With five golds, three silvers and two bronzes, Colombia easily won the medal table at the Pan American Downhill Championships, held in Cuzco, Peru, where Salvadoran Mariana Salazar achieved a historic silver after a year without competing due to a cancer diagnosis.
The Colombian golds came from the hand of Juan José Jaramillo, in cadets; Sebastián Ardila, senior; Gustavo Toro, in master’s degree C; Juan Fernando Muñoz, in elite, and Valentina Roa, recent champion in the 2023 season of the MTB World Series, who was crowned in women.
For her part, Mariana Salazar won a hard-fought silver medal in the elite women’s category, registering a time of 4:13.271 minutes, a mark that earned her the podium medal and applause in the regional competition.
“It is one of the most important achievements of my life for the year I have lived. I felt super good on the bike, I lacked a little physicality and confidence. “I am satisfied, I even have tears in my eyes and I feel proud,” Salazar assured the media after the race.
The rider returned to competitions after announcing her breast cancer diagnosis a year ago and confirming that she is still undergoing medical treatment.
The gold medal was won by the Colombian Valentina Roa Sánchez with a time of 04:05.876 minutes and the bronze medal was won by the Mexican Christine Lewis Montes, with a time of 04:46.344.
Elite Lady Category:
Valentina Roa Sánchez (COL) 4:05.876
Mariana Salazar (ESA) 4:13.271
Christine Lewis Montes (MEX) 4:46.344
Elite Men Category
Juan Fernando Muñoz (COL) 3:23.620
Sebastián Holguín Villa (COL) 3:28.430
Felipe Ignacio Agunto (PAN) 3:31.878
Junior Category
Caio Viera Werneck (BRA) 3:35.638
Simón Restrepo (COL) 3:44.732
Kalto Miguel Roldari (MEX) 3:47.590
Master Category C
Gustavo Adolfo Toro (COL) 4:50.503
Benjamín Claudio Muñiz (PER) 4:51.914
Rolf Ulrich (USA) 4:53.828
Master Category B
Ricardo Preciado (MEX) 3,55,595
Wilmar Fernando Ríos (COL) 4:05.525
Jorge Mario Jaramillo (COL) 4:07.569
Senior Category
Sebastián Ardula González (COL) 3:58.630
Christofer Ariel Pica (PAN) 4:11.977
Bastian Nicolás Valdivia (PAN) 4:13.798
Minor Category
Fausto Sauma (ARG) 3:49.644
Theo Borges Da Costa (BRA) 4:00.505
Jerónimo Londono (COL) 4:08.801