. (Beijing time), in the Men's Marathon. For fans in Peru, that translates to Sunday, August 24, starting at 7:30 a.m. Thus far, no athletes representing Peru have won a medal in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Constantino became Peru's last Olympic contender after taekwondo athlete Peter Lopez failed to secure the bronze in the Men's 68 kg. competition on Thursday, August 21. [caption id="attachment_394" align="aligncenter" width="270" caption="Lopez battles Mohammad"][/caption] Lopez was victorious in his first two matches on Thursday, beating Australia's Burak Hasan 3-1 in the preliminaries and Nigeria's Isah Adam Mohammad 3-0 in the quarter finals. He advanced the semi-finals where he was defeated by USA's Mark Lopez (no relation) 2-1. The two Lopezes were training partners at Elite taekwondo center in Houston. A subsequent match between Peter Lopez and Servet Tazegul, of Turkey, saw Peru's chances at a bronze dashed with Tazegul beat Lopez 1-0. Korea's Son Taejin won gold and USA's Mark Lopez won silver in the event. The bronze medal was shared by Tazegul and Chinese Taipai's Sung Yu-Chi. For other reports from An American in Lima on Peru's Olympic athletes, see: Keeping Up with Peru's Olympians (Aug. 11, 2008) Trying to Watch the Olympics in Peru (Aug. 11, 2008)  "Sixto Barrera Wants to Win Medal for Peru, Self & God" (Aug. 12, 2008) Sixto Barrera Advances to Quarter Finals, Loses to China's Chang Yongxiang (Aug. 12, 2008) Peru's Olympians, Part II (Aug. 13, 2008) Peru's Olympic 13 Are a Horde Compared To... (Aug. 13, 2008) The Buzz on Peru's Olympians: Week 1 in Review (Aug. 16, 2008) Maria Portilla: I Am Thrilled to Have Given My All in Beijing (Aug. 19, 2008)]]> http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/21/constantino-leon-peter-lopez/feed/ 0 An American in Lima » Peru Olympics http://americaninlima.com slices of my life in Peru Sat, 12 Mar 2011 22:55:48 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 How Pitiful! Peru Spends 3 Soles per Peruvian on Sports http://americaninlima.com/2008/09/06/how-pitiful-peru-spends-3-soles-per-peruvian-on-sports/ http://americaninlima.com/2008/09/06/how-pitiful-peru-spends-3-soles-per-peruvian-on-sports/#comments Sat, 06 Sep 2008 15:40:46 +0000 Barbara http://americaninlima.com/?p=492 Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> El Comercio, summarized in English by reporter Israel Ruiz, exposes why Peru performs so abysmally in international sporting events like the Olympics. Here's Ruiz's complete story published today in Living in Peru:
Peruvian sports are trapped in time, said reporters for El Comercio, explaining there were records in the Andean country that had not been broken in almost 40 years. Fernando Acevedo, one of Peru's past athletes that has not had his records broken affirmed he was not proud of this or the difficult situation the country was facing. "The fact that no one has broken my records shows we have not progressed," said Acevedo, explaining that without proper funding and a serious plan for aspiring athletes history would not change. To these troubles is added the fact that the country's ministry of economy has announced it will cut the Peruvian Sports Institute's (IPD) budget. Arturo Woodman, head of the IPD, confirmed that the 2009 budget could be reduced by 20 million soles. "When Alan Garcia came into office there was a 40-million-sol budget for sports. In 2007 it doubled to 80 million soles and this year we have reached 100 million," said Woodman, explaining this was three soles per Peruvian. If this figure were cut, it would place the country's sports budget back at 80 million soles. Woodman explained these figures were minute when compared to other South American countries such as Chile, which has a budget of million and spends per Chilean. He added that Venezuela spends between eight and ten dollars per citizen.
The comparisons are shameful. (For the record: 3 soles translates to little more than US.) Surely Peru can do better by its athletes. The proposed IPD budget cuts should not be allowed to take place. Peru also should consider looking to the private sector to finance athletes. How about an annual tax on foreign companies that do business in Peru to go to an athletic fund?]]> http://americaninlima.com/2008/09/06/how-pitiful-peru-spends-3-soles-per-peruvian-on-sports/feed/ 0 Peru’s Porters Win Ausangate Gold Medal for Weightlifting http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/28/peru%e2%80%99s-porters-win-ausangate-gold-medal-for-weightlifting/ http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/28/peru%e2%80%99s-porters-win-ausangate-gold-medal-for-weightlifting/#comments Thu, 28 Aug 2008 19:43:48 +0000 Barbara http://americaninlima.com/?p=421 Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> The Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics are officially over, the winners have scurried home with their medals, and the losing athletes are either chastised, pitied or forgotten by most of the world. No laurel wreath, no glory, the Olympic equation goes. Not on this blog, however. In the same spirit of honoring athletic excellence that inspired the first Olympic Games, An American in Lima introduces the Ausangate Awards for High-Altitude Athletic Achievement. Just as the Olympic Games are named after Greece's highest mountain, Mount Olympus (2,919 meters above sea level), the Ausangate Awards take as their namesake the tallest peak in the Cordillera Vilcanota, Mount Ausangate (6,384 meters / 20,945 feet above sea level), which towers over the south Peruvian Andes. The Andes are the second-highest mountain range in the world, after the Himalayas. The Gold Medal in High-Altitude Weightlifting goes to the porters of Cusco, Peru, who for hundreds of years have carried superhuman loads on their backs at altitudes of 4,000 to 5,000 meters and above. The Gold Medal is shared by the sherpas, high in the Himalayan mountain range. These high-altitude dwellers possess remarkable physical strength, stamina and ability to withstand staggering extremes of altitude and temperature. These qualities distinguish the Cusco porters and the Nepalese sherpas as among the world's elite athletes. Despite their physical prowess and lifetimes of service, however, the porters and sherpas are largely unknown to the world at large. They live and die literally in the clouds, often in extreme poverty. To understand their struggles is to realize the true meaning of "heroic" – a heroism that has nothing to do with million-dollar corporate sponsorships, winner-take-all competition, expensive doping cocktails and bloated nationalist sentiment. Curious to learn more about these unsung heroes? Read on…. The people who live within sight of high mountain ranges such as the Vilcanota, the Cordillera Blanca and the Himalayas endure extremely difficult and hazardous conditions: extreme cold, blinding sunlight, and decreased oxygen (up to 50% less than that at sea level) in high altitudes. Over thousands of years, the bodies of native mountain-dwellers have evolved various adaptation mechanisms to derive more oxygen from the air and to circulate oxygen more efficiently through the bloodstream. (Read this remarkable article in the 2/25/04 National Geographic about how mountain dwellers' bodies have adapted to their extreme environments.) People in the Andes and the Himalayas walk great distances each day, and develop strong muscles in their legs with which to navigate the rugged terrain. In many physical respects, they are superhuman. Yet despite these physical adaptations, porters and sherpas often succumb to illness, disease and fatal accidents. The porters of Cusco (known as cargadors in Spanish) perform a vital service for merchants and trekkers in the Andes region. Following pre-Columbian traditions, today's porters traverse on foot throughout the cities and mountains of the Andes region, carrying up to 240 pounds on their back. Porters typically work 14- to 16-hour days and traverse 20 to 30 miles daily across the abrupt geography of the Andes. Porters are hired to carry a variety of items. Some are paid by farmers to carry their produce (potatoes, corn, wool) and animals to market. Others haul mattresses, refrigerators, kerosene stoves and cabinets for merchants in Cusco. An even greater number tote trekkers' backpacks and camping gear along the Inca Trail, to the summits of Machu Picchu, Ausangate and the Cordillera Blanca. Without these porters, tens of thousands of tourists would not be able to experience the wonders of Peru's mountain settings. Porters also assist glaciologists, archaeologists and other scientists in their expeditions. The typical rate for a porter is just to per day (less than what it costs to rent a llama). Often porters cannot afford to buy food, so they sustain their energy on the trail by chewing coca leaves, whose juice provides energy and minerals. (Coca leaves are not a drug like cocaine.) Understandable, many porters are chronically malnourished. Not only do porters suffer physically, they also endure emotional abuse as members of Peru's ethnic underclass. Peruvian-born photographer Jorge Vera, who has documented the lives of Andean porters since 1995, notes that porters in Cusco are overwhelmingly of native Andean descent; most speak only their native Quechua and Aymara dialects. Unable to converse in Spanish with shop owners and merchants, who are often mestizo or white, the porters are vulnerable to being verbally abused or taken advantage of financially. In general, other Peruvians look down on porters, Vera notes:
"Porters are a cast of people set aside into social darkness and economic stigma and used exclusively as human beasts of burden. Without labor, medical and or social care programs, porters in Peru are truly modern-day outcasts, a disposable humanity in the midst of a booming multi-million dollar annual tourist industry."
He adds:
"I started to photograph porters in the Peruvian Andes during my wedding trip home in 1995. As a child growing up in Peru, I had never fully realized the role these porter children, women and men play in the commercial transportation of goods for hire. In some cases entire nomadic clans or families of porters are managed by Westernized, Spanish-speaking mestizo-operated businesses.
"Severely underpaid, Porters are recompensed sometimes only with meals, used shoes or clothing, and most commonly with coca leaves, a must to numb their bodies to the brutal labor and the exposure to the nightly frigid cold of the high Andes. Life expectancy for porters is short, often falling prey to tragic accidents in the precipices of the Andes, theft and most often sheer exhaustion."
In 2003 Vera came to Cusco to assist with a newly formed porter's union, the first in that city. Vera took photographs for the porter's first-ever ID tags. This documentation was crucial to establish the porters as full-fledged workers in the Cusco economy (prior to 2003, the ID-less porters often were made scapegoats for thefts). Vera's portraits of porters can be seen online at his photo.net site. Cusco porter, photo by Jorge Vera 2003 1 Other efforts to improve the lives of Andean porters were made in the early 2000s, when the NGO "Casa del Cargador" was launched in Peru. This social-assistance program provided refuge, education and support to porters in the Cusco area (read more about it here). Sadly, the program appears to have been dissolved as of 2008 (posts on the Web site ended in 2006). Worldwide, however, support for porters has grown in recent years. The International Porter Protection Group (IPPG) is dedicated to improving the safety of mountain porters. The IPPG website notes:
IPPG aims to improve safety and health for porter working in the mountains for the trekking industry worldwide. We work to eradicate avoidable illness, injury and death. We do this by raising awareness of the issues among travel companies, guides, trek leaders, sirdars (porters' foremen), and trekkers.
IPPG also supports porters in their quest for a decent wage and freedom from overloading (especially at high altitude).
Please visit the IPCC Web site to learn how you can help porters in Peru and elsewhere. More web resources include the blog The Mountain Porter, which provides current global news on porter issues, the 2006 Guardian Eco-Dilemma article on “Is It OK to Hire a Mountain Porter?” and Tourism Concert’s article “Trekking Wrongs: Porters’ Rights.”  For a list of UK tour operators with ethical porter policies, click here.  To the thousands of porters who cart their Sisyphean loads across the Andes and Himalayas: An American in Lima salutes you. ---Barbara R. Drake
]]> http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/28/peru%e2%80%99s-porters-win-ausangate-gold-medal-for-weightlifting/feed/ 2 Peru Olympic Wrap-up: Week 2 in Review http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/23/peru-olympic-wrap-up-week-2-in-review/ http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/23/peru-olympic-wrap-up-week-2-in-review/#comments Sun, 24 Aug 2008 01:43:35 +0000 Barbara http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/23/peru-olympic-wrap-up-week-2-in-review/ Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> Samuel Wansiru wins the gold with the impressive time of 2:06:32, setting a new Olympic Record. At 44 seconds behind Wansiru, Jaouad Gharib of Morocco grabs the silver with 2:07:16 (he also breaks the previous OR), and Deriba Merga, of Ethiopia, wins the bronze with 2:10:00. It's an African sweep. I keep hitting "refresh" on the official Olympics page for Men's Marathon Results: with each click, another exhausted runner clocks in his final time. Still no sign of León. I hope he didn't collapse. Thirteen runners have dropped out of the marathon thus far, including two runners from Brazil and another from Venezuela. Okay. León just crossed the 40-km mark, still in 63rd place. Corre, Constantino, corre! There's still time to improve your standing, carajo! While I have a moment, let me recap the week's events for Peru's Olympic athletes.
  1. Peru didn't win any Olympic medals.
  2. Peter López was in serious running for a bronze in taekwondo, but ceded victory to other athletes.
  3. Sailor Paloma Schmidt finished 26th in Laser Radial, after nine grueling races.
  4. María Portilla ran 39th in the Women's Marathon, beating her own personal best time.
And – now it's official – Peru's Constantino León has finished in 61st place in Men's Marathon, moving up two notches in the rankings. He must have heard me nagging him all the way from the Lima. Leon's final time was 2:28:04, 21 minutes and 32 seconds behind Wansiru.]]> http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/23/peru-olympic-wrap-up-week-2-in-review/feed/ 9 Constantino Leon Last Olympian to Compete for Peru; Peter Lopez Misses Bronze in Taekwondo http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/21/constantino-leon-peter-lopez/ http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/21/constantino-leon-peter-lopez/#comments Thu, 21 Aug 2008 18:41:09 +0000 Barbara http://americaninlima.com/?p=391 Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> Peru's Olympic marathon runner Constantino Leon competing in Nairobi[/caption] Peru's original field of 13 Olympic contenders is now down to one athlete: marathon runner Constantino Leon. Leon will compete Saturday, August 23, starting at 6:30 p.m. (Beijing time), in the Men's Marathon. For fans in Peru, that translates to Sunday, August 24, starting at 7:30 a.m. Thus far, no athletes representing Peru have won a medal in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Constantino became Peru's last Olympic contender after taekwondo athlete Peter Lopez failed to secure the bronze in the Men's 68 kg. competition on Thursday, August 21. [caption id="attachment_394" align="aligncenter" width="270" caption="Lopez battles Mohammad"][/caption] Lopez was victorious in his first two matches on Thursday, beating Australia's Burak Hasan 3-1 in the preliminaries and Nigeria's Isah Adam Mohammad 3-0 in the quarter finals. He advanced the semi-finals where he was defeated by USA's Mark Lopez (no relation) 2-1. The two Lopezes were training partners at Elite taekwondo center in Houston. A subsequent match between Peter Lopez and Servet Tazegul, of Turkey, saw Peru's chances at a bronze dashed with Tazegul beat Lopez 1-0. Korea's Son Taejin won gold and USA's Mark Lopez won silver in the event. The bronze medal was shared by Tazegul and Chinese Taipai's Sung Yu-Chi. For other reports from An American in Lima on Peru's Olympic athletes, see: Keeping Up with Peru's Olympians (Aug. 11, 2008) Trying to Watch the Olympics in Peru (Aug. 11, 2008)  "Sixto Barrera Wants to Win Medal for Peru, Self & God" (Aug. 12, 2008) Sixto Barrera Advances to Quarter Finals, Loses to China's Chang Yongxiang (Aug. 12, 2008) Peru's Olympians, Part II (Aug. 13, 2008) Peru's Olympic 13 Are a Horde Compared To... (Aug. 13, 2008) The Buzz on Peru's Olympians: Week 1 in Review (Aug. 16, 2008) Maria Portilla: I Am Thrilled to Have Given My All in Beijing (Aug. 19, 2008)]]> http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/21/constantino-leon-peter-lopez/feed/ 0 The Buzz on Peru’s Olympians, Week 1 in Review, Aug. 9 – 16 http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/16/the-buzz-on-peru%e2%80%99s-olympians-week-1-in-review/ http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/16/the-buzz-on-peru%e2%80%99s-olympians-week-1-in-review/#comments Sun, 17 Aug 2008 03:28:17 +0000 Barbara http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/16/the-buzz-on-peru%e2%80%99s-olympians-week-1-in-review/ Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> The first week (August 10 - 16) of competition at the Beijing 2008 Olympics saw some encouraging efforts by Peruvian athletes but no medals. Here is a roundup of how Peru's 13-member Olympic delegation has performed so far, along with buzz about the athletes from English-speaking media, bloggers and fans. (Plus blog reactions by Peru athletes like Peter Lopez, who posted the photo above on his Olympic blog "Camino a la Gloria" (Road to Glory) on Monday, Aug. 11.)

SIXTO BARRERA / WRESTLING 

Wrestler Sixto Barrera, considered by many to be Peru's best chance for a medal, got off to a strong start on Tuesday (Aug. 12), when he trounced the world's third-ranked Valdemaras Venckaitis of Lithuania, 3-1, in the first round of Men's Greco-Roman 74 k. That victory propelled him to the quarter finals against China's Chang Yongxiang, who turned the tables on Barrera, beating him 3-1. Barrera told RPP reporters in Beijing that his elbow was badly hurt in the match when Chang applied an "improper hold." Injured and in pain, Barrera suffered a total defeat to Bulgaria's Yavor Yanakiev in the Round 2 Repechage (score: 3-0). Yanakiev, the 2007 world champion, went on to win the Olympic bronze medal on Wedesday (Aug. 13), Chang won the silver. Georgia's Manuchar Kvirkelia won his country's first wrestling gold.

BUZZ ABOUT BARRERA

Sixto Barrera drew cheers from fans in Bird's Nest Stadium and Peruvian viewers around the world when he carried Peru's flag in the opening ceremonies on Saturday (Aug. 9). Barrera told reporters that the experience was "a dream come true." Barrera's life story drew attention from reporters and bloggers in Peru and the United States. Blogger CarlosQC from Washington, DC (who also scribes as Peruanista) highlighted Barrera's challenges as an Afro-Peruvian confronting racism and lack of support in his native country. An American in Lima explored the wrestler's spiritual faith and admiration for San Martin de Porres, the first black saint of the Americas.

CLAUDIA RIVERO / BADMINTON

 Claudia Rivero, Peru's top-ranked badminton player, lost in Women's Singles to France's Pi Hongyan 2 - 0 (21-6 and 21-6), on Sunday (Aug. 10). That defeat made Rivero ineligible for further competition at the Games. Gold and Silver in Women's Singles Badminton went to Zhang Ning and Zie Xingfang, both of China; Maria Kristin Yulianti, of Indonesia, won the Bronze on Saturday, August 16.

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ….

The 21-year-old Rivero trained for the games in Germany, thanks to an Olympic Solidarity Scholarship sponsored by the Badminton World Federation. Rivero blogged for CNN about her preparations for the Olympics (See Athlete's Blog: Claudia Rivero). Male admirers confessed to "falling in love" with Rivero on the Discussion Board at BadmintonCentral.com.

VALERIA SILVA / SWIMMING

Swimmer Valeria Silva finished 38th in the preliminaries of the 100-meter breaststroke with a personal-best time of 1:11.64 but did not advance. Australia's Leisel Jones won the gold in women's 100-meter breaststroke on Tuesday, August 12. Rebecca Soni (USA) and Mirna Jukic (Austria) won silver and bronze, respectively.

BUZZ ABOUT SILVA

A senior at University of Michigan, Silva competes for the UMich swim team along with Olympic god (we can call him that now) Michael Phelps. Silva's academic major is Brain, Behavior and Cognitive Science. She attended Lima's Humbolt school.

EMMANUEL JOSE CRESCIMBENI / SWIMMING

Eighteen-year-old swimmer Emmanuel José Crescimbeni finished 41st in the preliminaries of the 200-meter butterfly with a time of 2:02:13 but did not advance. Gold in the men's 200-meter butterfly went to Michael Phelps (USA), Silver to Laszlo Cseh (Hungary) and Bronze to Takeshi Matsuda (Japan), on Wednesday, August 13.

BUZZ ON EMMAN

Crescimbeni, known as "Emman" to his friends, attends Calvary Christian School in St. Petersburg, Florida. He has dual U.S./Peruvian citizenship. His parents are from Callao. He will attend the University of Florida next year. An in-depth profile of "the fastest swimmer you've never heard of" (to quote Crescimbeni's coach) ran in the Oct. 27, 2007, St. Petersburg Times ("Looking Back, Swimmer's Talent Couldn't Be Ignored").

MARIA LUISA DOIG / FENCING

In Women's Individual Foil fencer Maria Luisa Doig crossed swords last Sunday (Aug. 10) with Germany's Katja Waechter, who beat her 4-15. Italians Maria Valentina Vezzali and Margherita Granbassi won Gold and Bronze, respectively. Korea's Nam Hyunhee took the Silver.

MORE ABOUT DOIG

At 16 years old, Doig is Peru's youngest delegate to the Beijing games.  A widely publicized APF/Getty photo of Doig reacting to her loss against Waechter ran in USA Today and countless online sites.

PALOMA SCHMIDT / SAILING

Hard-working sailor Paloma Schmidt, who represents Peru in Laser Radial – One-person Dinghy, has competed in five races since Tuesday, August 12, and is schedule to sail in an additional five races on Sunday, August 17 and Monday, August 18, before the medal-winners are decided. Schmidt ranked No. 9 after her first race, then fell to 28 in race 4, before climbing to No. 14 in her latest race. Schmidt's individual race rankings are: 9 (Race 1), 26 (Race 2), 27 (Race 3), 28 (Race 4) and 14 (Race 5). The Olympics' sailing events take place in the Chinese coastal city of Qingdao.

BIRD BUZZ

Schmidt trains at Yacht Club Peruano, in La Punta, Callao, notes her sailor bio on ISAF. Her nickname is "Bird," in reference to her first name, which means "dove" in Spanish. Visit Schmidt's personal blog "Sailor Bird" (written in Spanish) to read about her preparations for the Olympics.

CARLOS ZEGARRA / JUDO

The "Peruvian giant" Carlos Zegarra competed in Men's Judo +100 kg on Friday, August 15, in USTB Gymnasium. Zegarra beat Argentina's Sandro Lopez in the 2:17 min. preliminary bout with a side four-corner hold. Less than an hour later, he lost to Cuba's Oscar Brayson and then to Lebanon's Rudy Hachache in Repechage, thus ending his chances for a medal. Medallists in Men's Judo +100 kg were Satoshi Ishii of Japan (Gold), Abdullo Tangriev of Uzbekistan (Silver) and Oscar Brayson of Cuba and Teddy Riner of France (sharing Bronze).

