Camila’s Olympic Dreams

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When millions of people around the world tune into the opening ceremony of the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Camila Guevara hopes to be seen on their television screens.

The 15-year-old sprinter and long jumper has been a devoted athlete since her SOS mother Maria took her to a local competition when she was six.

Camila a sprinter from Peru showing off her medalsCurrently Peru’s third fastest sprinter, with a personal best time of just under 13 seconds for the 100m, she has a real shot at making the national team.

“I practice for three hours a day, six days a week,” says Camila. “It is my dream to represent Peru at the Olympics. I will be trying out for the selection in Lima this year if I am chosen amongst the best athletes from the Chiclayo region.”

After school and on Saturday mornings, she heads to the Elias Eguirre Regional Stadium, just across the road from the SOS Children’s Village Chiclayo, to train with two coaches.

“Both of my coaches are excellent trainers, and both really hope to see me succeed,” she says.

With more than 40 medals to her name, she is recognised within athletic circles as an up-and-coming champion, with potential to improve even further in the short term.

The young athlete looks forward to competing in the 2015 South America Games and the Bolivarian Games.

Camila has lived at SOS Chiclayo since she was a baby, is finishing her final year of high school. “I plan to study industrial engineering after [high] school. And I am currently researching athletic scholarships with universities in the United States,” she says.

Camila has her heart set and wants to fulfill her dreams. She has the full support of her SOS mother, who has attended every single one of Camila’s athletic events.

Olympic hopeful Camila and her SOS mother“Should she win a scholarship to study in the US, she will be able to continue her intensive training while gaining an excellent education,” says Maria. “I am so very proud of Camila. She is an amazing athlete and a very wonderful person.”

Camila has five siblings in her SOS home, and a further extended family of almost 100 adults and children directly involved in the daily activities at the SOS Village. “Everyone [in the Village] supports Camila in her bid to become an Olympic champion,” says her mother, “and we cannot wait to see her demonstrate her extraordinary capabilities to the world.”

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