ZEGARRA FACTOIDS

  • Height: 6'8" tall
  • Weight: 352 pounds
  • Occupation: Security guard
  • Favorite food: fried calamari
  • Nickname: Chiquito

MARCO MATELLINI / SHOOTING

Skeet shooter Marco Matellini got off to a disappointing start on Friday, August 15, finishing last in a field of 41 competitors. He moved up one notch to 40th place on Saturday, August 16.

PERUVIANS DO KNOW HOW TO SHOOT

A photo of Matellini blowing into the barrel of his gun was featured in USA Today. Shooting is the one sport in which Peru has won Olympic gold. Peruvian Edward Vasquez Cam won the gold in Men's Free Pistol in 1946. More recently, Peru won silver medals in Trap Shooting (Francisco Boza, 1984) and Skeet Shooting (Juan Giha, 1992).

CRISTINA CORNEJO / WEIGHTLIFTING

Cornejo competes in Olympics +75 kg 1 Peru's powerful 22-year-old female weightlifter Cristina Cornejo went up against the big girls Saturday, August 16, in the +75 kg category. Cornejo finished 10th, tied with Eva Dimas of El Salvador. Cornejo lifted 97 kg in the Snatch, compared to first-place winner Jang Miran of Korea, who set new Olympic and World records with her 140-kg hoist that night. In the Clean & Jerk, Cornejo lifted 128 kg, nearly 60 kg below Miran's Olympic and World record-breaking lifts of 183 kg. and 186 kg. Cornejo took part in what will be remembered as a historic night in women's weightlifting. In Women's 75+ kg. Weightlifting, Miran took home the Gold for Korea, Olha Korobka took Silver for the Ukraine, and Mariya Grabovetskaya won Bronze for Kazakhstan.

THE CAMERA LOVES YOU, CRISTINA!

I love these APF/Getty images of Cornejo at Saturday's competition. This girl is mighty, mighty!   [caption id="attachment_339" align="alignleft" width="184" caption="Cristina Cornejo reacts after failing a lift in Beijing Olympics"]Cristina Cornejo reacts after failing a lift in Beijing Olympics[/caption]  

LOUIS TRISTAN / LONG JUMP

In the Men's Long Jump qualifying round, held Saturday, August 16, 24-year-old Peruvian jumper Louis Tristan finished 32nd out of 38 with a leap of 7.62 meters. That distance failed to qualify Tristan for the Long Jump final round.

THE BUZZ

Tristan was born in Lima and now lives and trains in Brazil. In a recent interview with Peruanista, he mentioned his frustration with the lack of support given to him, and other top athletes, by the Peruvian government and national sports federation.

MARIA PORTILLA / RUNNING

Runner Maria Portilla will compete in the Women's Marathon this Sunday, August 17, at 7:30 p.m., in National Stadium. Portilla will battle a strong field that includes world champion Catherine Ndereba of Kenya and Paula Radcliffe of Great Britain, who is the world record holder. Radcliffe joined the British team at the last minute before the Games, after having recovered from a stress fracture.

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING ABOUT PORTILLA

Born and raised in Peru's high Andes, 36-year-old Portilla began running in marathons eleven years ago, when she was in danger of failing a physical education exam for a teaching degree she was seeking. Her athletic abilities exceeded everyone's expectations, particularly since she ran her first races barefoot. "I didn't have money for trainers [athletic shoes]," she told a reporter for Reuters. "I ran in my bare feet. People started giving me trainers; that gave me the inspiration to continue," she says. Click here for Reuters' one-minute video interview with Peru's "unlikely marathoner."

PETER LOPEZ / TAEKWONDO

Medal hopes are riding on Peter López, who competes Thursday, August 21, in preliminaries for Men's Taekwondo 68 kg (featherweight).

MUCHO BUZZ ABOUT LOPEZ

Taekwondo insiders are eagerly anticipating a possible match-up between Peru's Peter López and USA's Mark López, who have trained with the same coaches. López is the American-born son of Peruvian parents, who raised him in Peru and the United States. Since the year 2000, he has trained at the prestigious Elite Tae Kwon Do club, in Houston, Texas, alongside world and Olympic champions. He is a six-time U.S. National Team member and a 4-time competing member for the Peruvian Taekwondo Federation. He is the first taekwondo athlete ever to represent Peru in the Olympics. According to one report, López receives US,000 per month for training from the Peru Taekwondo Federation. This contrasts with the situation of other members of the Peru Olympics delegation, who receive little to no support from their respective sports organizations in Peru (if such institutions exist at all). López blogs on his Olympic experience for Lenovo's "Voices of the Olympics" blog. Click here for Peter's own photos of his fellow Olympians doing everyday stuff in Beijing, like eating in the Olympic cafeteria, working out in the gym and getting a haircut. Click here for a short BBC article on López ("Peter Lopez: Going for the Gold") that includes a photo diary of his journey to the Olympics.]]> http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/16/the-buzz-on-peru%e2%80%99s-olympians-week-1-in-review/feed/ 7 Olympic Ceviche with a Political Bite – Pescados Capitales http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/14/olympic-ceviche-with-a-political-bite-%e2%80%93-pescados-capitales/ http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/14/olympic-ceviche-with-a-political-bite-%e2%80%93-pescados-capitales/#comments Thu, 14 Aug 2008 22:53:15 +0000 Barbara http://americaninlima.com/?p=264 Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> So delicious, with a kick of yellow ají: ceviche at Pescados Capitales The hip cevicheria Pescados Capitales, one of Lima's finest seafood restaurants, plays on the Beijing Summer Olympics theme in its current "Pescados Olímpicos" (Olympic Sins) menu. (When you remove the first "s" from "pescados," the Spanish word for fish, it becomes "pecados" or sins. Thus the dual meaning of the restaurant's name: Capital Fish or Capital Sins.) Featured dishes this week include "Tiro olímpico" (Olympic Shooting, 30 soles), a causa made of lenguado, tuna and shrimp; "Ciclismo" (Cycling, 31 soles), salmon rolls with perch and brandied vegetables; and "Natación" (lobster "swimming" in risotto, market price). Those with a reformist bent might try "Antidoping" (37 soles), tuna seared in demi-glace sauce with quail. "Zero tolerance doesn't seem to work," the menu comments (whether about diners being able to resist this dish or Olympic athletes refraining from doping, it's hard to say).  Restaurant owner Nguyen Chávez creates a special weekly menu based on Peruvian politics and controversies. The introduction to this week's Olympic Sins menu gives a taste of Chávez's satiric bite (my translation):
"The Olympic spirit has arrived; let's see who has already won his medal.
"In Obstacle Race: Peru's Minister of the Interior (he raffled everything to remain in office)
"In Throwing the Javelin, Hammer, Shot and Discus: Congress (that's all they do).
"Marathon: This is what the earthquake victims keep running one year after the tragedy [August 15].
"We announce that the president [Alan García] hasn't scored the minimum marks, according to polls. The race has not ended yet, but the public has been accused unjustly of being 'unjust.'
" 'Doping! Doping!' is heard in the bleachers. Alas, many medals are still up for grabs."
Aside from looking for an excuse to poke fun at Peruvian politics, Chávez seized on the Olympic theme for this week's menu because he's a fan of badminton, a sport that Peruvian athlete Claudia Rivero competed in early in the Beijing Games without making it to the finals. "Yes, I was sorry to see her lose," he tells An American in Lima. "And [wrestler] Sixto Barrera, too. They say he was Peru's best hope for a medal." The owner of Pescados Capitales looks forward to seeing Peru's Peter López compete in taekwondo next Thursday, August 21. "I think he could win a medal. We'll see." Chávez deplores Peru's lack of support for its Olympic competitors. "The government does nothing for the athletes," he says. "It's not just about Peru having little money. Look at Cuba, a really poor country, look at Venezuela: They support their athletes. Why not Peru?" He notes that Peru also refuses to give monetary support to its own chess superstar, 17-year-old Emilio Córdoba, who recently won the coveted title of International Grandmaster: "Córdoba had to pay his own way to go to the International Championship. It's not right." "Peru needs to stand behind its chess players and it athletes," says Chávez. "They deserve it, no?" I nod in agreement and dig into my plate of "Paciencia: Cevíche Ghandi" (30 soles), a heavenly dish of raw fish and seafood marinated in lime juice and curry, with slices of mango and mandarin orange. It was worth the ½-hour lunchtime wait. One does need a saint's patience to put up with Peruvian politics, as well as with "making a cola" for a table at one of Lima's hottest restaurants.  Visit Pescados Capitales at Av. La Mar 1337, Miraflores, Lima, Peru. (511) 421-8808 On the web at www.pescados-capitales.com/ Photo of ceviche by www.thousandflavors.com]]> http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/14/olympic-ceviche-with-a-political-bite-%e2%80%93-pescados-capitales/feed/ 2 Peru’s Olympic 13 Are a Horde Compared To… http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/13/peru%e2%80%99s-olympic-13-are-a-horde-compared-to%e2%80%a6/ http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/13/peru%e2%80%99s-olympic-13-are-a-horde-compared-to%e2%80%a6/#comments Wed, 13 Aug 2008 22:22:38 +0000 Barbara http://americaninlima.com/?p=257 Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> [/caption] I was feeling rather forlorn about Peru's small Olympic delegation of 13 athletes. Then I stumbled upon Mashable's "18 Smaller Olympic Countries to Root For." Sean P. Aune writes: It's easy to get wrapped up in all of the big name countries that go to the Olympics, such as the United States or Russia, but have you ever thought about those countries that don't have as much money for a team or only have a few athletes who qualify? My family has a tradition of picking one or two of the smaller countries that can only send one or two athletes to the games, and sort of "adopting" them for us to root for over the course of the competition. This year I am going to be watching Itte Detenamo in weightlifting.  He is from the Republic of Nauru, the world's smallest island nation at only 8.1 square miles.  GO ITTE! Check out Sean's Olympic country maps of lonely onlys and tiny duos, including Grenada, Botswana and the Republic of Mauritania. ]]> http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/13/peru%e2%80%99s-olympic-13-are-a-horde-compared-to%e2%80%a6/feed/ 0 Sixto Barrera Advances to Quarter Finals, Loses to China’s Chang Yongxiang http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/12/sixto-barrera-advances-to-quarter-finals-loses-to-chinas-chang-yongxiang/ http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/12/sixto-barrera-advances-to-quarter-finals-loses-to-chinas-chang-yongxiang/#comments Wed, 13 Aug 2008 04:45:38 +0000 Barbara http://americaninlima.com/?p=232 Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> Sixto Barrera trounced Lithuanian Valdemaras Venckaitis, ranked 3rd in the world, in the first qualifying rounds of Men's Greco-Roman 74 k, in Beijing, on August 12.

Barrera then went against China's Chang Yongxiang in the quarter finals and lost. Chang Yongxiang advances to the finals with Georgia's Manuchar Kvirkelia. This will be China's first-ever medal in wrestling.  Here is my professional opinion about Barrera's loss: Argggh!]]> http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/12/sixto-barrera-advances-to-quarter-finals-loses-to-chinas-chang-yongxiang/feed/ 0 Trying to Watch the Olympics in Peru http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/16/the-buzz-on-peru%e2%80%99s-olympians-week-1-in-review/ http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/16/the-buzz-on-peru%e2%80%99s-olympians-week-1-in-review/#comments Sun, 17 Aug 2008 03:28:17 +0000 Barbara http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/16/the-buzz-on-peru%e2%80%99s-olympians-week-1-in-review/ Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> The first week (August 10 - 16) of competition at the Beijing 2008 Olympics saw some encouraging efforts by Peruvian athletes but no medals. Here is a roundup of how Peru's 13-member Olympic delegation has performed so far, along with buzz about the athletes from English-speaking media, bloggers and fans. (Plus blog reactions by Peru athletes like Peter Lopez, who posted the photo above on his Olympic blog "Camino a la Gloria" (Road to Glory) on Monday, Aug. 11.)

SIXTO BARRERA / WRESTLING 

Wrestler Sixto Barrera, considered by many to be Peru's best chance for a medal, got off to a strong start on Tuesday (Aug. 12), when he trounced the world's third-ranked Valdemaras Venckaitis of Lithuania, 3-1, in the first round of Men's Greco-Roman 74 k. That victory propelled him to the quarter finals against China's Chang Yongxiang, who turned the tables on Barrera, beating him 3-1. Barrera told RPP reporters in Beijing that his elbow was badly hurt in the match when Chang applied an "improper hold." Injured and in pain, Barrera suffered a total defeat to Bulgaria's Yavor Yanakiev in the Round 2 Repechage (score: 3-0). Yanakiev, the 2007 world champion, went on to win the Olympic bronze medal on Wedesday (Aug. 13), Chang won the silver. Georgia's Manuchar Kvirkelia won his country's first wrestling gold.

BUZZ ABOUT BARRERA

Sixto Barrera drew cheers from fans in Bird's Nest Stadium and Peruvian viewers around the world when he carried Peru's flag in the opening ceremonies on Saturday (Aug. 9). Barrera told reporters that the experience was "a dream come true." Barrera's life story drew attention from reporters and bloggers in Peru and the United States. Blogger CarlosQC from Washington, DC (who also scribes as Peruanista) highlighted Barrera's challenges as an Afro-Peruvian confronting racism and lack of support in his native country. An American in Lima explored the wrestler's spiritual faith and admiration for San Martin de Porres, the first black saint of the Americas.

CLAUDIA RIVERO / BADMINTON

 Claudia Rivero, Peru's top-ranked badminton player, lost in Women's Singles to France's Pi Hongyan 2 - 0 (21-6 and 21-6), on Sunday (Aug. 10). That defeat made Rivero ineligible for further competition at the Games. Gold and Silver in Women's Singles Badminton went to Zhang Ning and Zie Xingfang, both of China; Maria Kristin Yulianti, of Indonesia, won the Bronze on Saturday, August 16.

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ….

The 21-year-old Rivero trained for the games in Germany, thanks to an Olympic Solidarity Scholarship sponsored by the Badminton World Federation. Rivero blogged for CNN about her preparations for the Olympics (See Athlete's Blog: Claudia Rivero). Male admirers confessed to "falling in love" with Rivero on the Discussion Board at BadmintonCentral.com.

VALERIA SILVA / SWIMMING

Swimmer Valeria Silva finished 38th in the preliminaries of the 100-meter breaststroke with a personal-best time of 1:11.64 but did not advance. Australia's Leisel Jones won the gold in women's 100-meter breaststroke on Tuesday, August 12. Rebecca Soni (USA) and Mirna Jukic (Austria) won silver and bronze, respectively.

BUZZ ABOUT SILVA

A senior at University of Michigan, Silva competes for the UMich swim team along with Olympic god (we can call him that now) Michael Phelps. Silva's academic major is Brain, Behavior and Cognitive Science. She attended Lima's Humbolt school.

EMMANUEL JOSE CRESCIMBENI / SWIMMING

Eighteen-year-old swimmer Emmanuel José Crescimbeni finished 41st in the preliminaries of the 200-meter butterfly with a time of 2:02:13 but did not advance. Gold in the men's 200-meter butterfly went to Michael Phelps (USA), Silver to Laszlo Cseh (Hungary) and Bronze to Takeshi Matsuda (Japan), on Wednesday, August 13.

BUZZ ON EMMAN

Crescimbeni, known as "Emman" to his friends, attends Calvary Christian School in St. Petersburg, Florida. He has dual U.S./Peruvian citizenship. His parents are from Callao. He will attend the University of Florida next year. An in-depth profile of "the fastest swimmer you've never heard of" (to quote Crescimbeni's coach) ran in the Oct. 27, 2007, St. Petersburg Times ("Looking Back, Swimmer's Talent Couldn't Be Ignored").

MARIA LUISA DOIG / FENCING

In Women's Individual Foil fencer Maria Luisa Doig crossed swords last Sunday (Aug. 10) with Germany's Katja Waechter, who beat her 4-15. Italians Maria Valentina Vezzali and Margherita Granbassi won Gold and Bronze, respectively. Korea's Nam Hyunhee took the Silver.

MORE ABOUT DOIG

At 16 years old, Doig is Peru's youngest delegate to the Beijing games.  A widely publicized APF/Getty photo of Doig reacting to her loss against Waechter ran in USA Today and countless online sites.

PALOMA SCHMIDT / SAILING

Hard-working sailor Paloma Schmidt, who represents Peru in Laser Radial – One-person Dinghy, has competed in five races since Tuesday, August 12, and is schedule to sail in an additional five races on Sunday, August 17 and Monday, August 18, before the medal-winners are decided. Schmidt ranked No. 9 after her first race, then fell to 28 in race 4, before climbing to No. 14 in her latest race. Schmidt's individual race rankings are: 9 (Race 1), 26 (Race 2), 27 (Race 3), 28 (Race 4) and 14 (Race 5). The Olympics' sailing events take place in the Chinese coastal city of Qingdao.

BIRD BUZZ

Schmidt trains at Yacht Club Peruano, in La Punta, Callao, notes her sailor bio on ISAF. Her nickname is "Bird," in reference to her first name, which means "dove" in Spanish. Visit Schmidt's personal blog "Sailor Bird" (written in Spanish) to read about her preparations for the Olympics.

CARLOS ZEGARRA / JUDO

The "Peruvian giant" Carlos Zegarra competed in Men's Judo +100 kg on Friday, August 15, in USTB Gymnasium. Zegarra beat Argentina's Sandro Lopez in the 2:17 min. preliminary bout with a side four-corner hold. Less than an hour later, he lost to Cuba's Oscar Brayson and then to Lebanon's Rudy Hachache in Repechage, thus ending his chances for a medal. Medallists in Men's Judo +100 kg were Satoshi Ishii of Japan (Gold), Abdullo Tangriev of Uzbekistan (Silver) and Oscar Brayson of Cuba and Teddy Riner of France (sharing Bronze).

ZEGARRA FACTOIDS

  • Height: 6'8" tall
  • Weight: 352 pounds
  • Occupation: Security guard
  • Favorite food: fried calamari
  • Nickname: Chiquito

MARCO MATELLINI / SHOOTING

Skeet shooter Marco Matellini got off to a disappointing start on Friday, August 15, finishing last in a field of 41 competitors. He moved up one notch to 40th place on Saturday, August 16.

PERUVIANS DO KNOW HOW TO SHOOT

A photo of Matellini blowing into the barrel of his gun was featured in USA Today. Shooting is the one sport in which Peru has won Olympic gold. Peruvian Edward Vasquez Cam won the gold in Men's Free Pistol in 1946. More recently, Peru won silver medals in Trap Shooting (Francisco Boza, 1984) and Skeet Shooting (Juan Giha, 1992).

CRISTINA CORNEJO / WEIGHTLIFTING

Cornejo competes in Olympics +75 kg 1 Peru's powerful 22-year-old female weightlifter Cristina Cornejo went up against the big girls Saturday, August 16, in the +75 kg category. Cornejo finished 10th, tied with Eva Dimas of El Salvador. Cornejo lifted 97 kg in the Snatch, compared to first-place winner Jang Miran of Korea, who set new Olympic and World records with her 140-kg hoist that night. In the Clean & Jerk, Cornejo lifted 128 kg, nearly 60 kg below Miran's Olympic and World record-breaking lifts of 183 kg. and 186 kg. Cornejo took part in what will be remembered as a historic night in women's weightlifting. In Women's 75+ kg. Weightlifting, Miran took home the Gold for Korea, Olha Korobka took Silver for the Ukraine, and Mariya Grabovetskaya won Bronze for Kazakhstan.

THE CAMERA LOVES YOU, CRISTINA!

I love these APF/Getty images of Cornejo at Saturday's competition. This girl is mighty, mighty!   [caption id="attachment_339" align="alignleft" width="184" caption="Cristina Cornejo reacts after failing a lift in Beijing Olympics"]Cristina Cornejo reacts after failing a lift in Beijing Olympics[/caption]  

LOUIS TRISTAN / LONG JUMP

In the Men's Long Jump qualifying round, held Saturday, August 16, 24-year-old Peruvian jumper Louis Tristan finished 32nd out of 38 with a leap of 7.62 meters. That distance failed to qualify Tristan for the Long Jump final round.

THE BUZZ

Tristan was born in Lima and now lives and trains in Brazil. In a recent interview with Peruanista, he mentioned his frustration with the lack of support given to him, and other top athletes, by the Peruvian government and national sports federation.

MARIA PORTILLA / RUNNING

Runner Maria Portilla will compete in the Women's Marathon this Sunday, August 17, at 7:30 p.m., in National Stadium. Portilla will battle a strong field that includes world champion Catherine Ndereba of Kenya and Paula Radcliffe of Great Britain, who is the world record holder. Radcliffe joined the British team at the last minute before the Games, after having recovered from a stress fracture.

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING ABOUT PORTILLA

Born and raised in Peru's high Andes, 36-year-old Portilla began running in marathons eleven years ago, when she was in danger of failing a physical education exam for a teaching degree she was seeking. Her athletic abilities exceeded everyone's expectations, particularly since she ran her first races barefoot. "I didn't have money for trainers [athletic shoes]," she told a reporter for Reuters. "I ran in my bare feet. People started giving me trainers; that gave me the inspiration to continue," she says. Click here for Reuters' one-minute video interview with Peru's "unlikely marathoner."

PETER LOPEZ / TAEKWONDO

Medal hopes are riding on Peter López, who competes Thursday, August 21, in preliminaries for Men's Taekwondo 68 kg (featherweight).

MUCHO BUZZ ABOUT LOPEZ

Taekwondo insiders are eagerly anticipating a possible match-up between Peru's Peter López and USA's Mark López, who have trained with the same coaches. López is the American-born son of Peruvian parents, who raised him in Peru and the United States. Since the year 2000, he has trained at the prestigious Elite Tae Kwon Do club, in Houston, Texas, alongside world and Olympic champions. He is a six-time U.S. National Team member and a 4-time competing member for the Peruvian Taekwondo Federation. He is the first taekwondo athlete ever to represent Peru in the Olympics. According to one report, López receives US$2,000 per month for training from the Peru Taekwondo Federation. This contrasts with the situation of other members of the Peru Olympics delegation, who receive little to no support from their respective sports organizations in Peru (if such institutions exist at all). López blogs on his Olympic experience for Lenovo's "Voices of the Olympics" blog. Click here for Peter's own photos of his fellow Olympians doing everyday stuff in Beijing, like eating in the Olympic cafeteria, working out in the gym and getting a haircut. Click here for a short BBC article on López ("Peter Lopez: Going for the Gold") that includes a photo diary of his journey to the Olympics.]]> http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/16/the-buzz-on-peru%e2%80%99s-olympians-week-1-in-review/feed/ 7 An American in Lima » Peru Olympics http://americaninlima.com slices of my life in Peru Sat, 12 Mar 2011 22:55:48 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 How Pitiful! Peru Spends 3 Soles per Peruvian on Sports http://americaninlima.com/2008/09/06/how-pitiful-peru-spends-3-soles-per-peruvian-on-sports/ http://americaninlima.com/2008/09/06/how-pitiful-peru-spends-3-soles-per-peruvian-on-sports/#comments Sat, 06 Sep 2008 15:40:46 +0000 Barbara http://americaninlima.com/?p=492 Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> El Comercio, summarized in English by reporter Israel Ruiz, exposes why Peru performs so abysmally in international sporting events like the Olympics. Here's Ruiz's complete story published today in Living in Peru:
Peruvian sports are trapped in time, said reporters for El Comercio, explaining there were records in the Andean country that had not been broken in almost 40 years. Fernando Acevedo, one of Peru's past athletes that has not had his records broken affirmed he was not proud of this or the difficult situation the country was facing. "The fact that no one has broken my records shows we have not progressed," said Acevedo, explaining that without proper funding and a serious plan for aspiring athletes history would not change. To these troubles is added the fact that the country's ministry of economy has announced it will cut the Peruvian Sports Institute's (IPD) budget. Arturo Woodman, head of the IPD, confirmed that the 2009 budget could be reduced by 20 million soles. "When Alan Garcia came into office there was a 40-million-sol budget for sports. In 2007 it doubled to 80 million soles and this year we have reached 100 million," said Woodman, explaining this was three soles per Peruvian. If this figure were cut, it would place the country's sports budget back at 80 million soles. Woodman explained these figures were minute when compared to other South American countries such as Chile, which has a budget of million and spends per Chilean. He added that Venezuela spends between eight and ten dollars per citizen.
The comparisons are shameful. (For the record: 3 soles translates to little more than US.) Surely Peru can do better by its athletes. The proposed IPD budget cuts should not be allowed to take place. Peru also should consider looking to the private sector to finance athletes. How about an annual tax on foreign companies that do business in Peru to go to an athletic fund?]]> http://americaninlima.com/2008/09/06/how-pitiful-peru-spends-3-soles-per-peruvian-on-sports/feed/ 0 Peru’s Porters Win Ausangate Gold Medal for Weightlifting http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/28/peru%e2%80%99s-porters-win-ausangate-gold-medal-for-weightlifting/ http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/28/peru%e2%80%99s-porters-win-ausangate-gold-medal-for-weightlifting/#comments Thu, 28 Aug 2008 19:43:48 +0000 Barbara http://americaninlima.com/?p=421 Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> The Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics are officially over, the winners have scurried home with their medals, and the losing athletes are either chastised, pitied or forgotten by most of the world. No laurel wreath, no glory, the Olympic equation goes. Not on this blog, however. In the same spirit of honoring athletic excellence that inspired the first Olympic Games, An American in Lima introduces the Ausangate Awards for High-Altitude Athletic Achievement. Just as the Olympic Games are named after Greece's highest mountain, Mount Olympus (2,919 meters above sea level), the Ausangate Awards take as their namesake the tallest peak in the Cordillera Vilcanota, Mount Ausangate (6,384 meters / 20,945 feet above sea level), which towers over the south Peruvian Andes. The Andes are the second-highest mountain range in the world, after the Himalayas. The Gold Medal in High-Altitude Weightlifting goes to the porters of Cusco, Peru, who for hundreds of years have carried superhuman loads on their backs at altitudes of 4,000 to 5,000 meters and above. The Gold Medal is shared by the sherpas, high in the Himalayan mountain range. These high-altitude dwellers possess remarkable physical strength, stamina and ability to withstand staggering extremes of altitude and temperature. These qualities distinguish the Cusco porters and the Nepalese sherpas as among the world's elite athletes. Despite their physical prowess and lifetimes of service, however, the porters and sherpas are largely unknown to the world at large. They live and die literally in the clouds, often in extreme poverty. To understand their struggles is to realize the true meaning of "heroic" – a heroism that has nothing to do with million-dollar corporate sponsorships, winner-take-all competition, expensive doping cocktails and bloated nationalist sentiment. Curious to learn more about these unsung heroes? Read on…. The people who live within sight of high mountain ranges such as the Vilcanota, the Cordillera Blanca and the Himalayas endure extremely difficult and hazardous conditions: extreme cold, blinding sunlight, and decreased oxygen (up to 50% less than that at sea level) in high altitudes. Over thousands of years, the bodies of native mountain-dwellers have evolved various adaptation mechanisms to derive more oxygen from the air and to circulate oxygen more efficiently through the bloodstream. (Read this remarkable article in the 2/25/04 National Geographic about how mountain dwellers' bodies have adapted to their extreme environments.) People in the Andes and the Himalayas walk great distances each day, and develop strong muscles in their legs with which to navigate the rugged terrain. In many physical respects, they are superhuman. Yet despite these physical adaptations, porters and sherpas often succumb to illness, disease and fatal accidents. The porters of Cusco (known as cargadors in Spanish) perform a vital service for merchants and trekkers in the Andes region. Following pre-Columbian traditions, today's porters traverse on foot throughout the cities and mountains of the Andes region, carrying up to 240 pounds on their back. Porters typically work 14- to 16-hour days and traverse 20 to 30 miles daily across the abrupt geography of the Andes. Porters are hired to carry a variety of items. Some are paid by farmers to carry their produce (potatoes, corn, wool) and animals to market. Others haul mattresses, refrigerators, kerosene stoves and cabinets for merchants in Cusco. An even greater number tote trekkers' backpacks and camping gear along the Inca Trail, to the summits of Machu Picchu, Ausangate and the Cordillera Blanca. Without these porters, tens of thousands of tourists would not be able to experience the wonders of Peru's mountain settings. Porters also assist glaciologists, archaeologists and other scientists in their expeditions. The typical rate for a porter is just to per day (less than what it costs to rent a llama). Often porters cannot afford to buy food, so they sustain their energy on the trail by chewing coca leaves, whose juice provides energy and minerals. (Coca leaves are not a drug like cocaine.) Understandable, many porters are chronically malnourished. Not only do porters suffer physically, they also endure emotional abuse as members of Peru's ethnic underclass. Peruvian-born photographer Jorge Vera, who has documented the lives of Andean porters since 1995, notes that porters in Cusco are overwhelmingly of native Andean descent; most speak only their native Quechua and Aymara dialects. Unable to converse in Spanish with shop owners and merchants, who are often mestizo or white, the porters are vulnerable to being verbally abused or taken advantage of financially. In general, other Peruvians look down on porters, Vera notes:
"Porters are a cast of people set aside into social darkness and economic stigma and used exclusively as human beasts of burden. Without labor, medical and or social care programs, porters in Peru are truly modern-day outcasts, a disposable humanity in the midst of a booming multi-million dollar annual tourist industry."
He adds:
"I started to photograph porters in the Peruvian Andes during my wedding trip home in 1995. As a child growing up in Peru, I had never fully realized the role these porter children, women and men play in the commercial transportation of goods for hire. In some cases entire nomadic clans or families of porters are managed by Westernized, Spanish-speaking mestizo-operated businesses.
"Severely underpaid, Porters are recompensed sometimes only with meals, used shoes or clothing, and most commonly with coca leaves, a must to numb their bodies to the brutal labor and the exposure to the nightly frigid cold of the high Andes. Life expectancy for porters is short, often falling prey to tragic accidents in the precipices of the Andes, theft and most often sheer exhaustion."
In 2003 Vera came to Cusco to assist with a newly formed porter's union, the first in that city. Vera took photographs for the porter's first-ever ID tags. This documentation was crucial to establish the porters as full-fledged workers in the Cusco economy (prior to 2003, the ID-less porters often were made scapegoats for thefts). Vera's portraits of porters can be seen online at his photo.net site. Cusco porter, photo by Jorge Vera 2003 1 Other efforts to improve the lives of Andean porters were made in the early 2000s, when the NGO "Casa del Cargador" was launched in Peru. This social-assistance program provided refuge, education and support to porters in the Cusco area (read more about it here). Sadly, the program appears to have been dissolved as of 2008 (posts on the Web site ended in 2006). Worldwide, however, support for porters has grown in recent years. The International Porter Protection Group (IPPG) is dedicated to improving the safety of mountain porters. The IPPG website notes:
IPPG aims to improve safety and health for porter working in the mountains for the trekking industry worldwide. We work to eradicate avoidable illness, injury and death. We do this by raising awareness of the issues among travel companies, guides, trek leaders, sirdars (porters' foremen), and trekkers.
IPPG also supports porters in their quest for a decent wage and freedom from overloading (especially at high altitude).
Please visit the IPCC Web site to learn how you can help porters in Peru and elsewhere. More web resources include the blog The Mountain Porter, which provides current global news on porter issues, the 2006 Guardian Eco-Dilemma article on “Is It OK to Hire a Mountain Porter?” and Tourism Concert’s article “Trekking Wrongs: Porters’ Rights.”  For a list of UK tour operators with ethical porter policies, click here.  To the thousands of porters who cart their Sisyphean loads across the Andes and Himalayas: An American in Lima salutes you. ---Barbara R. Drake
]]> http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/28/peru%e2%80%99s-porters-win-ausangate-gold-medal-for-weightlifting/feed/ 2 Peru Olympic Wrap-up: Week 2 in Review http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/23/peru-olympic-wrap-up-week-2-in-review/ http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/23/peru-olympic-wrap-up-week-2-in-review/#comments Sun, 24 Aug 2008 01:43:35 +0000 Barbara http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/23/peru-olympic-wrap-up-week-2-in-review/ Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> Samuel Wansiru wins the gold with the impressive time of 2:06:32, setting a new Olympic Record. At 44 seconds behind Wansiru, Jaouad Gharib of Morocco grabs the silver with 2:07:16 (he also breaks the previous OR), and Deriba Merga, of Ethiopia, wins the bronze with 2:10:00. It's an African sweep. I keep hitting "refresh" on the official Olympics page for Men's Marathon Results: with each click, another exhausted runner clocks in his final time. Still no sign of León. I hope he didn't collapse. Thirteen runners have dropped out of the marathon thus far, including two runners from Brazil and another from Venezuela. Okay. León just crossed the 40-km mark, still in 63rd place. Corre, Constantino, corre! There's still time to improve your standing, carajo! While I have a moment, let me recap the week's events for Peru's Olympic athletes.
  1. Peru didn't win any Olympic medals.
  2. Peter López was in serious running for a bronze in taekwondo, but ceded victory to other athletes.
  3. Sailor Paloma Schmidt finished 26th in Laser Radial, after nine grueling races.
  4. María Portilla ran 39th in the Women's Marathon, beating her own personal best time.
And – now it's official – Peru's Constantino León has finished in 61st place in Men's Marathon, moving up two notches in the rankings. He must have heard me nagging him all the way from the Lima. Leon's final time was 2:28:04, 21 minutes and 32 seconds behind Wansiru.]]> http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/23/peru-olympic-wrap-up-week-2-in-review/feed/ 9 Constantino Leon Last Olympian to Compete for Peru; Peter Lopez Misses Bronze in Taekwondo http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/21/constantino-leon-peter-lopez/ http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/21/constantino-leon-peter-lopez/#comments Thu, 21 Aug 2008 18:41:09 +0000 Barbara http://americaninlima.com/?p=391 Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> Peru's Olympic marathon runner Constantino Leon competing in Nairobi[/caption] Peru's original field of 13 Olympic contenders is now down to one athlete: marathon runner Constantino Leon. Leon will compete Saturday, August 23, starting at 6:30 p.m. (Beijing time), in the Men's Marathon. For fans in Peru, that translates to Sunday, August 24, starting at 7:30 a.m. Thus far, no athletes representing Peru have won a medal in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Constantino became Peru's last Olympic contender after taekwondo athlete Peter Lopez failed to secure the bronze in the Men's 68 kg. competition on Thursday, August 21. [caption id="attachment_394" align="aligncenter" width="270" caption="Lopez battles Mohammad"][/caption] Lopez was victorious in his first two matches on Thursday, beating Australia's Burak Hasan 3-1 in the preliminaries and Nigeria's Isah Adam Mohammad 3-0 in the quarter finals. He advanced the semi-finals where he was defeated by USA's Mark Lopez (no relation) 2-1. The two Lopezes were training partners at Elite taekwondo center in Houston. A subsequent match between Peter Lopez and Servet Tazegul, of Turkey, saw Peru's chances at a bronze dashed with Tazegul beat Lopez 1-0. Korea's Son Taejin won gold and USA's Mark Lopez won silver in the event. The bronze medal was shared by Tazegul and Chinese Taipai's Sung Yu-Chi. For other reports from An American in Lima on Peru's Olympic athletes, see: Keeping Up with Peru's Olympians (Aug. 11, 2008) Trying to Watch the Olympics in Peru (Aug. 11, 2008)  "Sixto Barrera Wants to Win Medal for Peru, Self & God" (Aug. 12, 2008) Sixto Barrera Advances to Quarter Finals, Loses to China's Chang Yongxiang (Aug. 12, 2008) Peru's Olympians, Part II (Aug. 13, 2008) Peru's Olympic 13 Are a Horde Compared To... (Aug. 13, 2008) The Buzz on Peru's Olympians: Week 1 in Review (Aug. 16, 2008) Maria Portilla: I Am Thrilled to Have Given My All in Beijing (Aug. 19, 2008)]]> http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/21/constantino-leon-peter-lopez/feed/ 0 The Buzz on Peru’s Olympians, Week 1 in Review, Aug. 9 – 16 http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/16/the-buzz-on-peru%e2%80%99s-olympians-week-1-in-review/ http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/16/the-buzz-on-peru%e2%80%99s-olympians-week-1-in-review/#comments Sun, 17 Aug 2008 03:28:17 +0000 Barbara http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/16/the-buzz-on-peru%e2%80%99s-olympians-week-1-in-review/ Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> The first week (August 10 - 16) of competition at the Beijing 2008 Olympics saw some encouraging efforts by Peruvian athletes but no medals. Here is a roundup of how Peru's 13-member Olympic delegation has performed so far, along with buzz about the athletes from English-speaking media, bloggers and fans. (Plus blog reactions by Peru athletes like Peter Lopez, who posted the photo above on his Olympic blog "Camino a la Gloria" (Road to Glory) on Monday, Aug. 11.)

SIXTO BARRERA / WRESTLING 

Wrestler Sixto Barrera, considered by many to be Peru's best chance for a medal, got off to a strong start on Tuesday (Aug. 12), when he trounced the world's third-ranked Valdemaras Venckaitis of Lithuania, 3-1, in the first round of Men's Greco-Roman 74 k. That victory propelled him to the quarter finals against China's Chang Yongxiang, who turned the tables on Barrera, beating him 3-1. Barrera told RPP reporters in Beijing that his elbow was badly hurt in the match when Chang applied an "improper hold." Injured and in pain, Barrera suffered a total defeat to Bulgaria's Yavor Yanakiev in the Round 2 Repechage (score: 3-0). Yanakiev, the 2007 world champion, went on to win the Olympic bronze medal on Wedesday (Aug. 13), Chang won the silver. Georgia's Manuchar Kvirkelia won his country's first wrestling gold.

BUZZ ABOUT BARRERA

Sixto Barrera drew cheers from fans in Bird's Nest Stadium and Peruvian viewers around the world when he carried Peru's flag in the opening ceremonies on Saturday (Aug. 9). Barrera told reporters that the experience was "a dream come true." Barrera's life story drew attention from reporters and bloggers in Peru and the United States. Blogger CarlosQC from Washington, DC (who also scribes as Peruanista) highlighted Barrera's challenges as an Afro-Peruvian confronting racism and lack of support in his native country. An American in Lima explored the wrestler's spiritual faith and admiration for San Martin de Porres, the first black saint of the Americas.

CLAUDIA RIVERO / BADMINTON

 Claudia Rivero, Peru's top-ranked badminton player, lost in Women's Singles to France's Pi Hongyan 2 - 0 (21-6 and 21-6), on Sunday (Aug. 10). That defeat made Rivero ineligible for further competition at the Games. Gold and Silver in Women's Singles Badminton went to Zhang Ning and Zie Xingfang, both of China; Maria Kristin Yulianti, of Indonesia, won the Bronze on Saturday, August 16.

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ….

The 21-year-old Rivero trained for the games in Germany, thanks to an Olympic Solidarity Scholarship sponsored by the Badminton World Federation. Rivero blogged for CNN about her preparations for the Olympics (See Athlete's Blog: Claudia Rivero). Male admirers confessed to "falling in love" with Rivero on the Discussion Board at BadmintonCentral.com.

VALERIA SILVA / SWIMMING

Swimmer Valeria Silva finished 38th in the preliminaries of the 100-meter breaststroke with a personal-best time of 1:11.64 but did not advance. Australia's Leisel Jones won the gold in women's 100-meter breaststroke on Tuesday, August 12. Rebecca Soni (USA) and Mirna Jukic (Austria) won silver and bronze, respectively.

BUZZ ABOUT SILVA

A senior at University of Michigan, Silva competes for the UMich swim team along with Olympic god (we can call him that now) Michael Phelps. Silva's academic major is Brain, Behavior and Cognitive Science. She attended Lima's Humbolt school.

EMMANUEL JOSE CRESCIMBENI / SWIMMING

Eighteen-year-old swimmer Emmanuel José Crescimbeni finished 41st in the preliminaries of the 200-meter butterfly with a time of 2:02:13 but did not advance. Gold in the men's 200-meter butterfly went to Michael Phelps (USA), Silver to Laszlo Cseh (Hungary) and Bronze to Takeshi Matsuda (Japan), on Wednesday, August 13.

BUZZ ON EMMAN

Crescimbeni, known as "Emman" to his friends, attends Calvary Christian School in St. Petersburg, Florida. He has dual U.S./Peruvian citizenship. His parents are from Callao. He will attend the University of Florida next year. An in-depth profile of "the fastest swimmer you've never heard of" (to quote Crescimbeni's coach) ran in the Oct. 27, 2007, St. Petersburg Times ("Looking Back, Swimmer's Talent Couldn't Be Ignored").

MARIA LUISA DOIG / FENCING

In Women's Individual Foil fencer Maria Luisa Doig crossed swords last Sunday (Aug. 10) with Germany's Katja Waechter, who beat her 4-15. Italians Maria Valentina Vezzali and Margherita Granbassi won Gold and Bronze, respectively. Korea's Nam Hyunhee took the Silver.

MORE ABOUT DOIG

At 16 years old, Doig is Peru's youngest delegate to the Beijing games.  A widely publicized APF/Getty photo of Doig reacting to her loss against Waechter ran in USA Today and countless online sites.

PALOMA SCHMIDT / SAILING

Hard-working sailor Paloma Schmidt, who represents Peru in Laser Radial – One-person Dinghy, has competed in five races since Tuesday, August 12, and is schedule to sail in an additional five races on Sunday, August 17 and Monday, August 18, before the medal-winners are decided. Schmidt ranked No. 9 after her first race, then fell to 28 in race 4, before climbing to No. 14 in her latest race. Schmidt's individual race rankings are: 9 (Race 1), 26 (Race 2), 27 (Race 3), 28 (Race 4) and 14 (Race 5). The Olympics' sailing events take place in the Chinese coastal city of Qingdao.

BIRD BUZZ

Schmidt trains at Yacht Club Peruano, in La Punta, Callao, notes her sailor bio on ISAF. Her nickname is "Bird," in reference to her first name, which means "dove" in Spanish. Visit Schmidt's personal blog "Sailor Bird" (written in Spanish) to read about her preparations for the Olympics.

CARLOS ZEGARRA / JUDO

The "Peruvian giant" Carlos Zegarra competed in Men's Judo +100 kg on Friday, August 15, in USTB Gymnasium. Zegarra beat Argentina's Sandro Lopez in the 2:17 min. preliminary bout with a side four-corner hold. Less than an hour later, he lost to Cuba's Oscar Brayson and then to Lebanon's Rudy Hachache in Repechage, thus ending his chances for a medal. Medallists in Men's Judo +100 kg were Satoshi Ishii of Japan (Gold), Abdullo Tangriev of Uzbekistan (Silver) and Oscar Brayson of Cuba and Teddy Riner of France (sharing Bronze).

ZEGARRA FACTOIDS

  • Height: 6'8" tall
  • Weight: 352 pounds
  • Occupation: Security guard
  • Favorite food: fried calamari
  • Nickname: Chiquito

MARCO MATELLINI / SHOOTING

Skeet shooter Marco Matellini got off to a disappointing start on Friday, August 15, finishing last in a field of 41 competitors. He moved up one notch to 40th place on Saturday, August 16.

PERUVIANS DO KNOW HOW TO SHOOT

A photo of Matellini blowing into the barrel of his gun was featured in USA Today. Shooting is the one sport in which Peru has won Olympic gold. Peruvian Edward Vasquez Cam won the gold in Men's Free Pistol in 1946. More recently, Peru won silver medals in Trap Shooting (Francisco Boza, 1984) and Skeet Shooting (Juan Giha, 1992).

CRISTINA CORNEJO / WEIGHTLIFTING

Cornejo competes in Olympics +75 kg 1 Peru's powerful 22-year-old female weightlifter Cristina Cornejo went up against the big girls Saturday, August 16, in the +75 kg category. Cornejo finished 10th, tied with Eva Dimas of El Salvador. Cornejo lifted 97 kg in the Snatch, compared to first-place winner Jang Miran of Korea, who set new Olympic and World records with her 140-kg hoist that night. In the Clean & Jerk, Cornejo lifted 128 kg, nearly 60 kg below Miran's Olympic and World record-breaking lifts of 183 kg. and 186 kg. Cornejo took part in what will be remembered as a historic night in women's weightlifting. In Women's 75+ kg. Weightlifting, Miran took home the Gold for Korea, Olha Korobka took Silver for the Ukraine, and Mariya Grabovetskaya won Bronze for Kazakhstan.

THE CAMERA LOVES YOU, CRISTINA!

I love these APF/Getty images of Cornejo at Saturday's competition. This girl is mighty, mighty!   [caption id="attachment_339" align="alignleft" width="184" caption="Cristina Cornejo reacts after failing a lift in Beijing Olympics"]Cristina Cornejo reacts after failing a lift in Beijing Olympics[/caption]  

LOUIS TRISTAN / LONG JUMP

In the Men's Long Jump qualifying round, held Saturday, August 16, 24-year-old Peruvian jumper Louis Tristan finished 32nd out of 38 with a leap of 7.62 meters. That distance failed to qualify Tristan for the Long Jump final round.

THE BUZZ

Tristan was born in Lima and now lives and trains in Brazil. In a recent interview with Peruanista, he mentioned his frustration with the lack of support given to him, and other top athletes, by the Peruvian government and national sports federation.

MARIA PORTILLA / RUNNING

Runner Maria Portilla will compete in the Women's Marathon this Sunday, August 17, at 7:30 p.m., in National Stadium. Portilla will battle a strong field that includes world champion Catherine Ndereba of Kenya and Paula Radcliffe of Great Britain, who is the world record holder. Radcliffe joined the British team at the last minute before the Games, after having recovered from a stress fracture.

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING ABOUT PORTILLA

Born and raised in Peru's high Andes, 36-year-old Portilla began running in marathons eleven years ago, when she was in danger of failing a physical education exam for a teaching degree she was seeking. Her athletic abilities exceeded everyone's expectations, particularly since she ran her first races barefoot. "I didn't have money for trainers [athletic shoes]," she told a reporter for Reuters. "I ran in my bare feet. People started giving me trainers; that gave me the inspiration to continue," she says. Click here for Reuters' one-minute video interview with Peru's "unlikely marathoner."

PETER LOPEZ / TAEKWONDO

Medal hopes are riding on Peter López, who competes Thursday, August 21, in preliminaries for Men's Taekwondo 68 kg (featherweight).

MUCHO BUZZ ABOUT LOPEZ

Taekwondo insiders are eagerly anticipating a possible match-up between Peru's Peter López and USA's Mark López, who have trained with the same coaches. López is the American-born son of Peruvian parents, who raised him in Peru and the United States. Since the year 2000, he has trained at the prestigious Elite Tae Kwon Do club, in Houston, Texas, alongside world and Olympic champions. He is a six-time U.S. National Team member and a 4-time competing member for the Peruvian Taekwondo Federation. He is the first taekwondo athlete ever to represent Peru in the Olympics. According to one report, López receives US,000 per month for training from the Peru Taekwondo Federation. This contrasts with the situation of other members of the Peru Olympics delegation, who receive little to no support from their respective sports organizations in Peru (if such institutions exist at all). López blogs on his Olympic experience for Lenovo's "Voices of the Olympics" blog. Click here for Peter's own photos of his fellow Olympians doing everyday stuff in Beijing, like eating in the Olympic cafeteria, working out in the gym and getting a haircut. Click here for a short BBC article on López ("Peter Lopez: Going for the Gold") that includes a photo diary of his journey to the Olympics.]]> http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/16/the-buzz-on-peru%e2%80%99s-olympians-week-1-in-review/feed/ 7 Olympic Ceviche with a Political Bite – Pescados Capitales http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/14/olympic-ceviche-with-a-political-bite-%e2%80%93-pescados-capitales/ http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/14/olympic-ceviche-with-a-political-bite-%e2%80%93-pescados-capitales/#comments Thu, 14 Aug 2008 22:53:15 +0000 Barbara http://americaninlima.com/?p=264 Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> So delicious, with a kick of yellow ají: ceviche at Pescados Capitales The hip cevicheria Pescados Capitales, one of Lima's finest seafood restaurants, plays on the Beijing Summer Olympics theme in its current "Pescados Olímpicos" (Olympic Sins) menu. (When you remove the first "s" from "pescados," the Spanish word for fish, it becomes "pecados" or sins. Thus the dual meaning of the restaurant's name: Capital Fish or Capital Sins.) Featured dishes this week include "Tiro olímpico" (Olympic Shooting, 30 soles), a causa made of lenguado, tuna and shrimp; "Ciclismo" (Cycling, 31 soles), salmon rolls with perch and brandied vegetables; and "Natación" (lobster "swimming" in risotto, market price). Those with a reformist bent might try "Antidoping" (37 soles), tuna seared in demi-glace sauce with quail. "Zero tolerance doesn't seem to work," the menu comments (whether about diners being able to resist this dish or Olympic athletes refraining from doping, it's hard to say).  Restaurant owner Nguyen Chávez creates a special weekly menu based on Peruvian politics and controversies. The introduction to this week's Olympic Sins menu gives a taste of Chávez's satiric bite (my translation):
"The Olympic spirit has arrived; let's see who has already won his medal.
"In Obstacle Race: Peru's Minister of the Interior (he raffled everything to remain in office)
"In Throwing the Javelin, Hammer, Shot and Discus: Congress (that's all they do).
"Marathon: This is what the earthquake victims keep running one year after the tragedy [August 15].
"We announce that the president [Alan García] hasn't scored the minimum marks, according to polls. The race has not ended yet, but the public has been accused unjustly of being 'unjust.'
" 'Doping! Doping!' is heard in the bleachers. Alas, many medals are still up for grabs."
Aside from looking for an excuse to poke fun at Peruvian politics, Chávez seized on the Olympic theme for this week's menu because he's a fan of badminton, a sport that Peruvian athlete Claudia Rivero competed in early in the Beijing Games without making it to the finals. "Yes, I was sorry to see her lose," he tells An American in Lima. "And [wrestler] Sixto Barrera, too. They say he was Peru's best hope for a medal." The owner of Pescados Capitales looks forward to seeing Peru's Peter López compete in taekwondo next Thursday, August 21. "I think he could win a medal. We'll see." Chávez deplores Peru's lack of support for its Olympic competitors. "The government does nothing for the athletes," he says. "It's not just about Peru having little money. Look at Cuba, a really poor country, look at Venezuela: They support their athletes. Why not Peru?" He notes that Peru also refuses to give monetary support to its own chess superstar, 17-year-old Emilio Córdoba, who recently won the coveted title of International Grandmaster: "Córdoba had to pay his own way to go to the International Championship. It's not right." "Peru needs to stand behind its chess players and it athletes," says Chávez. "They deserve it, no?" I nod in agreement and dig into my plate of "Paciencia: Cevíche Ghandi" (30 soles), a heavenly dish of raw fish and seafood marinated in lime juice and curry, with slices of mango and mandarin orange. It was worth the ½-hour lunchtime wait. One does need a saint's patience to put up with Peruvian politics, as well as with "making a cola" for a table at one of Lima's hottest restaurants.  Visit Pescados Capitales at Av. La Mar 1337, Miraflores, Lima, Peru. (511) 421-8808 On the web at www.pescados-capitales.com/ Photo of ceviche by www.thousandflavors.com]]> http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/14/olympic-ceviche-with-a-political-bite-%e2%80%93-pescados-capitales/feed/ 2 Peru’s Olympic 13 Are a Horde Compared To… http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/13/peru%e2%80%99s-olympic-13-are-a-horde-compared-to%e2%80%a6/ http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/13/peru%e2%80%99s-olympic-13-are-a-horde-compared-to%e2%80%a6/#comments Wed, 13 Aug 2008 22:22:38 +0000 Barbara http://americaninlima.com/?p=257 Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> [/caption] I was feeling rather forlorn about Peru's small Olympic delegation of 13 athletes. Then I stumbled upon Mashable's "18 Smaller Olympic Countries to Root For." Sean P. Aune writes: It's easy to get wrapped up in all of the big name countries that go to the Olympics, such as the United States or Russia, but have you ever thought about those countries that don't have as much money for a team or only have a few athletes who qualify? My family has a tradition of picking one or two of the smaller countries that can only send one or two athletes to the games, and sort of "adopting" them for us to root for over the course of the competition. This year I am going to be watching Itte Detenamo in weightlifting.  He is from the Republic of Nauru, the world's smallest island nation at only 8.1 square miles.  GO ITTE! Check out Sean's Olympic country maps of lonely onlys and tiny duos, including Grenada, Botswana and the Republic of Mauritania. ]]> http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/13/peru%e2%80%99s-olympic-13-are-a-horde-compared-to%e2%80%a6/feed/ 0 Sixto Barrera Advances to Quarter Finals, Loses to China’s Chang Yongxiang http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/12/sixto-barrera-advances-to-quarter-finals-loses-to-chinas-chang-yongxiang/ http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/12/sixto-barrera-advances-to-quarter-finals-loses-to-chinas-chang-yongxiang/#comments Wed, 13 Aug 2008 04:45:38 +0000 Barbara http://americaninlima.com/?p=232 Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> Sixto Barrera trounced Lithuanian Valdemaras Venckaitis, ranked 3rd in the world, in the first qualifying rounds of Men's Greco-Roman 74 k, in Beijing, on August 12.

Barrera then went against China's Chang Yongxiang in the quarter finals and lost. Chang Yongxiang advances to the finals with Georgia's Manuchar Kvirkelia. This will be China's first-ever medal in wrestling.  Here is my professional opinion about Barrera's loss: Argggh!]]> http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/12/sixto-barrera-advances-to-quarter-finals-loses-to-chinas-chang-yongxiang/feed/ 0 Trying to Watch the Olympics in Peru http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/14/olympic-ceviche-with-a-political-bite-%e2%80%93-pescados-capitales/ http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/14/olympic-ceviche-with-a-political-bite-%e2%80%93-pescados-capitales/#comments Thu, 14 Aug 2008 22:53:15 +0000 Barbara http://americaninlima.com/?p=264 Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> So delicious, with a kick of yellow ají: ceviche at Pescados Capitales The hip cevicheria Pescados Capitales, one of Lima's finest seafood restaurants, plays on the Beijing Summer Olympics theme in its current "Pescados Olímpicos" (Olympic Sins) menu. (When you remove the first "s" from "pescados," the Spanish word for fish, it becomes "pecados" or sins. Thus the dual meaning of the restaurant's name: Capital Fish or Capital Sins.) Featured dishes this week include "Tiro olímpico" (Olympic Shooting, 30 soles), a causa made of lenguado, tuna and shrimp; "Ciclismo" (Cycling, 31 soles), salmon rolls with perch and brandied vegetables; and "Natación" (lobster "swimming" in risotto, market price). Those with a reformist bent might try "Antidoping" (37 soles), tuna seared in demi-glace sauce with quail. "Zero tolerance doesn't seem to work," the menu comments (whether about diners being able to resist this dish or Olympic athletes refraining from doping, it's hard to say).  Restaurant owner Nguyen Chávez creates a special weekly menu based on Peruvian politics and controversies. The introduction to this week's Olympic Sins menu gives a taste of Chávez's satiric bite (my translation):
"The Olympic spirit has arrived; let's see who has already won his medal.
"In Obstacle Race: Peru's Minister of the Interior (he raffled everything to remain in office)
"In Throwing the Javelin, Hammer, Shot and Discus: Congress (that's all they do).
"Marathon: This is what the earthquake victims keep running one year after the tragedy [August 15].
"We announce that the president [Alan García] hasn't scored the minimum marks, according to polls. The race has not ended yet, but the public has been accused unjustly of being 'unjust.'
" 'Doping! Doping!' is heard in the bleachers. Alas, many medals are still up for grabs."
Aside from looking for an excuse to poke fun at Peruvian politics, Chávez seized on the Olympic theme for this week's menu because he's a fan of badminton, a sport that Peruvian athlete Claudia Rivero competed in early in the Beijing Games without making it to the finals. "Yes, I was sorry to see her lose," he tells An American in Lima. "And [wrestler] Sixto Barrera, too. They say he was Peru's best hope for a medal." The owner of Pescados Capitales looks forward to seeing Peru's Peter López compete in taekwondo next Thursday, August 21. "I think he could win a medal. We'll see." Chávez deplores Peru's lack of support for its Olympic competitors. "The government does nothing for the athletes," he says. "It's not just about Peru having little money. Look at Cuba, a really poor country, look at Venezuela: They support their athletes. Why not Peru?" He notes that Peru also refuses to give monetary support to its own chess superstar, 17-year-old Emilio Córdoba, who recently won the coveted title of International Grandmaster: "Córdoba had to pay his own way to go to the International Championship. It's not right." "Peru needs to stand behind its chess players and it athletes," says Chávez. "They deserve it, no?" I nod in agreement and dig into my plate of "Paciencia: Cevíche Ghandi" (30 soles), a heavenly dish of raw fish and seafood marinated in lime juice and curry, with slices of mango and mandarin orange. It was worth the ½-hour lunchtime wait. One does need a saint's patience to put up with Peruvian politics, as well as with "making a cola" for a table at one of Lima's hottest restaurants.  Visit Pescados Capitales at Av. La Mar 1337, Miraflores, Lima, Peru. (511) 421-8808 On the web at www.pescados-capitales.com/ Photo of ceviche by www.thousandflavors.com]]> http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/14/olympic-ceviche-with-a-political-bite-%e2%80%93-pescados-capitales/feed/ 2 An American in Lima » Peru Olympics http://americaninlima.com slices of my life in Peru Sat, 12 Mar 2011 22:55:48 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 How Pitiful! Peru Spends 3 Soles per Peruvian on Sports http://americaninlima.com/2008/09/06/how-pitiful-peru-spends-3-soles-per-peruvian-on-sports/ http://americaninlima.com/2008/09/06/how-pitiful-peru-spends-3-soles-per-peruvian-on-sports/#comments Sat, 06 Sep 2008 15:40:46 +0000 Barbara http://americaninlima.com/?p=492 Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> El Comercio, summarized in English by reporter Israel Ruiz, exposes why Peru performs so abysmally in international sporting events like the Olympics. Here's Ruiz's complete story published today in Living in Peru:
Peruvian sports are trapped in time, said reporters for El Comercio, explaining there were records in the Andean country that had not been broken in almost 40 years. Fernando Acevedo, one of Peru's past athletes that has not had his records broken affirmed he was not proud of this or the difficult situation the country was facing. "The fact that no one has broken my records shows we have not progressed," said Acevedo, explaining that without proper funding and a serious plan for aspiring athletes history would not change. To these troubles is added the fact that the country's ministry of economy has announced it will cut the Peruvian Sports Institute's (IPD) budget. Arturo Woodman, head of the IPD, confirmed that the 2009 budget could be reduced by 20 million soles. "When Alan Garcia came into office there was a 40-million-sol budget for sports. In 2007 it doubled to 80 million soles and this year we have reached 100 million," said Woodman, explaining this was three soles per Peruvian. If this figure were cut, it would place the country's sports budget back at 80 million soles. Woodman explained these figures were minute when compared to other South American countries such as Chile, which has a budget of million and spends per Chilean. He added that Venezuela spends between eight and ten dollars per citizen.
The comparisons are shameful. (For the record: 3 soles translates to little more than US.) Surely Peru can do better by its athletes. The proposed IPD budget cuts should not be allowed to take place. Peru also should consider looking to the private sector to finance athletes. How about an annual tax on foreign companies that do business in Peru to go to an athletic fund?]]> http://americaninlima.com/2008/09/06/how-pitiful-peru-spends-3-soles-per-peruvian-on-sports/feed/ 0 Peru’s Porters Win Ausangate Gold Medal for Weightlifting http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/28/peru%e2%80%99s-porters-win-ausangate-gold-medal-for-weightlifting/ http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/28/peru%e2%80%99s-porters-win-ausangate-gold-medal-for-weightlifting/#comments Thu, 28 Aug 2008 19:43:48 +0000 Barbara http://americaninlima.com/?p=421 Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> The Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics are officially over, the winners have scurried home with their medals, and the losing athletes are either chastised, pitied or forgotten by most of the world. No laurel wreath, no glory, the Olympic equation goes. Not on this blog, however. In the same spirit of honoring athletic excellence that inspired the first Olympic Games, An American in Lima introduces the Ausangate Awards for High-Altitude Athletic Achievement. Just as the Olympic Games are named after Greece's highest mountain, Mount Olympus (2,919 meters above sea level), the Ausangate Awards take as their namesake the tallest peak in the Cordillera Vilcanota, Mount Ausangate (6,384 meters / 20,945 feet above sea level), which towers over the south Peruvian Andes. The Andes are the second-highest mountain range in the world, after the Himalayas. The Gold Medal in High-Altitude Weightlifting goes to the porters of Cusco, Peru, who for hundreds of years have carried superhuman loads on their backs at altitudes of 4,000 to 5,000 meters and above. The Gold Medal is shared by the sherpas, high in the Himalayan mountain range. These high-altitude dwellers possess remarkable physical strength, stamina and ability to withstand staggering extremes of altitude and temperature. These qualities distinguish the Cusco porters and the Nepalese sherpas as among the world's elite athletes. Despite their physical prowess and lifetimes of service, however, the porters and sherpas are largely unknown to the world at large. They live and die literally in the clouds, often in extreme poverty. To understand their struggles is to realize the true meaning of "heroic" – a heroism that has nothing to do with million-dollar corporate sponsorships, winner-take-all competition, expensive doping cocktails and bloated nationalist sentiment. Curious to learn more about these unsung heroes? Read on…. The people who live within sight of high mountain ranges such as the Vilcanota, the Cordillera Blanca and the Himalayas endure extremely difficult and hazardous conditions: extreme cold, blinding sunlight, and decreased oxygen (up to 50% less than that at sea level) in high altitudes. Over thousands of years, the bodies of native mountain-dwellers have evolved various adaptation mechanisms to derive more oxygen from the air and to circulate oxygen more efficiently through the bloodstream. (Read this remarkable article in the 2/25/04 National Geographic about how mountain dwellers' bodies have adapted to their extreme environments.) People in the Andes and the Himalayas walk great distances each day, and develop strong muscles in their legs with which to navigate the rugged terrain. In many physical respects, they are superhuman. Yet despite these physical adaptations, porters and sherpas often succumb to illness, disease and fatal accidents. The porters of Cusco (known as cargadors in Spanish) perform a vital service for merchants and trekkers in the Andes region. Following pre-Columbian traditions, today's porters traverse on foot throughout the cities and mountains of the Andes region, carrying up to 240 pounds on their back. Porters typically work 14- to 16-hour days and traverse 20 to 30 miles daily across the abrupt geography of the Andes. Porters are hired to carry a variety of items. Some are paid by farmers to carry their produce (potatoes, corn, wool) and animals to market. Others haul mattresses, refrigerators, kerosene stoves and cabinets for merchants in Cusco. An even greater number tote trekkers' backpacks and camping gear along the Inca Trail, to the summits of Machu Picchu, Ausangate and the Cordillera Blanca. Without these porters, tens of thousands of tourists would not be able to experience the wonders of Peru's mountain settings. Porters also assist glaciologists, archaeologists and other scientists in their expeditions. The typical rate for a porter is just to per day (less than what it costs to rent a llama). Often porters cannot afford to buy food, so they sustain their energy on the trail by chewing coca leaves, whose juice provides energy and minerals. (Coca leaves are not a drug like cocaine.) Understandable, many porters are chronically malnourished. Not only do porters suffer physically, they also endure emotional abuse as members of Peru's ethnic underclass. Peruvian-born photographer Jorge Vera, who has documented the lives of Andean porters since 1995, notes that porters in Cusco are overwhelmingly of native Andean descent; most speak only their native Quechua and Aymara dialects. Unable to converse in Spanish with shop owners and merchants, who are often mestizo or white, the porters are vulnerable to being verbally abused or taken advantage of financially. In general, other Peruvians look down on porters, Vera notes:
"Porters are a cast of people set aside into social darkness and economic stigma and used exclusively as human beasts of burden. Without labor, medical and or social care programs, porters in Peru are truly modern-day outcasts, a disposable humanity in the midst of a booming multi-million dollar annual tourist industry."
He adds:
"I started to photograph porters in the Peruvian Andes during my wedding trip home in 1995. As a child growing up in Peru, I had never fully realized the role these porter children, women and men play in the commercial transportation of goods for hire. In some cases entire nomadic clans or families of porters are managed by Westernized, Spanish-speaking mestizo-operated businesses.
"Severely underpaid, Porters are recompensed sometimes only with meals, used shoes or clothing, and most commonly with coca leaves, a must to numb their bodies to the brutal labor and the exposure to the nightly frigid cold of the high Andes. Life expectancy for porters is short, often falling prey to tragic accidents in the precipices of the Andes, theft and most often sheer exhaustion."
In 2003 Vera came to Cusco to assist with a newly formed porter's union, the first in that city. Vera took photographs for the porter's first-ever ID tags. This documentation was crucial to establish the porters as full-fledged workers in the Cusco economy (prior to 2003, the ID-less porters often were made scapegoats for thefts). Vera's portraits of porters can be seen online at his photo.net site. Cusco porter, photo by Jorge Vera 2003 1 Other efforts to improve the lives of Andean porters were made in the early 2000s, when the NGO "Casa del Cargador" was launched in Peru. This social-assistance program provided refuge, education and support to porters in the Cusco area (read more about it here). Sadly, the program appears to have been dissolved as of 2008 (posts on the Web site ended in 2006). Worldwide, however, support for porters has grown in recent years. The International Porter Protection Group (IPPG) is dedicated to improving the safety of mountain porters. The IPPG website notes:
IPPG aims to improve safety and health for porter working in the mountains for the trekking industry worldwide. We work to eradicate avoidable illness, injury and death. We do this by raising awareness of the issues among travel companies, guides, trek leaders, sirdars (porters' foremen), and trekkers.
IPPG also supports porters in their quest for a decent wage and freedom from overloading (especially at high altitude).
Please visit the IPCC Web site to learn how you can help porters in Peru and elsewhere. More web resources include the blog The Mountain Porter, which provides current global news on porter issues, the 2006 Guardian Eco-Dilemma article on “Is It OK to Hire a Mountain Porter?” and Tourism Concert’s article “Trekking Wrongs: Porters’ Rights.”  For a list of UK tour operators with ethical porter policies, click here.  To the thousands of porters who cart their Sisyphean loads across the Andes and Himalayas: An American in Lima salutes you. ---Barbara R. Drake
]]> http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/28/peru%e2%80%99s-porters-win-ausangate-gold-medal-for-weightlifting/feed/ 2 Peru Olympic Wrap-up: Week 2 in Review http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/23/peru-olympic-wrap-up-week-2-in-review/ http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/23/peru-olympic-wrap-up-week-2-in-review/#comments Sun, 24 Aug 2008 01:43:35 +0000 Barbara http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/23/peru-olympic-wrap-up-week-2-in-review/ Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> Samuel Wansiru wins the gold with the impressive time of 2:06:32, setting a new Olympic Record. At 44 seconds behind Wansiru, Jaouad Gharib of Morocco grabs the silver with 2:07:16 (he also breaks the previous OR), and Deriba Merga, of Ethiopia, wins the bronze with 2:10:00. It's an African sweep. I keep hitting "refresh" on the official Olympics page for Men's Marathon Results: with each click, another exhausted runner clocks in his final time. Still no sign of León. I hope he didn't collapse. Thirteen runners have dropped out of the marathon thus far, including two runners from Brazil and another from Venezuela. Okay. León just crossed the 40-km mark, still in 63rd place. Corre, Constantino, corre! There's still time to improve your standing, carajo! While I have a moment, let me recap the week's events for Peru's Olympic athletes.
  1. Peru didn't win any Olympic medals.
  2. Peter López was in serious running for a bronze in taekwondo, but ceded victory to other athletes.
  3. Sailor Paloma Schmidt finished 26th in Laser Radial, after nine grueling races.
  4. María Portilla ran 39th in the Women's Marathon, beating her own personal best time.
And – now it's official – Peru's Constantino León has finished in 61st place in Men's Marathon, moving up two notches in the rankings. He must have heard me nagging him all the way from the Lima. Leon's final time was 2:28:04, 21 minutes and 32 seconds behind Wansiru.]]> http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/23/peru-olympic-wrap-up-week-2-in-review/feed/ 9 Constantino Leon Last Olympian to Compete for Peru; Peter Lopez Misses Bronze in Taekwondo http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/21/constantino-leon-peter-lopez/ http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/21/constantino-leon-peter-lopez/#comments Thu, 21 Aug 2008 18:41:09 +0000 Barbara http://americaninlima.com/?p=391 Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> Peru's Olympic marathon runner Constantino Leon competing in Nairobi[/caption] Peru's original field of 13 Olympic contenders is now down to one athlete: marathon runner Constantino Leon. Leon will compete Saturday, August 23, starting at 6:30 p.m. (Beijing time), in the Men's Marathon. For fans in Peru, that translates to Sunday, August 24, starting at 7:30 a.m. Thus far, no athletes representing Peru have won a medal in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Constantino became Peru's last Olympic contender after taekwondo athlete Peter Lopez failed to secure the bronze in the Men's 68 kg. competition on Thursday, August 21. [caption id="attachment_394" align="aligncenter" width="270" caption="Lopez battles Mohammad"][/caption] Lopez was victorious in his first two matches on Thursday, beating Australia's Burak Hasan 3-1 in the preliminaries and Nigeria's Isah Adam Mohammad 3-0 in the quarter finals. He advanced the semi-finals where he was defeated by USA's Mark Lopez (no relation) 2-1. The two Lopezes were training partners at Elite taekwondo center in Houston. A subsequent match between Peter Lopez and Servet Tazegul, of Turkey, saw Peru's chances at a bronze dashed with Tazegul beat Lopez 1-0. Korea's Son Taejin won gold and USA's Mark Lopez won silver in the event. The bronze medal was shared by Tazegul and Chinese Taipai's Sung Yu-Chi. For other reports from An American in Lima on Peru's Olympic athletes, see: Keeping Up with Peru's Olympians (Aug. 11, 2008) Trying to Watch the Olympics in Peru (Aug. 11, 2008)  "Sixto Barrera Wants to Win Medal for Peru, Self & God" (Aug. 12, 2008) Sixto Barrera Advances to Quarter Finals, Loses to China's Chang Yongxiang (Aug. 12, 2008) Peru's Olympians, Part II (Aug. 13, 2008) Peru's Olympic 13 Are a Horde Compared To... (Aug. 13, 2008) The Buzz on Peru's Olympians: Week 1 in Review (Aug. 16, 2008) Maria Portilla: I Am Thrilled to Have Given My All in Beijing (Aug. 19, 2008)]]> http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/21/constantino-leon-peter-lopez/feed/ 0 The Buzz on Peru’s Olympians, Week 1 in Review, Aug. 9 – 16 http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/16/the-buzz-on-peru%e2%80%99s-olympians-week-1-in-review/ http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/16/the-buzz-on-peru%e2%80%99s-olympians-week-1-in-review/#comments Sun, 17 Aug 2008 03:28:17 +0000 Barbara http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/16/the-buzz-on-peru%e2%80%99s-olympians-week-1-in-review/ Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> The first week (August 10 - 16) of competition at the Beijing 2008 Olympics saw some encouraging efforts by Peruvian athletes but no medals. Here is a roundup of how Peru's 13-member Olympic delegation has performed so far, along with buzz about the athletes from English-speaking media, bloggers and fans. (Plus blog reactions by Peru athletes like Peter Lopez, who posted the photo above on his Olympic blog "Camino a la Gloria" (Road to Glory) on Monday, Aug. 11.)

SIXTO BARRERA / WRESTLING 

Wrestler Sixto Barrera, considered by many to be Peru's best chance for a medal, got off to a strong start on Tuesday (Aug. 12), when he trounced the world's third-ranked Valdemaras Venckaitis of Lithuania, 3-1, in the first round of Men's Greco-Roman 74 k. That victory propelled him to the quarter finals against China's Chang Yongxiang, who turned the tables on Barrera, beating him 3-1. Barrera told RPP reporters in Beijing that his elbow was badly hurt in the match when Chang applied an "improper hold." Injured and in pain, Barrera suffered a total defeat to Bulgaria's Yavor Yanakiev in the Round 2 Repechage (score: 3-0). Yanakiev, the 2007 world champion, went on to win the Olympic bronze medal on Wedesday (Aug. 13), Chang won the silver. Georgia's Manuchar Kvirkelia won his country's first wrestling gold.

BUZZ ABOUT BARRERA

Sixto Barrera drew cheers from fans in Bird's Nest Stadium and Peruvian viewers around the world when he carried Peru's flag in the opening ceremonies on Saturday (Aug. 9). Barrera told reporters that the experience was "a dream come true." Barrera's life story drew attention from reporters and bloggers in Peru and the United States. Blogger CarlosQC from Washington, DC (who also scribes as Peruanista) highlighted Barrera's challenges as an Afro-Peruvian confronting racism and lack of support in his native country. An American in Lima explored the wrestler's spiritual faith and admiration for San Martin de Porres, the first black saint of the Americas.

CLAUDIA RIVERO / BADMINTON

 Claudia Rivero, Peru's top-ranked badminton player, lost in Women's Singles to France's Pi Hongyan 2 - 0 (21-6 and 21-6), on Sunday (Aug. 10). That defeat made Rivero ineligible for further competition at the Games. Gold and Silver in Women's Singles Badminton went to Zhang Ning and Zie Xingfang, both of China; Maria Kristin Yulianti, of Indonesia, won the Bronze on Saturday, August 16.

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ….

The 21-year-old Rivero trained for the games in Germany, thanks to an Olympic Solidarity Scholarship sponsored by the Badminton World Federation. Rivero blogged for CNN about her preparations for the Olympics (See Athlete's Blog: Claudia Rivero). Male admirers confessed to "falling in love" with Rivero on the Discussion Board at BadmintonCentral.com.

VALERIA SILVA / SWIMMING

Swimmer Valeria Silva finished 38th in the preliminaries of the 100-meter breaststroke with a personal-best time of 1:11.64 but did not advance. Australia's Leisel Jones won the gold in women's 100-meter breaststroke on Tuesday, August 12. Rebecca Soni (USA) and Mirna Jukic (Austria) won silver and bronze, respectively.

BUZZ ABOUT SILVA

A senior at University of Michigan, Silva competes for the UMich swim team along with Olympic god (we can call him that now) Michael Phelps. Silva's academic major is Brain, Behavior and Cognitive Science. She attended Lima's Humbolt school.

EMMANUEL JOSE CRESCIMBENI / SWIMMING

Eighteen-year-old swimmer Emmanuel José Crescimbeni finished 41st in the preliminaries of the 200-meter butterfly with a time of 2:02:13 but did not advance. Gold in the men's 200-meter butterfly went to Michael Phelps (USA), Silver to Laszlo Cseh (Hungary) and Bronze to Takeshi Matsuda (Japan), on Wednesday, August 13.

BUZZ ON EMMAN

Crescimbeni, known as "Emman" to his friends, attends Calvary Christian School in St. Petersburg, Florida. He has dual U.S./Peruvian citizenship. His parents are from Callao. He will attend the University of Florida next year. An in-depth profile of "the fastest swimmer you've never heard of" (to quote Crescimbeni's coach) ran in the Oct. 27, 2007, St. Petersburg Times ("Looking Back, Swimmer's Talent Couldn't Be Ignored").

MARIA LUISA DOIG / FENCING

In Women's Individual Foil fencer Maria Luisa Doig crossed swords last Sunday (Aug. 10) with Germany's Katja Waechter, who beat her 4-15. Italians Maria Valentina Vezzali and Margherita Granbassi won Gold and Bronze, respectively. Korea's Nam Hyunhee took the Silver.

MORE ABOUT DOIG

At 16 years old, Doig is Peru's youngest delegate to the Beijing games.  A widely publicized APF/Getty photo of Doig reacting to her loss against Waechter ran in USA Today and countless online sites.

PALOMA SCHMIDT / SAILING

Hard-working sailor Paloma Schmidt, who represents Peru in Laser Radial – One-person Dinghy, has competed in five races since Tuesday, August 12, and is schedule to sail in an additional five races on Sunday, August 17 and Monday, August 18, before the medal-winners are decided. Schmidt ranked No. 9 after her first race, then fell to 28 in race 4, before climbing to No. 14 in her latest race. Schmidt's individual race rankings are: 9 (Race 1), 26 (Race 2), 27 (Race 3), 28 (Race 4) and 14 (Race 5). The Olympics' sailing events take place in the Chinese coastal city of Qingdao.

BIRD BUZZ

Schmidt trains at Yacht Club Peruano, in La Punta, Callao, notes her sailor bio on ISAF. Her nickname is "Bird," in reference to her first name, which means "dove" in Spanish. Visit Schmidt's personal blog "Sailor Bird" (written in Spanish) to read about her preparations for the Olympics.

CARLOS ZEGARRA / JUDO

The "Peruvian giant" Carlos Zegarra competed in Men's Judo +100 kg on Friday, August 15, in USTB Gymnasium. Zegarra beat Argentina's Sandro Lopez in the 2:17 min. preliminary bout with a side four-corner hold. Less than an hour later, he lost to Cuba's Oscar Brayson and then to Lebanon's Rudy Hachache in Repechage, thus ending his chances for a medal. Medallists in Men's Judo +100 kg were Satoshi Ishii of Japan (Gold), Abdullo Tangriev of Uzbekistan (Silver) and Oscar Brayson of Cuba and Teddy Riner of France (sharing Bronze).

ZEGARRA FACTOIDS

  • Height: 6'8" tall
  • Weight: 352 pounds
  • Occupation: Security guard
  • Favorite food: fried calamari
  • Nickname: Chiquito

MARCO MATELLINI / SHOOTING

Skeet shooter Marco Matellini got off to a disappointing start on Friday, August 15, finishing last in a field of 41 competitors. He moved up one notch to 40th place on Saturday, August 16.

PERUVIANS DO KNOW HOW TO SHOOT

A photo of Matellini blowing into the barrel of his gun was featured in USA Today. Shooting is the one sport in which Peru has won Olympic gold. Peruvian Edward Vasquez Cam won the gold in Men's Free Pistol in 1946. More recently, Peru won silver medals in Trap Shooting (Francisco Boza, 1984) and Skeet Shooting (Juan Giha, 1992).

CRISTINA CORNEJO / WEIGHTLIFTING

Cornejo competes in Olympics +75 kg 1 Peru's powerful 22-year-old female weightlifter Cristina Cornejo went up against the big girls Saturday, August 16, in the +75 kg category. Cornejo finished 10th, tied with Eva Dimas of El Salvador. Cornejo lifted 97 kg in the Snatch, compared to first-place winner Jang Miran of Korea, who set new Olympic and World records with her 140-kg hoist that night. In the Clean & Jerk, Cornejo lifted 128 kg, nearly 60 kg below Miran's Olympic and World record-breaking lifts of 183 kg. and 186 kg. Cornejo took part in what will be remembered as a historic night in women's weightlifting. In Women's 75+ kg. Weightlifting, Miran took home the Gold for Korea, Olha Korobka took Silver for the Ukraine, and Mariya Grabovetskaya won Bronze for Kazakhstan.

THE CAMERA LOVES YOU, CRISTINA!

I love these APF/Getty images of Cornejo at Saturday's competition. This girl is mighty, mighty!   [caption id="attachment_339" align="alignleft" width="184" caption="Cristina Cornejo reacts after failing a lift in Beijing Olympics"]Cristina Cornejo reacts after failing a lift in Beijing Olympics[/caption]  

LOUIS TRISTAN / LONG JUMP

In the Men's Long Jump qualifying round, held Saturday, August 16, 24-year-old Peruvian jumper Louis Tristan finished 32nd out of 38 with a leap of 7.62 meters. That distance failed to qualify Tristan for the Long Jump final round.

THE BUZZ

Tristan was born in Lima and now lives and trains in Brazil. In a recent interview with Peruanista, he mentioned his frustration with the lack of support given to him, and other top athletes, by the Peruvian government and national sports federation.

MARIA PORTILLA / RUNNING

Runner Maria Portilla will compete in the Women's Marathon this Sunday, August 17, at 7:30 p.m., in National Stadium. Portilla will battle a strong field that includes world champion Catherine Ndereba of Kenya and Paula Radcliffe of Great Britain, who is the world record holder. Radcliffe joined the British team at the last minute before the Games, after having recovered from a stress fracture.

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING ABOUT PORTILLA

Born and raised in Peru's high Andes, 36-year-old Portilla began running in marathons eleven years ago, when she was in danger of failing a physical education exam for a teaching degree she was seeking. Her athletic abilities exceeded everyone's expectations, particularly since she ran her first races barefoot. "I didn't have money for trainers [athletic shoes]," she told a reporter for Reuters. "I ran in my bare feet. People started giving me trainers; that gave me the inspiration to continue," she says. Click here for Reuters' one-minute video interview with Peru's "unlikely marathoner."

PETER LOPEZ / TAEKWONDO

Medal hopes are riding on Peter López, who competes Thursday, August 21, in preliminaries for Men's Taekwondo 68 kg (featherweight).

MUCHO BUZZ ABOUT LOPEZ

Taekwondo insiders are eagerly anticipating a possible match-up between Peru's Peter López and USA's Mark López, who have trained with the same coaches. López is the American-born son of Peruvian parents, who raised him in Peru and the United States. Since the year 2000, he has trained at the prestigious Elite Tae Kwon Do club, in Houston, Texas, alongside world and Olympic champions. He is a six-time U.S. National Team member and a 4-time competing member for the Peruvian Taekwondo Federation. He is the first taekwondo athlete ever to represent Peru in the Olympics. According to one report, López receives US,000 per month for training from the Peru Taekwondo Federation. This contrasts with the situation of other members of the Peru Olympics delegation, who receive little to no support from their respective sports organizations in Peru (if such institutions exist at all). López blogs on his Olympic experience for Lenovo's "Voices of the Olympics" blog. Click here for Peter's own photos of his fellow Olympians doing everyday stuff in Beijing, like eating in the Olympic cafeteria, working out in the gym and getting a haircut. Click here for a short BBC article on López ("Peter Lopez: Going for the Gold") that includes a photo diary of his journey to the Olympics.]]> http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/16/the-buzz-on-peru%e2%80%99s-olympians-week-1-in-review/feed/ 7 Olympic Ceviche with a Political Bite – Pescados Capitales http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/14/olympic-ceviche-with-a-political-bite-%e2%80%93-pescados-capitales/ http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/14/olympic-ceviche-with-a-political-bite-%e2%80%93-pescados-capitales/#comments Thu, 14 Aug 2008 22:53:15 +0000 Barbara http://americaninlima.com/?p=264 Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> So delicious, with a kick of yellow ají: ceviche at Pescados Capitales The hip cevicheria Pescados Capitales, one of Lima's finest seafood restaurants, plays on the Beijing Summer Olympics theme in its current "Pescados Olímpicos" (Olympic Sins) menu. (When you remove the first "s" from "pescados," the Spanish word for fish, it becomes "pecados" or sins. Thus the dual meaning of the restaurant's name: Capital Fish or Capital Sins.) Featured dishes this week include "Tiro olímpico" (Olympic Shooting, 30 soles), a causa made of lenguado, tuna and shrimp; "Ciclismo" (Cycling, 31 soles), salmon rolls with perch and brandied vegetables; and "Natación" (lobster "swimming" in risotto, market price). Those with a reformist bent might try "Antidoping" (37 soles), tuna seared in demi-glace sauce with quail. "Zero tolerance doesn't seem to work," the menu comments (whether about diners being able to resist this dish or Olympic athletes refraining from doping, it's hard to say).  Restaurant owner Nguyen Chávez creates a special weekly menu based on Peruvian politics and controversies. The introduction to this week's Olympic Sins menu gives a taste of Chávez's satiric bite (my translation):
"The Olympic spirit has arrived; let's see who has already won his medal.
"In Obstacle Race: Peru's Minister of the Interior (he raffled everything to remain in office)
"In Throwing the Javelin, Hammer, Shot and Discus: Congress (that's all they do).
"Marathon: This is what the earthquake victims keep running one year after the tragedy [August 15].
"We announce that the president [Alan García] hasn't scored the minimum marks, according to polls. The race has not ended yet, but the public has been accused unjustly of being 'unjust.'
" 'Doping! Doping!' is heard in the bleachers. Alas, many medals are still up for grabs."
Aside from looking for an excuse to poke fun at Peruvian politics, Chávez seized on the Olympic theme for this week's menu because he's a fan of badminton, a sport that Peruvian athlete Claudia Rivero competed in early in the Beijing Games without making it to the finals. "Yes, I was sorry to see her lose," he tells An American in Lima. "And [wrestler] Sixto Barrera, too. They say he was Peru's best hope for a medal." The owner of Pescados Capitales looks forward to seeing Peru's Peter López compete in taekwondo next Thursday, August 21. "I think he could win a medal. We'll see." Chávez deplores Peru's lack of support for its Olympic competitors. "The government does nothing for the athletes," he says. "It's not just about Peru having little money. Look at Cuba, a really poor country, look at Venezuela: They support their athletes. Why not Peru?" He notes that Peru also refuses to give monetary support to its own chess superstar, 17-year-old Emilio Córdoba, who recently won the coveted title of International Grandmaster: "Córdoba had to pay his own way to go to the International Championship. It's not right." "Peru needs to stand behind its chess players and it athletes," says Chávez. "They deserve it, no?" I nod in agreement and dig into my plate of "Paciencia: Cevíche Ghandi" (30 soles), a heavenly dish of raw fish and seafood marinated in lime juice and curry, with slices of mango and mandarin orange. It was worth the ½-hour lunchtime wait. One does need a saint's patience to put up with Peruvian politics, as well as with "making a cola" for a table at one of Lima's hottest restaurants.  Visit Pescados Capitales at Av. La Mar 1337, Miraflores, Lima, Peru. (511) 421-8808 On the web at www.pescados-capitales.com/ Photo of ceviche by www.thousandflavors.com]]> http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/14/olympic-ceviche-with-a-political-bite-%e2%80%93-pescados-capitales/feed/ 2 Peru’s Olympic 13 Are a Horde Compared To… http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/13/peru%e2%80%99s-olympic-13-are-a-horde-compared-to%e2%80%a6/ http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/13/peru%e2%80%99s-olympic-13-are-a-horde-compared-to%e2%80%a6/#comments Wed, 13 Aug 2008 22:22:38 +0000 Barbara http://americaninlima.com/?p=257 Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> [/caption] I was feeling rather forlorn about Peru's small Olympic delegation of 13 athletes. Then I stumbled upon Mashable's "18 Smaller Olympic Countries to Root For." Sean P. Aune writes: It's easy to get wrapped up in all of the big name countries that go to the Olympics, such as the United States or Russia, but have you ever thought about those countries that don't have as much money for a team or only have a few athletes who qualify? My family has a tradition of picking one or two of the smaller countries that can only send one or two athletes to the games, and sort of "adopting" them for us to root for over the course of the competition. This year I am going to be watching Itte Detenamo in weightlifting.  He is from the Republic of Nauru, the world's smallest island nation at only 8.1 square miles.  GO ITTE! Check out Sean's Olympic country maps of lonely onlys and tiny duos, including Grenada, Botswana and the Republic of Mauritania. ]]> http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/13/peru%e2%80%99s-olympic-13-are-a-horde-compared-to%e2%80%a6/feed/ 0 Sixto Barrera Advances to Quarter Finals, Loses to China’s Chang Yongxiang http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/12/sixto-barrera-advances-to-quarter-finals-loses-to-chinas-chang-yongxiang/ http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/12/sixto-barrera-advances-to-quarter-finals-loses-to-chinas-chang-yongxiang/#comments Wed, 13 Aug 2008 04:45:38 +0000 Barbara http://americaninlima.com/?p=232 Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> Sixto Barrera trounced Lithuanian Valdemaras Venckaitis, ranked 3rd in the world, in the first qualifying rounds of Men's Greco-Roman 74 k, in Beijing, on August 12.

Barrera then went against China's Chang Yongxiang in the quarter finals and lost. Chang Yongxiang advances to the finals with Georgia's Manuchar Kvirkelia. This will be China's first-ever medal in wrestling.  Here is my professional opinion about Barrera's loss: Argggh!]]> http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/12/sixto-barrera-advances-to-quarter-finals-loses-to-chinas-chang-yongxiang/feed/ 0 Trying to Watch the Olympics in Peru http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/13/peru%e2%80%99s-olympic-13-are-a-horde-compared-to%e2%80%a6/ http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/13/peru%e2%80%99s-olympic-13-are-a-horde-compared-to%e2%80%a6/#comments Wed, 13 Aug 2008 22:22:38 +0000 Barbara http://americaninlima.com/?p=257 Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> [/caption] I was feeling rather forlorn about Peru's small Olympic delegation of 13 athletes. Then I stumbled upon Mashable's "18 Smaller Olympic Countries to Root For." Sean P. Aune writes: It's easy to get wrapped up in all of the big name countries that go to the Olympics, such as the United States or Russia, but have you ever thought about those countries that don't have as much money for a team or only have a few athletes who qualify? My family has a tradition of picking one or two of the smaller countries that can only send one or two athletes to the games, and sort of "adopting" them for us to root for over the course of the competition. This year I am going to be watching Itte Detenamo in weightlifting.  He is from the Republic of Nauru, the world's smallest island nation at only 8.1 square miles.  GO ITTE! Check out Sean's Olympic country maps of lonely onlys and tiny duos, including Grenada, Botswana and the Republic of Mauritania. ]]> http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/13/peru%e2%80%99s-olympic-13-are-a-horde-compared-to%e2%80%a6/feed/ 0 An American in Lima » Peru Olympics http://americaninlima.com slices of my life in Peru Sat, 12 Mar 2011 22:55:48 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 How Pitiful! Peru Spends 3 Soles per Peruvian on Sports http://americaninlima.com/2008/09/06/how-pitiful-peru-spends-3-soles-per-peruvian-on-sports/ http://americaninlima.com/2008/09/06/how-pitiful-peru-spends-3-soles-per-peruvian-on-sports/#comments Sat, 06 Sep 2008 15:40:46 +0000 Barbara http://americaninlima.com/?p=492 Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> El Comercio, summarized in English by reporter Israel Ruiz, exposes why Peru performs so abysmally in international sporting events like the Olympics. Here's Ruiz's complete story published today in Living in Peru:
Peruvian sports are trapped in time, said reporters for El Comercio, explaining there were records in the Andean country that had not been broken in almost 40 years. Fernando Acevedo, one of Peru's past athletes that has not had his records broken affirmed he was not proud of this or the difficult situation the country was facing. "The fact that no one has broken my records shows we have not progressed," said Acevedo, explaining that without proper funding and a serious plan for aspiring athletes history would not change. To these troubles is added the fact that the country's ministry of economy has announced it will cut the Peruvian Sports Institute's (IPD) budget. Arturo Woodman, head of the IPD, confirmed that the 2009 budget could be reduced by 20 million soles. "When Alan Garcia came into office there was a 40-million-sol budget for sports. In 2007 it doubled to 80 million soles and this year we have reached 100 million," said Woodman, explaining this was three soles per Peruvian. If this figure were cut, it would place the country's sports budget back at 80 million soles. Woodman explained these figures were minute when compared to other South American countries such as Chile, which has a budget of million and spends per Chilean. He added that Venezuela spends between eight and ten dollars per citizen.
The comparisons are shameful. (For the record: 3 soles translates to little more than US.) Surely Peru can do better by its athletes. The proposed IPD budget cuts should not be allowed to take place. Peru also should consider looking to the private sector to finance athletes. How about an annual tax on foreign companies that do business in Peru to go to an athletic fund?]]> http://americaninlima.com/2008/09/06/how-pitiful-peru-spends-3-soles-per-peruvian-on-sports/feed/ 0 Peru’s Porters Win Ausangate Gold Medal for Weightlifting http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/28/peru%e2%80%99s-porters-win-ausangate-gold-medal-for-weightlifting/ http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/28/peru%e2%80%99s-porters-win-ausangate-gold-medal-for-weightlifting/#comments Thu, 28 Aug 2008 19:43:48 +0000 Barbara http://americaninlima.com/?p=421 Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> The Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics are officially over, the winners have scurried home with their medals, and the losing athletes are either chastised, pitied or forgotten by most of the world. No laurel wreath, no glory, the Olympic equation goes. Not on this blog, however. In the same spirit of honoring athletic excellence that inspired the first Olympic Games, An American in Lima introduces the Ausangate Awards for High-Altitude Athletic Achievement. Just as the Olympic Games are named after Greece's highest mountain, Mount Olympus (2,919 meters above sea level), the Ausangate Awards take as their namesake the tallest peak in the Cordillera Vilcanota, Mount Ausangate (6,384 meters / 20,945 feet above sea level), which towers over the south Peruvian Andes. The Andes are the second-highest mountain range in the world, after the Himalayas. The Gold Medal in High-Altitude Weightlifting goes to the porters of Cusco, Peru, who for hundreds of years have carried superhuman loads on their backs at altitudes of 4,000 to 5,000 meters and above. The Gold Medal is shared by the sherpas, high in the Himalayan mountain range. These high-altitude dwellers possess remarkable physical strength, stamina and ability to withstand staggering extremes of altitude and temperature. These qualities distinguish the Cusco porters and the Nepalese sherpas as among the world's elite athletes. Despite their physical prowess and lifetimes of service, however, the porters and sherpas are largely unknown to the world at large. They live and die literally in the clouds, often in extreme poverty. To understand their struggles is to realize the true meaning of "heroic" – a heroism that has nothing to do with million-dollar corporate sponsorships, winner-take-all competition, expensive doping cocktails and bloated nationalist sentiment. Curious to learn more about these unsung heroes? Read on…. The people who live within sight of high mountain ranges such as the Vilcanota, the Cordillera Blanca and the Himalayas endure extremely difficult and hazardous conditions: extreme cold, blinding sunlight, and decreased oxygen (up to 50% less than that at sea level) in high altitudes. Over thousands of years, the bodies of native mountain-dwellers have evolved various adaptation mechanisms to derive more oxygen from the air and to circulate oxygen more efficiently through the bloodstream. (Read this remarkable article in the 2/25/04 National Geographic about how mountain dwellers' bodies have adapted to their extreme environments.) People in the Andes and the Himalayas walk great distances each day, and develop strong muscles in their legs with which to navigate the rugged terrain. In many physical respects, they are superhuman. Yet despite these physical adaptations, porters and sherpas often succumb to illness, disease and fatal accidents. The porters of Cusco (known as cargadors in Spanish) perform a vital service for merchants and trekkers in the Andes region. Following pre-Columbian traditions, today's porters traverse on foot throughout the cities and mountains of the Andes region, carrying up to 240 pounds on their back. Porters typically work 14- to 16-hour days and traverse 20 to 30 miles daily across the abrupt geography of the Andes. Porters are hired to carry a variety of items. Some are paid by farmers to carry their produce (potatoes, corn, wool) and animals to market. Others haul mattresses, refrigerators, kerosene stoves and cabinets for merchants in Cusco. An even greater number tote trekkers' backpacks and camping gear along the Inca Trail, to the summits of Machu Picchu, Ausangate and the Cordillera Blanca. Without these porters, tens of thousands of tourists would not be able to experience the wonders of Peru's mountain settings. Porters also assist glaciologists, archaeologists and other scientists in their expeditions. The typical rate for a porter is just to per day (less than what it costs to rent a llama). Often porters cannot afford to buy food, so they sustain their energy on the trail by chewing coca leaves, whose juice provides energy and minerals. (Coca leaves are not a drug like cocaine.) Understandable, many porters are chronically malnourished. Not only do porters suffer physically, they also endure emotional abuse as members of Peru's ethnic underclass. Peruvian-born photographer Jorge Vera, who has documented the lives of Andean porters since 1995, notes that porters in Cusco are overwhelmingly of native Andean descent; most speak only their native Quechua and Aymara dialects. Unable to converse in Spanish with shop owners and merchants, who are often mestizo or white, the porters are vulnerable to being verbally abused or taken advantage of financially. In general, other Peruvians look down on porters, Vera notes:
"Porters are a cast of people set aside into social darkness and economic stigma and used exclusively as human beasts of burden. Without labor, medical and or social care programs, porters in Peru are truly modern-day outcasts, a disposable humanity in the midst of a booming multi-million dollar annual tourist industry."
He adds:
"I started to photograph porters in the Peruvian Andes during my wedding trip home in 1995. As a child growing up in Peru, I had never fully realized the role these porter children, women and men play in the commercial transportation of goods for hire. In some cases entire nomadic clans or families of porters are managed by Westernized, Spanish-speaking mestizo-operated businesses.
"Severely underpaid, Porters are recompensed sometimes only with meals, used shoes or clothing, and most commonly with coca leaves, a must to numb their bodies to the brutal labor and the exposure to the nightly frigid cold of the high Andes. Life expectancy for porters is short, often falling prey to tragic accidents in the precipices of the Andes, theft and most often sheer exhaustion."
In 2003 Vera came to Cusco to assist with a newly formed porter's union, the first in that city. Vera took photographs for the porter's first-ever ID tags. This documentation was crucial to establish the porters as full-fledged workers in the Cusco economy (prior to 2003, the ID-less porters often were made scapegoats for thefts). Vera's portraits of porters can be seen online at his photo.net site. Cusco porter, photo by Jorge Vera 2003 1 Other efforts to improve the lives of Andean porters were made in the early 2000s, when the NGO "Casa del Cargador" was launched in Peru. This social-assistance program provided refuge, education and support to porters in the Cusco area (read more about it here). Sadly, the program appears to have been dissolved as of 2008 (posts on the Web site ended in 2006). Worldwide, however, support for porters has grown in recent years. The International Porter Protection Group (IPPG) is dedicated to improving the safety of mountain porters. The IPPG website notes:
IPPG aims to improve safety and health for porter working in the mountains for the trekking industry worldwide. We work to eradicate avoidable illness, injury and death. We do this by raising awareness of the issues among travel companies, guides, trek leaders, sirdars (porters' foremen), and trekkers.
IPPG also supports porters in their quest for a decent wage and freedom from overloading (especially at high altitude).
Please visit the IPCC Web site to learn how you can help porters in Peru and elsewhere. More web resources include the blog The Mountain Porter, which provides current global news on porter issues, the 2006 Guardian Eco-Dilemma article on “Is It OK to Hire a Mountain Porter?” and Tourism Concert’s article “Trekking Wrongs: Porters’ Rights.”  For a list of UK tour operators with ethical porter policies, click here.  To the thousands of porters who cart their Sisyphean loads across the Andes and Himalayas: An American in Lima salutes you. ---Barbara R. Drake
]]> http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/28/peru%e2%80%99s-porters-win-ausangate-gold-medal-for-weightlifting/feed/ 2 Peru Olympic Wrap-up: Week 2 in Review http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/23/peru-olympic-wrap-up-week-2-in-review/ http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/23/peru-olympic-wrap-up-week-2-in-review/#comments Sun, 24 Aug 2008 01:43:35 +0000 Barbara http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/23/peru-olympic-wrap-up-week-2-in-review/ Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> Samuel Wansiru wins the gold with the impressive time of 2:06:32, setting a new Olympic Record. At 44 seconds behind Wansiru, Jaouad Gharib of Morocco grabs the silver with 2:07:16 (he also breaks the previous OR), and Deriba Merga, of Ethiopia, wins the bronze with 2:10:00. It's an African sweep. I keep hitting "refresh" on the official Olympics page for Men's Marathon Results: with each click, another exhausted runner clocks in his final time. Still no sign of León. I hope he didn't collapse. Thirteen runners have dropped out of the marathon thus far, including two runners from Brazil and another from Venezuela. Okay. León just crossed the 40-km mark, still in 63rd place. Corre, Constantino, corre! There's still time to improve your standing, carajo! While I have a moment, let me recap the week's events for Peru's Olympic athletes.
  1. Peru didn't win any Olympic medals.
  2. Peter López was in serious running for a bronze in taekwondo, but ceded victory to other athletes.
  3. Sailor Paloma Schmidt finished 26th in Laser Radial, after nine grueling races.
  4. María Portilla ran 39th in the Women's Marathon, beating her own personal best time.
And – now it's official – Peru's Constantino León has finished in 61st place in Men's Marathon, moving up two notches in the rankings. He must have heard me nagging him all the way from the Lima. Leon's final time was 2:28:04, 21 minutes and 32 seconds behind Wansiru.]]> http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/23/peru-olympic-wrap-up-week-2-in-review/feed/ 9 Constantino Leon Last Olympian to Compete for Peru; Peter Lopez Misses Bronze in Taekwondo http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/21/constantino-leon-peter-lopez/ http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/21/constantino-leon-peter-lopez/#comments Thu, 21 Aug 2008 18:41:09 +0000 Barbara http://americaninlima.com/?p=391 Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> Peru's Olympic marathon runner Constantino Leon competing in Nairobi[/caption] Peru's original field of 13 Olympic contenders is now down to one athlete: marathon runner Constantino Leon. Leon will compete Saturday, August 23, starting at 6:30 p.m. (Beijing time), in the Men's Marathon. For fans in Peru, that translates to Sunday, August 24, starting at 7:30 a.m. Thus far, no athletes representing Peru have won a medal in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Constantino became Peru's last Olympic contender after taekwondo athlete Peter Lopez failed to secure the bronze in the Men's 68 kg. competition on Thursday, August 21. [caption id="attachment_394" align="aligncenter" width="270" caption="Lopez battles Mohammad"][/caption] Lopez was victorious in his first two matches on Thursday, beating Australia's Burak Hasan 3-1 in the preliminaries and Nigeria's Isah Adam Mohammad 3-0 in the quarter finals. He advanced the semi-finals where he was defeated by USA's Mark Lopez (no relation) 2-1. The two Lopezes were training partners at Elite taekwondo center in Houston. A subsequent match between Peter Lopez and Servet Tazegul, of Turkey, saw Peru's chances at a bronze dashed with Tazegul beat Lopez 1-0. Korea's Son Taejin won gold and USA's Mark Lopez won silver in the event. The bronze medal was shared by Tazegul and Chinese Taipai's Sung Yu-Chi. For other reports from An American in Lima on Peru's Olympic athletes, see: Keeping Up with Peru's Olympians (Aug. 11, 2008) Trying to Watch the Olympics in Peru (Aug. 11, 2008)  "Sixto Barrera Wants to Win Medal for Peru, Self & God" (Aug. 12, 2008) Sixto Barrera Advances to Quarter Finals, Loses to China's Chang Yongxiang (Aug. 12, 2008) Peru's Olympians, Part II (Aug. 13, 2008) Peru's Olympic 13 Are a Horde Compared To... (Aug. 13, 2008) The Buzz on Peru's Olympians: Week 1 in Review (Aug. 16, 2008) Maria Portilla: I Am Thrilled to Have Given My All in Beijing (Aug. 19, 2008)]]> http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/21/constantino-leon-peter-lopez/feed/ 0 The Buzz on Peru’s Olympians, Week 1 in Review, Aug. 9 – 16 http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/16/the-buzz-on-peru%e2%80%99s-olympians-week-1-in-review/ http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/16/the-buzz-on-peru%e2%80%99s-olympians-week-1-in-review/#comments Sun, 17 Aug 2008 03:28:17 +0000 Barbara http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/16/the-buzz-on-peru%e2%80%99s-olympians-week-1-in-review/ Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> The first week (August 10 - 16) of competition at the Beijing 2008 Olympics saw some encouraging efforts by Peruvian athletes but no medals. Here is a roundup of how Peru's 13-member Olympic delegation has performed so far, along with buzz about the athletes from English-speaking media, bloggers and fans. (Plus blog reactions by Peru athletes like Peter Lopez, who posted the photo above on his Olympic blog "Camino a la Gloria" (Road to Glory) on Monday, Aug. 11.)

SIXTO BARRERA / WRESTLING 

Wrestler Sixto Barrera, considered by many to be Peru's best chance for a medal, got off to a strong start on Tuesday (Aug. 12), when he trounced the world's third-ranked Valdemaras Venckaitis of Lithuania, 3-1, in the first round of Men's Greco-Roman 74 k. That victory propelled him to the quarter finals against China's Chang Yongxiang, who turned the tables on Barrera, beating him 3-1. Barrera told RPP reporters in Beijing that his elbow was badly hurt in the match when Chang applied an "improper hold." Injured and in pain, Barrera suffered a total defeat to Bulgaria's Yavor Yanakiev in the Round 2 Repechage (score: 3-0). Yanakiev, the 2007 world champion, went on to win the Olympic bronze medal on Wedesday (Aug. 13), Chang won the silver. Georgia's Manuchar Kvirkelia won his country's first wrestling gold.

BUZZ ABOUT BARRERA

Sixto Barrera drew cheers from fans in Bird's Nest Stadium and Peruvian viewers around the world when he carried Peru's flag in the opening ceremonies on Saturday (Aug. 9). Barrera told reporters that the experience was "a dream come true." Barrera's life story drew attention from reporters and bloggers in Peru and the United States. Blogger CarlosQC from Washington, DC (who also scribes as Peruanista) highlighted Barrera's challenges as an Afro-Peruvian confronting racism and lack of support in his native country. An American in Lima explored the wrestler's spiritual faith and admiration for San Martin de Porres, the first black saint of the Americas.

CLAUDIA RIVERO / BADMINTON

 Claudia Rivero, Peru's top-ranked badminton player, lost in Women's Singles to France's Pi Hongyan 2 - 0 (21-6 and 21-6), on Sunday (Aug. 10). That defeat made Rivero ineligible for further competition at the Games. Gold and Silver in Women's Singles Badminton went to Zhang Ning and Zie Xingfang, both of China; Maria Kristin Yulianti, of Indonesia, won the Bronze on Saturday, August 16.

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ….

The 21-year-old Rivero trained for the games in Germany, thanks to an Olympic Solidarity Scholarship sponsored by the Badminton World Federation. Rivero blogged for CNN about her preparations for the Olympics (See Athlete's Blog: Claudia Rivero). Male admirers confessed to "falling in love" with Rivero on the Discussion Board at BadmintonCentral.com.

VALERIA SILVA / SWIMMING

Swimmer Valeria Silva finished 38th in the preliminaries of the 100-meter breaststroke with a personal-best time of 1:11.64 but did not advance. Australia's Leisel Jones won the gold in women's 100-meter breaststroke on Tuesday, August 12. Rebecca Soni (USA) and Mirna Jukic (Austria) won silver and bronze, respectively.

BUZZ ABOUT SILVA

A senior at University of Michigan, Silva competes for the UMich swim team along with Olympic god (we can call him that now) Michael Phelps. Silva's academic major is Brain, Behavior and Cognitive Science. She attended Lima's Humbolt school.

EMMANUEL JOSE CRESCIMBENI / SWIMMING

Eighteen-year-old swimmer Emmanuel José Crescimbeni finished 41st in the preliminaries of the 200-meter butterfly with a time of 2:02:13 but did not advance. Gold in the men's 200-meter butterfly went to Michael Phelps (USA), Silver to Laszlo Cseh (Hungary) and Bronze to Takeshi Matsuda (Japan), on Wednesday, August 13.

BUZZ ON EMMAN

Crescimbeni, known as "Emman" to his friends, attends Calvary Christian School in St. Petersburg, Florida. He has dual U.S./Peruvian citizenship. His parents are from Callao. He will attend the University of Florida next year. An in-depth profile of "the fastest swimmer you've never heard of" (to quote Crescimbeni's coach) ran in the Oct. 27, 2007, St. Petersburg Times ("Looking Back, Swimmer's Talent Couldn't Be Ignored").

MARIA LUISA DOIG / FENCING

In Women's Individual Foil fencer Maria Luisa Doig crossed swords last Sunday (Aug. 10) with Germany's Katja Waechter, who beat her 4-15. Italians Maria Valentina Vezzali and Margherita Granbassi won Gold and Bronze, respectively. Korea's Nam Hyunhee took the Silver.

MORE ABOUT DOIG

At 16 years old, Doig is Peru's youngest delegate to the Beijing games.  A widely publicized APF/Getty photo of Doig reacting to her loss against Waechter ran in USA Today and countless online sites.

PALOMA SCHMIDT / SAILING

Hard-working sailor Paloma Schmidt, who represents Peru in Laser Radial – One-person Dinghy, has competed in five races since Tuesday, August 12, and is schedule to sail in an additional five races on Sunday, August 17 and Monday, August 18, before the medal-winners are decided. Schmidt ranked No. 9 after her first race, then fell to 28 in race 4, before climbing to No. 14 in her latest race. Schmidt's individual race rankings are: 9 (Race 1), 26 (Race 2), 27 (Race 3), 28 (Race 4) and 14 (Race 5). The Olympics' sailing events take place in the Chinese coastal city of Qingdao.

BIRD BUZZ

Schmidt trains at Yacht Club Peruano, in La Punta, Callao, notes her sailor bio on ISAF. Her nickname is "Bird," in reference to her first name, which means "dove" in Spanish. Visit Schmidt's personal blog "Sailor Bird" (written in Spanish) to read about her preparations for the Olympics.

CARLOS ZEGARRA / JUDO

The "Peruvian giant" Carlos Zegarra competed in Men's Judo +100 kg on Friday, August 15, in USTB Gymnasium. Zegarra beat Argentina's Sandro Lopez in the 2:17 min. preliminary bout with a side four-corner hold. Less than an hour later, he lost to Cuba's Oscar Brayson and then to Lebanon's Rudy Hachache in Repechage, thus ending his chances for a medal. Medallists in Men's Judo +100 kg were Satoshi Ishii of Japan (Gold), Abdullo Tangriev of Uzbekistan (Silver) and Oscar Brayson of Cuba and Teddy Riner of France (sharing Bronze).

ZEGARRA FACTOIDS

  • Height: 6'8" tall
  • Weight: 352 pounds
  • Occupation: Security guard
  • Favorite food: fried calamari
  • Nickname: Chiquito

MARCO MATELLINI / SHOOTING

Skeet shooter Marco Matellini got off to a disappointing start on Friday, August 15, finishing last in a field of 41 competitors. He moved up one notch to 40th place on Saturday, August 16.

PERUVIANS DO KNOW HOW TO SHOOT

A photo of Matellini blowing into the barrel of his gun was featured in USA Today. Shooting is the one sport in which Peru has won Olympic gold. Peruvian Edward Vasquez Cam won the gold in Men's Free Pistol in 1946. More recently, Peru won silver medals in Trap Shooting (Francisco Boza, 1984) and Skeet Shooting (Juan Giha, 1992).

CRISTINA CORNEJO / WEIGHTLIFTING

Cornejo competes in Olympics +75 kg 1 Peru's powerful 22-year-old female weightlifter Cristina Cornejo went up against the big girls Saturday, August 16, in the +75 kg category. Cornejo finished 10th, tied with Eva Dimas of El Salvador. Cornejo lifted 97 kg in the Snatch, compared to first-place winner Jang Miran of Korea, who set new Olympic and World records with her 140-kg hoist that night. In the Clean & Jerk, Cornejo lifted 128 kg, nearly 60 kg below Miran's Olympic and World record-breaking lifts of 183 kg. and 186 kg. Cornejo took part in what will be remembered as a historic night in women's weightlifting. In Women's 75+ kg. Weightlifting, Miran took home the Gold for Korea, Olha Korobka took Silver for the Ukraine, and Mariya Grabovetskaya won Bronze for Kazakhstan.

THE CAMERA LOVES YOU, CRISTINA!

I love these APF/Getty images of Cornejo at Saturday's competition. This girl is mighty, mighty!   [caption id="attachment_339" align="alignleft" width="184" caption="Cristina Cornejo reacts after failing a lift in Beijing Olympics"]Cristina Cornejo reacts after failing a lift in Beijing Olympics[/caption]  

LOUIS TRISTAN / LONG JUMP

In the Men's Long Jump qualifying round, held Saturday, August 16, 24-year-old Peruvian jumper Louis Tristan finished 32nd out of 38 with a leap of 7.62 meters. That distance failed to qualify Tristan for the Long Jump final round.

THE BUZZ

Tristan was born in Lima and now lives and trains in Brazil. In a recent interview with Peruanista, he mentioned his frustration with the lack of support given to him, and other top athletes, by the Peruvian government and national sports federation.

MARIA PORTILLA / RUNNING

Runner Maria Portilla will compete in the Women's Marathon this Sunday, August 17, at 7:30 p.m., in National Stadium. Portilla will battle a strong field that includes world champion Catherine Ndereba of Kenya and Paula Radcliffe of Great Britain, who is the world record holder. Radcliffe joined the British team at the last minute before the Games, after having recovered from a stress fracture.

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING ABOUT PORTILLA

Born and raised in Peru's high Andes, 36-year-old Portilla began running in marathons eleven years ago, when she was in danger of failing a physical education exam for a teaching degree she was seeking. Her athletic abilities exceeded everyone's expectations, particularly since she ran her first races barefoot. "I didn't have money for trainers [athletic shoes]," she told a reporter for Reuters. "I ran in my bare feet. People started giving me trainers; that gave me the inspiration to continue," she says. Click here for Reuters' one-minute video interview with Peru's "unlikely marathoner."

PETER LOPEZ / TAEKWONDO

Medal hopes are riding on Peter López, who competes Thursday, August 21, in preliminaries for Men's Taekwondo 68 kg (featherweight).

MUCHO BUZZ ABOUT LOPEZ

Taekwondo insiders are eagerly anticipating a possible match-up between Peru's Peter López and USA's Mark López, who have trained with the same coaches. López is the American-born son of Peruvian parents, who raised him in Peru and the United States. Since the year 2000, he has trained at the prestigious Elite Tae Kwon Do club, in Houston, Texas, alongside world and Olympic champions. He is a six-time U.S. National Team member and a 4-time competing member for the Peruvian Taekwondo Federation. He is the first taekwondo athlete ever to represent Peru in the Olympics. According to one report, López receives US,000 per month for training from the Peru Taekwondo Federation. This contrasts with the situation of other members of the Peru Olympics delegation, who receive little to no support from their respective sports organizations in Peru (if such institutions exist at all). López blogs on his Olympic experience for Lenovo's "Voices of the Olympics" blog. Click here for Peter's own photos of his fellow Olympians doing everyday stuff in Beijing, like eating in the Olympic cafeteria, working out in the gym and getting a haircut. Click here for a short BBC article on López ("Peter Lopez: Going for the Gold") that includes a photo diary of his journey to the Olympics.]]> http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/16/the-buzz-on-peru%e2%80%99s-olympians-week-1-in-review/feed/ 7 Olympic Ceviche with a Political Bite – Pescados Capitales http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/14/olympic-ceviche-with-a-political-bite-%e2%80%93-pescados-capitales/ http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/14/olympic-ceviche-with-a-political-bite-%e2%80%93-pescados-capitales/#comments Thu, 14 Aug 2008 22:53:15 +0000 Barbara http://americaninlima.com/?p=264 Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> So delicious, with a kick of yellow ají: ceviche at Pescados Capitales The hip cevicheria Pescados Capitales, one of Lima's finest seafood restaurants, plays on the Beijing Summer Olympics theme in its current "Pescados Olímpicos" (Olympic Sins) menu. (When you remove the first "s" from "pescados," the Spanish word for fish, it becomes "pecados" or sins. Thus the dual meaning of the restaurant's name: Capital Fish or Capital Sins.) Featured dishes this week include "Tiro olímpico" (Olympic Shooting, 30 soles), a causa made of lenguado, tuna and shrimp; "Ciclismo" (Cycling, 31 soles), salmon rolls with perch and brandied vegetables; and "Natación" (lobster "swimming" in risotto, market price). Those with a reformist bent might try "Antidoping" (37 soles), tuna seared in demi-glace sauce with quail. "Zero tolerance doesn't seem to work," the menu comments (whether about diners being able to resist this dish or Olympic athletes refraining from doping, it's hard to say).  Restaurant owner Nguyen Chávez creates a special weekly menu based on Peruvian politics and controversies. The introduction to this week's Olympic Sins menu gives a taste of Chávez's satiric bite (my translation):
"The Olympic spirit has arrived; let's see who has already won his medal.
"In Obstacle Race: Peru's Minister of the Interior (he raffled everything to remain in office)
"In Throwing the Javelin, Hammer, Shot and Discus: Congress (that's all they do).
"Marathon: This is what the earthquake victims keep running one year after the tragedy [August 15].
"We announce that the president [Alan García] hasn't scored the minimum marks, according to polls. The race has not ended yet, but the public has been accused unjustly of being 'unjust.'
" 'Doping! Doping!' is heard in the bleachers. Alas, many medals are still up for grabs."
Aside from looking for an excuse to poke fun at Peruvian politics, Chávez seized on the Olympic theme for this week's menu because he's a fan of badminton, a sport that Peruvian athlete Claudia Rivero competed in early in the Beijing Games without making it to the finals. "Yes, I was sorry to see her lose," he tells An American in Lima. "And [wrestler] Sixto Barrera, too. They say he was Peru's best hope for a medal." The owner of Pescados Capitales looks forward to seeing Peru's Peter López compete in taekwondo next Thursday, August 21. "I think he could win a medal. We'll see." Chávez deplores Peru's lack of support for its Olympic competitors. "The government does nothing for the athletes," he says. "It's not just about Peru having little money. Look at Cuba, a really poor country, look at Venezuela: They support their athletes. Why not Peru?" He notes that Peru also refuses to give monetary support to its own chess superstar, 17-year-old Emilio Córdoba, who recently won the coveted title of International Grandmaster: "Córdoba had to pay his own way to go to the International Championship. It's not right." "Peru needs to stand behind its chess players and it athletes," says Chávez. "They deserve it, no?" I nod in agreement and dig into my plate of "Paciencia: Cevíche Ghandi" (30 soles), a heavenly dish of raw fish and seafood marinated in lime juice and curry, with slices of mango and mandarin orange. It was worth the ½-hour lunchtime wait. One does need a saint's patience to put up with Peruvian politics, as well as with "making a cola" for a table at one of Lima's hottest restaurants.  Visit Pescados Capitales at Av. La Mar 1337, Miraflores, Lima, Peru. (511) 421-8808 On the web at www.pescados-capitales.com/ Photo of ceviche by www.thousandflavors.com]]> http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/14/olympic-ceviche-with-a-political-bite-%e2%80%93-pescados-capitales/feed/ 2 Peru’s Olympic 13 Are a Horde Compared To… http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/13/peru%e2%80%99s-olympic-13-are-a-horde-compared-to%e2%80%a6/ http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/13/peru%e2%80%99s-olympic-13-are-a-horde-compared-to%e2%80%a6/#comments Wed, 13 Aug 2008 22:22:38 +0000 Barbara http://americaninlima.com/?p=257 Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> [/caption] I was feeling rather forlorn about Peru's small Olympic delegation of 13 athletes. Then I stumbled upon Mashable's "18 Smaller Olympic Countries to Root For." Sean P. Aune writes: It's easy to get wrapped up in all of the big name countries that go to the Olympics, such as the United States or Russia, but have you ever thought about those countries that don't have as much money for a team or only have a few athletes who qualify? My family has a tradition of picking one or two of the smaller countries that can only send one or two athletes to the games, and sort of "adopting" them for us to root for over the course of the competition. This year I am going to be watching Itte Detenamo in weightlifting.  He is from the Republic of Nauru, the world's smallest island nation at only 8.1 square miles.  GO ITTE! Check out Sean's Olympic country maps of lonely onlys and tiny duos, including Grenada, Botswana and the Republic of Mauritania. ]]> http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/13/peru%e2%80%99s-olympic-13-are-a-horde-compared-to%e2%80%a6/feed/ 0 Sixto Barrera Advances to Quarter Finals, Loses to China’s Chang Yongxiang http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/12/sixto-barrera-advances-to-quarter-finals-loses-to-chinas-chang-yongxiang/ http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/12/sixto-barrera-advances-to-quarter-finals-loses-to-chinas-chang-yongxiang/#comments Wed, 13 Aug 2008 04:45:38 +0000 Barbara http://americaninlima.com/?p=232 Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> Sixto Barrera trounced Lithuanian Valdemaras Venckaitis, ranked 3rd in the world, in the first qualifying rounds of Men's Greco-Roman 74 k, in Beijing, on August 12.

Barrera then went against China's Chang Yongxiang in the quarter finals and lost. Chang Yongxiang advances to the finals with Georgia's Manuchar Kvirkelia. This will be China's first-ever medal in wrestling.  Here is my professional opinion about Barrera's loss: Argggh!]]> http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/12/sixto-barrera-advances-to-quarter-finals-loses-to-chinas-chang-yongxiang/feed/ 0 Trying to Watch the Olympics in Peru http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/12/sixto-barrera-advances-to-quarter-finals-loses-to-chinas-chang-yongxiang/ http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/12/sixto-barrera-advances-to-quarter-finals-loses-to-chinas-chang-yongxiang/#comments Wed, 13 Aug 2008 04:45:38 +0000 Barbara http://americaninlima.com/?p=232 Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> Sixto Barrera trounced Lithuanian Valdemaras Venckaitis, ranked 3rd in the world, in the first qualifying rounds of Men's Greco-Roman 74 k, in Beijing, on August 12.

Barrera then went against China's Chang Yongxiang in the quarter finals and lost. Chang Yongxiang advances to the finals with Georgia's Manuchar Kvirkelia. This will be China's first-ever medal in wrestling.  Here is my professional opinion about Barrera's loss: Argggh!]]> http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/12/sixto-barrera-advances-to-quarter-finals-loses-to-chinas-chang-yongxiang/feed/ 0 An American in Lima » Peru Olympics http://americaninlima.com slices of my life in Peru Sat, 12 Mar 2011 22:55:48 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 How Pitiful! Peru Spends 3 Soles per Peruvian on Sports http://americaninlima.com/2008/09/06/how-pitiful-peru-spends-3-soles-per-peruvian-on-sports/ http://americaninlima.com/2008/09/06/how-pitiful-peru-spends-3-soles-per-peruvian-on-sports/#comments Sat, 06 Sep 2008 15:40:46 +0000 Barbara http://americaninlima.com/?p=492 Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> El Comercio, summarized in English by reporter Israel Ruiz, exposes why Peru performs so abysmally in international sporting events like the Olympics. Here's Ruiz's complete story published today in Living in Peru:
Peruvian sports are trapped in time, said reporters for El Comercio, explaining there were records in the Andean country that had not been broken in almost 40 years. Fernando Acevedo, one of Peru's past athletes that has not had his records broken affirmed he was not proud of this or the difficult situation the country was facing. "The fact that no one has broken my records shows we have not progressed," said Acevedo, explaining that without proper funding and a serious plan for aspiring athletes history would not change. To these troubles is added the fact that the country's ministry of economy has announced it will cut the Peruvian Sports Institute's (IPD) budget. Arturo Woodman, head of the IPD, confirmed that the 2009 budget could be reduced by 20 million soles. "When Alan Garcia came into office there was a 40-million-sol budget for sports. In 2007 it doubled to 80 million soles and this year we have reached 100 million," said Woodman, explaining this was three soles per Peruvian. If this figure were cut, it would place the country's sports budget back at 80 million soles. Woodman explained these figures were minute when compared to other South American countries such as Chile, which has a budget of million and spends per Chilean. He added that Venezuela spends between eight and ten dollars per citizen.
The comparisons are shameful. (For the record: 3 soles translates to little more than US.) Surely Peru can do better by its athletes. The proposed IPD budget cuts should not be allowed to take place. Peru also should consider looking to the private sector to finance athletes. How about an annual tax on foreign companies that do business in Peru to go to an athletic fund?]]> http://americaninlima.com/2008/09/06/how-pitiful-peru-spends-3-soles-per-peruvian-on-sports/feed/ 0 Peru’s Porters Win Ausangate Gold Medal for Weightlifting http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/28/peru%e2%80%99s-porters-win-ausangate-gold-medal-for-weightlifting/ http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/28/peru%e2%80%99s-porters-win-ausangate-gold-medal-for-weightlifting/#comments Thu, 28 Aug 2008 19:43:48 +0000 Barbara http://americaninlima.com/?p=421 Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> The Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics are officially over, the winners have scurried home with their medals, and the losing athletes are either chastised, pitied or forgotten by most of the world. No laurel wreath, no glory, the Olympic equation goes. Not on this blog, however. In the same spirit of honoring athletic excellence that inspired the first Olympic Games, An American in Lima introduces the Ausangate Awards for High-Altitude Athletic Achievement. Just as the Olympic Games are named after Greece's highest mountain, Mount Olympus (2,919 meters above sea level), the Ausangate Awards take as their namesake the tallest peak in the Cordillera Vilcanota, Mount Ausangate (6,384 meters / 20,945 feet above sea level), which towers over the south Peruvian Andes. The Andes are the second-highest mountain range in the world, after the Himalayas. The Gold Medal in High-Altitude Weightlifting goes to the porters of Cusco, Peru, who for hundreds of years have carried superhuman loads on their backs at altitudes of 4,000 to 5,000 meters and above. The Gold Medal is shared by the sherpas, high in the Himalayan mountain range. These high-altitude dwellers possess remarkable physical strength, stamina and ability to withstand staggering extremes of altitude and temperature. These qualities distinguish the Cusco porters and the Nepalese sherpas as among the world's elite athletes. Despite their physical prowess and lifetimes of service, however, the porters and sherpas are largely unknown to the world at large. They live and die literally in the clouds, often in extreme poverty. To understand their struggles is to realize the true meaning of "heroic" – a heroism that has nothing to do with million-dollar corporate sponsorships, winner-take-all competition, expensive doping cocktails and bloated nationalist sentiment. Curious to learn more about these unsung heroes? Read on…. The people who live within sight of high mountain ranges such as the Vilcanota, the Cordillera Blanca and the Himalayas endure extremely difficult and hazardous conditions: extreme cold, blinding sunlight, and decreased oxygen (up to 50% less than that at sea level) in high altitudes. Over thousands of years, the bodies of native mountain-dwellers have evolved various adaptation mechanisms to derive more oxygen from the air and to circulate oxygen more efficiently through the bloodstream. (Read this remarkable article in the 2/25/04 National Geographic about how mountain dwellers' bodies have adapted to their extreme environments.) People in the Andes and the Himalayas walk great distances each day, and develop strong muscles in their legs with which to navigate the rugged terrain. In many physical respects, they are superhuman. Yet despite these physical adaptations, porters and sherpas often succumb to illness, disease and fatal accidents. The porters of Cusco (known as cargadors in Spanish) perform a vital service for merchants and trekkers in the Andes region. Following pre-Columbian traditions, today's porters traverse on foot throughout the cities and mountains of the Andes region, carrying up to 240 pounds on their back. Porters typically work 14- to 16-hour days and traverse 20 to 30 miles daily across the abrupt geography of the Andes. Porters are hired to carry a variety of items. Some are paid by farmers to carry their produce (potatoes, corn, wool) and animals to market. Others haul mattresses, refrigerators, kerosene stoves and cabinets for merchants in Cusco. An even greater number tote trekkers' backpacks and camping gear along the Inca Trail, to the summits of Machu Picchu, Ausangate and the Cordillera Blanca. Without these porters, tens of thousands of tourists would not be able to experience the wonders of Peru's mountain settings. Porters also assist glaciologists, archaeologists and other scientists in their expeditions. The typical rate for a porter is just to per day (less than what it costs to rent a llama). Often porters cannot afford to buy food, so they sustain their energy on the trail by chewing coca leaves, whose juice provides energy and minerals. (Coca leaves are not a drug like cocaine.) Understandable, many porters are chronically malnourished. Not only do porters suffer physically, they also endure emotional abuse as members of Peru's ethnic underclass. Peruvian-born photographer Jorge Vera, who has documented the lives of Andean porters since 1995, notes that porters in Cusco are overwhelmingly of native Andean descent; most speak only their native Quechua and Aymara dialects. Unable to converse in Spanish with shop owners and merchants, who are often mestizo or white, the porters are vulnerable to being verbally abused or taken advantage of financially. In general, other Peruvians look down on porters, Vera notes:
"Porters are a cast of people set aside into social darkness and economic stigma and used exclusively as human beasts of burden. Without labor, medical and or social care programs, porters in Peru are truly modern-day outcasts, a disposable humanity in the midst of a booming multi-million dollar annual tourist industry."
He adds:
"I started to photograph porters in the Peruvian Andes during my wedding trip home in 1995. As a child growing up in Peru, I had never fully realized the role these porter children, women and men play in the commercial transportation of goods for hire. In some cases entire nomadic clans or families of porters are managed by Westernized, Spanish-speaking mestizo-operated businesses.
"Severely underpaid, Porters are recompensed sometimes only with meals, used shoes or clothing, and most commonly with coca leaves, a must to numb their bodies to the brutal labor and the exposure to the nightly frigid cold of the high Andes. Life expectancy for porters is short, often falling prey to tragic accidents in the precipices of the Andes, theft and most often sheer exhaustion."
In 2003 Vera came to Cusco to assist with a newly formed porter's union, the first in that city. Vera took photographs for the porter's first-ever ID tags. This documentation was crucial to establish the porters as full-fledged workers in the Cusco economy (prior to 2003, the ID-less porters often were made scapegoats for thefts). Vera's portraits of porters can be seen online at his photo.net site. Cusco porter, photo by Jorge Vera 2003 1 Other efforts to improve the lives of Andean porters were made in the early 2000s, when the NGO "Casa del Cargador" was launched in Peru. This social-assistance program provided refuge, education and support to porters in the Cusco area (read more about it here). Sadly, the program appears to have been dissolved as of 2008 (posts on the Web site ended in 2006). Worldwide, however, support for porters has grown in recent years. The International Porter Protection Group (IPPG) is dedicated to improving the safety of mountain porters. The IPPG website notes:
IPPG aims to improve safety and health for porter working in the mountains for the trekking industry worldwide. We work to eradicate avoidable illness, injury and death. We do this by raising awareness of the issues among travel companies, guides, trek leaders, sirdars (porters' foremen), and trekkers.
IPPG also supports porters in their quest for a decent wage and freedom from overloading (especially at high altitude).
Please visit the IPCC Web site to learn how you can help porters in Peru and elsewhere. More web resources include the blog The Mountain Porter, which provides current global news on porter issues, the 2006 Guardian Eco-Dilemma article on “Is It OK to Hire a Mountain Porter?” and Tourism Concert’s article “Trekking Wrongs: Porters’ Rights.”  For a list of UK tour operators with ethical porter policies, click here.  To the thousands of porters who cart their Sisyphean loads across the Andes and Himalayas: An American in Lima salutes you. ---Barbara R. Drake
]]> http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/28/peru%e2%80%99s-porters-win-ausangate-gold-medal-for-weightlifting/feed/ 2 Peru Olympic Wrap-up: Week 2 in Review http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/23/peru-olympic-wrap-up-week-2-in-review/ http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/23/peru-olympic-wrap-up-week-2-in-review/#comments Sun, 24 Aug 2008 01:43:35 +0000 Barbara http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/23/peru-olympic-wrap-up-week-2-in-review/ Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> Samuel Wansiru wins the gold with the impressive time of 2:06:32, setting a new Olympic Record. At 44 seconds behind Wansiru, Jaouad Gharib of Morocco grabs the silver with 2:07:16 (he also breaks the previous OR), and Deriba Merga, of Ethiopia, wins the bronze with 2:10:00. It's an African sweep. I keep hitting "refresh" on the official Olympics page for Men's Marathon Results: with each click, another exhausted runner clocks in his final time. Still no sign of León. I hope he didn't collapse. Thirteen runners have dropped out of the marathon thus far, including two runners from Brazil and another from Venezuela. Okay. León just crossed the 40-km mark, still in 63rd place. Corre, Constantino, corre! There's still time to improve your standing, carajo! While I have a moment, let me recap the week's events for Peru's Olympic athletes.
  1. Peru didn't win any Olympic medals.
  2. Peter López was in serious running for a bronze in taekwondo, but ceded victory to other athletes.
  3. Sailor Paloma Schmidt finished 26th in Laser Radial, after nine grueling races.
  4. María Portilla ran 39th in the Women's Marathon, beating her own personal best time.
And – now it's official – Peru's Constantino León has finished in 61st place in Men's Marathon, moving up two notches in the rankings. He must have heard me nagging him all the way from the Lima. Leon's final time was 2:28:04, 21 minutes and 32 seconds behind Wansiru.]]> http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/23/peru-olympic-wrap-up-week-2-in-review/feed/ 9 Constantino Leon Last Olympian to Compete for Peru; Peter Lopez Misses Bronze in Taekwondo http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/21/constantino-leon-peter-lopez/ http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/21/constantino-leon-peter-lopez/#comments Thu, 21 Aug 2008 18:41:09 +0000 Barbara http://americaninlima.com/?p=391 Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> Peru's Olympic marathon runner Constantino Leon competing in Nairobi[/caption] Peru's original field of 13 Olympic contenders is now down to one athlete: marathon runner Constantino Leon. Leon will compete Saturday, August 23, starting at 6:30 p.m. (Beijing time), in the Men's Marathon. For fans in Peru, that translates to Sunday, August 24, starting at 7:30 a.m. Thus far, no athletes representing Peru have won a medal in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Constantino became Peru's last Olympic contender after taekwondo athlete Peter Lopez failed to secure the bronze in the Men's 68 kg. competition on Thursday, August 21. [caption id="attachment_394" align="aligncenter" width="270" caption="Lopez battles Mohammad"][/caption] Lopez was victorious in his first two matches on Thursday, beating Australia's Burak Hasan 3-1 in the preliminaries and Nigeria's Isah Adam Mohammad 3-0 in the quarter finals. He advanced the semi-finals where he was defeated by USA's Mark Lopez (no relation) 2-1. The two Lopezes were training partners at Elite taekwondo center in Houston. A subsequent match between Peter Lopez and Servet Tazegul, of Turkey, saw Peru's chances at a bronze dashed with Tazegul beat Lopez 1-0. Korea's Son Taejin won gold and USA's Mark Lopez won silver in the event. The bronze medal was shared by Tazegul and Chinese Taipai's Sung Yu-Chi. For other reports from An American in Lima on Peru's Olympic athletes, see: Keeping Up with Peru's Olympians (Aug. 11, 2008) Trying to Watch the Olympics in Peru (Aug. 11, 2008)  "Sixto Barrera Wants to Win Medal for Peru, Self & God" (Aug. 12, 2008) Sixto Barrera Advances to Quarter Finals, Loses to China's Chang Yongxiang (Aug. 12, 2008) Peru's Olympians, Part II (Aug. 13, 2008) Peru's Olympic 13 Are a Horde Compared To... (Aug. 13, 2008) The Buzz on Peru's Olympians: Week 1 in Review (Aug. 16, 2008) Maria Portilla: I Am Thrilled to Have Given My All in Beijing (Aug. 19, 2008)]]> http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/21/constantino-leon-peter-lopez/feed/ 0 The Buzz on Peru’s Olympians, Week 1 in Review, Aug. 9 – 16 http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/16/the-buzz-on-peru%e2%80%99s-olympians-week-1-in-review/ http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/16/the-buzz-on-peru%e2%80%99s-olympians-week-1-in-review/#comments Sun, 17 Aug 2008 03:28:17 +0000 Barbara http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/16/the-buzz-on-peru%e2%80%99s-olympians-week-1-in-review/ Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> The first week (August 10 - 16) of competition at the Beijing 2008 Olympics saw some encouraging efforts by Peruvian athletes but no medals. Here is a roundup of how Peru's 13-member Olympic delegation has performed so far, along with buzz about the athletes from English-speaking media, bloggers and fans. (Plus blog reactions by Peru athletes like Peter Lopez, who posted the photo above on his Olympic blog "Camino a la Gloria" (Road to Glory) on Monday, Aug. 11.)

SIXTO BARRERA / WRESTLING 

Wrestler Sixto Barrera, considered by many to be Peru's best chance for a medal, got off to a strong start on Tuesday (Aug. 12), when he trounced the world's third-ranked Valdemaras Venckaitis of Lithuania, 3-1, in the first round of Men's Greco-Roman 74 k. That victory propelled him to the quarter finals against China's Chang Yongxiang, who turned the tables on Barrera, beating him 3-1. Barrera told RPP reporters in Beijing that his elbow was badly hurt in the match when Chang applied an "improper hold." Injured and in pain, Barrera suffered a total defeat to Bulgaria's Yavor Yanakiev in the Round 2 Repechage (score: 3-0). Yanakiev, the 2007 world champion, went on to win the Olympic bronze medal on Wedesday (Aug. 13), Chang won the silver. Georgia's Manuchar Kvirkelia won his country's first wrestling gold.

BUZZ ABOUT BARRERA

Sixto Barrera drew cheers from fans in Bird's Nest Stadium and Peruvian viewers around the world when he carried Peru's flag in the opening ceremonies on Saturday (Aug. 9). Barrera told reporters that the experience was "a dream come true." Barrera's life story drew attention from reporters and bloggers in Peru and the United States. Blogger CarlosQC from Washington, DC (who also scribes as Peruanista) highlighted Barrera's challenges as an Afro-Peruvian confronting racism and lack of support in his native country. An American in Lima explored the wrestler's spiritual faith and admiration for San Martin de Porres, the first black saint of the Americas.

CLAUDIA RIVERO / BADMINTON

 Claudia Rivero, Peru's top-ranked badminton player, lost in Women's Singles to France's Pi Hongyan 2 - 0 (21-6 and 21-6), on Sunday (Aug. 10). That defeat made Rivero ineligible for further competition at the Games. Gold and Silver in Women's Singles Badminton went to Zhang Ning and Zie Xingfang, both of China; Maria Kristin Yulianti, of Indonesia, won the Bronze on Saturday, August 16.

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ….

The 21-year-old Rivero trained for the games in Germany, thanks to an Olympic Solidarity Scholarship sponsored by the Badminton World Federation. Rivero blogged for CNN about her preparations for the Olympics (See Athlete's Blog: Claudia Rivero). Male admirers confessed to "falling in love" with Rivero on the Discussion Board at BadmintonCentral.com.

VALERIA SILVA / SWIMMING

Swimmer Valeria Silva finished 38th in the preliminaries of the 100-meter breaststroke with a personal-best time of 1:11.64 but did not advance. Australia's Leisel Jones won the gold in women's 100-meter breaststroke on Tuesday, August 12. Rebecca Soni (USA) and Mirna Jukic (Austria) won silver and bronze, respectively.

BUZZ ABOUT SILVA

A senior at University of Michigan, Silva competes for the UMich swim team along with Olympic god (we can call him that now) Michael Phelps. Silva's academic major is Brain, Behavior and Cognitive Science. She attended Lima's Humbolt school.

EMMANUEL JOSE CRESCIMBENI / SWIMMING

Eighteen-year-old swimmer Emmanuel José Crescimbeni finished 41st in the preliminaries of the 200-meter butterfly with a time of 2:02:13 but did not advance. Gold in the men's 200-meter butterfly went to Michael Phelps (USA), Silver to Laszlo Cseh (Hungary) and Bronze to Takeshi Matsuda (Japan), on Wednesday, August 13.

BUZZ ON EMMAN

Crescimbeni, known as "Emman" to his friends, attends Calvary Christian School in St. Petersburg, Florida. He has dual U.S./Peruvian citizenship. His parents are from Callao. He will attend the University of Florida next year. An in-depth profile of "the fastest swimmer you've never heard of" (to quote Crescimbeni's coach) ran in the Oct. 27, 2007, St. Petersburg Times ("Looking Back, Swimmer's Talent Couldn't Be Ignored").

MARIA LUISA DOIG / FENCING

In Women's Individual Foil fencer Maria Luisa Doig crossed swords last Sunday (Aug. 10) with Germany's Katja Waechter, who beat her 4-15. Italians Maria Valentina Vezzali and Margherita Granbassi won Gold and Bronze, respectively. Korea's Nam Hyunhee took the Silver.

MORE ABOUT DOIG

At 16 years old, Doig is Peru's youngest delegate to the Beijing games.  A widely publicized APF/Getty photo of Doig reacting to her loss against Waechter ran in USA Today and countless online sites.

PALOMA SCHMIDT / SAILING

Hard-working sailor Paloma Schmidt, who represents Peru in Laser Radial – One-person Dinghy, has competed in five races since Tuesday, August 12, and is schedule to sail in an additional five races on Sunday, August 17 and Monday, August 18, before the medal-winners are decided. Schmidt ranked No. 9 after her first race, then fell to 28 in race 4, before climbing to No. 14 in her latest race. Schmidt's individual race rankings are: 9 (Race 1), 26 (Race 2), 27 (Race 3), 28 (Race 4) and 14 (Race 5). The Olympics' sailing events take place in the Chinese coastal city of Qingdao.

BIRD BUZZ

Schmidt trains at Yacht Club Peruano, in La Punta, Callao, notes her sailor bio on ISAF. Her nickname is "Bird," in reference to her first name, which means "dove" in Spanish. Visit Schmidt's personal blog "Sailor Bird" (written in Spanish) to read about her preparations for the Olympics.

CARLOS ZEGARRA / JUDO

The "Peruvian giant" Carlos Zegarra competed in Men's Judo +100 kg on Friday, August 15, in USTB Gymnasium. Zegarra beat Argentina's Sandro Lopez in the 2:17 min. preliminary bout with a side four-corner hold. Less than an hour later, he lost to Cuba's Oscar Brayson and then to Lebanon's Rudy Hachache in Repechage, thus ending his chances for a medal. Medallists in Men's Judo +100 kg were Satoshi Ishii of Japan (Gold), Abdullo Tangriev of Uzbekistan (Silver) and Oscar Brayson of Cuba and Teddy Riner of France (sharing Bronze).

ZEGARRA FACTOIDS

  • Height: 6'8" tall
  • Weight: 352 pounds
  • Occupation: Security guard
  • Favorite food: fried calamari
  • Nickname: Chiquito

MARCO MATELLINI / SHOOTING

Skeet shooter Marco Matellini got off to a disappointing start on Friday, August 15, finishing last in a field of 41 competitors. He moved up one notch to 40th place on Saturday, August 16.

PERUVIANS DO KNOW HOW TO SHOOT

A photo of Matellini blowing into the barrel of his gun was featured in USA Today. Shooting is the one sport in which Peru has won Olympic gold. Peruvian Edward Vasquez Cam won the gold in Men's Free Pistol in 1946. More recently, Peru won silver medals in Trap Shooting (Francisco Boza, 1984) and Skeet Shooting (Juan Giha, 1992).

CRISTINA CORNEJO / WEIGHTLIFTING

Cornejo competes in Olympics +75 kg 1 Peru's powerful 22-year-old female weightlifter Cristina Cornejo went up against the big girls Saturday, August 16, in the +75 kg category. Cornejo finished 10th, tied with Eva Dimas of El Salvador. Cornejo lifted 97 kg in the Snatch, compared to first-place winner Jang Miran of Korea, who set new Olympic and World records with her 140-kg hoist that night. In the Clean & Jerk, Cornejo lifted 128 kg, nearly 60 kg below Miran's Olympic and World record-breaking lifts of 183 kg. and 186 kg. Cornejo took part in what will be remembered as a historic night in women's weightlifting. In Women's 75+ kg. Weightlifting, Miran took home the Gold for Korea, Olha Korobka took Silver for the Ukraine, and Mariya Grabovetskaya won Bronze for Kazakhstan.

THE CAMERA LOVES YOU, CRISTINA!

I love these APF/Getty images of Cornejo at Saturday's competition. This girl is mighty, mighty!   [caption id="attachment_339" align="alignleft" width="184" caption="Cristina Cornejo reacts after failing a lift in Beijing Olympics"]Cristina Cornejo reacts after failing a lift in Beijing Olympics[/caption]  

LOUIS TRISTAN / LONG JUMP

In the Men's Long Jump qualifying round, held Saturday, August 16, 24-year-old Peruvian jumper Louis Tristan finished 32nd out of 38 with a leap of 7.62 meters. That distance failed to qualify Tristan for the Long Jump final round.

THE BUZZ

Tristan was born in Lima and now lives and trains in Brazil. In a recent interview with Peruanista, he mentioned his frustration with the lack of support given to him, and other top athletes, by the Peruvian government and national sports federation.

MARIA PORTILLA / RUNNING

Runner Maria Portilla will compete in the Women's Marathon this Sunday, August 17, at 7:30 p.m., in National Stadium. Portilla will battle a strong field that includes world champion Catherine Ndereba of Kenya and Paula Radcliffe of Great Britain, who is the world record holder. Radcliffe joined the British team at the last minute before the Games, after having recovered from a stress fracture.

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING ABOUT PORTILLA

Born and raised in Peru's high Andes, 36-year-old Portilla began running in marathons eleven years ago, when she was in danger of failing a physical education exam for a teaching degree she was seeking. Her athletic abilities exceeded everyone's expectations, particularly since she ran her first races barefoot. "I didn't have money for trainers [athletic shoes]," she told a reporter for Reuters. "I ran in my bare feet. People started giving me trainers; that gave me the inspiration to continue," she says. Click here for Reuters' one-minute video interview with Peru's "unlikely marathoner."

PETER LOPEZ / TAEKWONDO

Medal hopes are riding on Peter López, who competes Thursday, August 21, in preliminaries for Men's Taekwondo 68 kg (featherweight).

MUCHO BUZZ ABOUT LOPEZ

Taekwondo insiders are eagerly anticipating a possible match-up between Peru's Peter López and USA's Mark López, who have trained with the same coaches. López is the American-born son of Peruvian parents, who raised him in Peru and the United States. Since the year 2000, he has trained at the prestigious Elite Tae Kwon Do club, in Houston, Texas, alongside world and Olympic champions. He is a six-time U.S. National Team member and a 4-time competing member for the Peruvian Taekwondo Federation. He is the first taekwondo athlete ever to represent Peru in the Olympics. According to one report, López receives US,000 per month for training from the Peru Taekwondo Federation. This contrasts with the situation of other members of the Peru Olympics delegation, who receive little to no support from their respective sports organizations in Peru (if such institutions exist at all). López blogs on his Olympic experience for Lenovo's "Voices of the Olympics" blog. Click here for Peter's own photos of his fellow Olympians doing everyday stuff in Beijing, like eating in the Olympic cafeteria, working out in the gym and getting a haircut. Click here for a short BBC article on López ("Peter Lopez: Going for the Gold") that includes a photo diary of his journey to the Olympics.]]> http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/16/the-buzz-on-peru%e2%80%99s-olympians-week-1-in-review/feed/ 7 Olympic Ceviche with a Political Bite – Pescados Capitales http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/14/olympic-ceviche-with-a-political-bite-%e2%80%93-pescados-capitales/ http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/14/olympic-ceviche-with-a-political-bite-%e2%80%93-pescados-capitales/#comments Thu, 14 Aug 2008 22:53:15 +0000 Barbara http://americaninlima.com/?p=264 Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> So delicious, with a kick of yellow ají: ceviche at Pescados Capitales The hip cevicheria Pescados Capitales, one of Lima's finest seafood restaurants, plays on the Beijing Summer Olympics theme in its current "Pescados Olímpicos" (Olympic Sins) menu. (When you remove the first "s" from "pescados," the Spanish word for fish, it becomes "pecados" or sins. Thus the dual meaning of the restaurant's name: Capital Fish or Capital Sins.) Featured dishes this week include "Tiro olímpico" (Olympic Shooting, 30 soles), a causa made of lenguado, tuna and shrimp; "Ciclismo" (Cycling, 31 soles), salmon rolls with perch and brandied vegetables; and "Natación" (lobster "swimming" in risotto, market price). Those with a reformist bent might try "Antidoping" (37 soles), tuna seared in demi-glace sauce with quail. "Zero tolerance doesn't seem to work," the menu comments (whether about diners being able to resist this dish or Olympic athletes refraining from doping, it's hard to say).  Restaurant owner Nguyen Chávez creates a special weekly menu based on Peruvian politics and controversies. The introduction to this week's Olympic Sins menu gives a taste of Chávez's satiric bite (my translation):
"The Olympic spirit has arrived; let's see who has already won his medal.
"In Obstacle Race: Peru's Minister of the Interior (he raffled everything to remain in office)
"In Throwing the Javelin, Hammer, Shot and Discus: Congress (that's all they do).
"Marathon: This is what the earthquake victims keep running one year after the tragedy [August 15].
"We announce that the president [Alan García] hasn't scored the minimum marks, according to polls. The race has not ended yet, but the public has been accused unjustly of being 'unjust.'
" 'Doping! Doping!' is heard in the bleachers. Alas, many medals are still up for grabs."
Aside from looking for an excuse to poke fun at Peruvian politics, Chávez seized on the Olympic theme for this week's menu because he's a fan of badminton, a sport that Peruvian athlete Claudia Rivero competed in early in the Beijing Games without making it to the finals. "Yes, I was sorry to see her lose," he tells An American in Lima. "And [wrestler] Sixto Barrera, too. They say he was Peru's best hope for a medal." The owner of Pescados Capitales looks forward to seeing Peru's Peter López compete in taekwondo next Thursday, August 21. "I think he could win a medal. We'll see." Chávez deplores Peru's lack of support for its Olympic competitors. "The government does nothing for the athletes," he says. "It's not just about Peru having little money. Look at Cuba, a really poor country, look at Venezuela: They support their athletes. Why not Peru?" He notes that Peru also refuses to give monetary support to its own chess superstar, 17-year-old Emilio Córdoba, who recently won the coveted title of International Grandmaster: "Córdoba had to pay his own way to go to the International Championship. It's not right." "Peru needs to stand behind its chess players and it athletes," says Chávez. "They deserve it, no?" I nod in agreement and dig into my plate of "Paciencia: Cevíche Ghandi" (30 soles), a heavenly dish of raw fish and seafood marinated in lime juice and curry, with slices of mango and mandarin orange. It was worth the ½-hour lunchtime wait. One does need a saint's patience to put up with Peruvian politics, as well as with "making a cola" for a table at one of Lima's hottest restaurants.  Visit Pescados Capitales at Av. La Mar 1337, Miraflores, Lima, Peru. (511) 421-8808 On the web at www.pescados-capitales.com/ Photo of ceviche by www.thousandflavors.com]]> http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/14/olympic-ceviche-with-a-political-bite-%e2%80%93-pescados-capitales/feed/ 2 Peru’s Olympic 13 Are a Horde Compared To… http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/13/peru%e2%80%99s-olympic-13-are-a-horde-compared-to%e2%80%a6/ http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/13/peru%e2%80%99s-olympic-13-are-a-horde-compared-to%e2%80%a6/#comments Wed, 13 Aug 2008 22:22:38 +0000 Barbara http://americaninlima.com/?p=257 Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> [/caption] I was feeling rather forlorn about Peru's small Olympic delegation of 13 athletes. Then I stumbled upon Mashable's "18 Smaller Olympic Countries to Root For." Sean P. Aune writes: It's easy to get wrapped up in all of the big name countries that go to the Olympics, such as the United States or Russia, but have you ever thought about those countries that don't have as much money for a team or only have a few athletes who qualify? My family has a tradition of picking one or two of the smaller countries that can only send one or two athletes to the games, and sort of "adopting" them for us to root for over the course of the competition. This year I am going to be watching Itte Detenamo in weightlifting.  He is from the Republic of Nauru, the world's smallest island nation at only 8.1 square miles.  GO ITTE! Check out Sean's Olympic country maps of lonely onlys and tiny duos, including Grenada, Botswana and the Republic of Mauritania. ]]> http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/13/peru%e2%80%99s-olympic-13-are-a-horde-compared-to%e2%80%a6/feed/ 0 Sixto Barrera Advances to Quarter Finals, Loses to China’s Chang Yongxiang http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/12/sixto-barrera-advances-to-quarter-finals-loses-to-chinas-chang-yongxiang/ http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/12/sixto-barrera-advances-to-quarter-finals-loses-to-chinas-chang-yongxiang/#comments Wed, 13 Aug 2008 04:45:38 +0000 Barbara http://americaninlima.com/?p=232 Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> Sixto Barrera trounced Lithuanian Valdemaras Venckaitis, ranked 3rd in the world, in the first qualifying rounds of Men's Greco-Roman 74 k, in Beijing, on August 12.

Barrera then went against China's Chang Yongxiang in the quarter finals and lost. Chang Yongxiang advances to the finals with Georgia's Manuchar Kvirkelia. This will be China's first-ever medal in wrestling.  Here is my professional opinion about Barrera's loss: Argggh!]]> http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/12/sixto-barrera-advances-to-quarter-finals-loses-to-chinas-chang-yongxiang/feed/ 0 Trying to Watch the Olympics in Peru http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/11/watch-peru-olympics/ http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/11/watch-peru-olympics/#comments Tue, 12 Aug 2008 04:28:59 +0000 Barbara http://americaninlima.com/?p=213 Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> I'm going through Olympic detox, here in Lima, where not even the cable channels broadcast the Games during regular day or evening hours. I'm still trying to figure out when I can actually view some extended programming; El Hijo claims there's coverage at 1 a.m., but I'm not staying up to test his theory. Help me, people, I'm suffering here. I need my Olympics fix. As I mentioned in an earlier post, I enjoy the pageantry and the overt competitiveness of the Games. I've watched them since I was a kid in the United States, and now that I've moved to Peru, I'm happy to transfer my allegiance south of the equator. I just can't find a place to view the Games --  not on my home TV, not in a sports bar. What am I, the lone Olympics fan in Peru? Two days ago, El Fotografo and I went to the food court of Jockey Plaza, a mall in Lima, where they have a display of 20 or so plasma TVs arranged in one giant image. Sports is always playing there. I figured I'd see some Olympic action. No luck. The television sets were tuned to a nonOlympic soccer match. I asked the manager, Could he change it to the Olympics program? Sorry, we can't, the programming is controlled by a computer, he bullshitted me. I tried another guy in a suit and he said the same thing and EF looked at me like, Are you going to keep causing a scene about the Olympics? I ended up eating my chicken sandwich staring at the neverending soccer match that is Peruvian sports broadcasting. Sigh. I am trying to cheer on Peru. Really.]]> http://americaninlima.com/2008/08/11/watch-peru-olympics/feed/ 11