Aguascalientes, Ags., October 31, 2024.- Mexican Paralympic athlete Kenia Villalobos, alumna of the Certificate Program in Sports Management at Universidad Panamericana, Aguascalientes campus, represented Mexico at the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games, excelling in paratriathlon and finishing 11th in the world.
Ever since she was a child, Kenia Yesenia Villalobos Vargas dreamed of becoming a high-performance athlete. Her athletic career has been a journey of achievements in international competitions, where she has won major titles, such as the gold medal at the World Series in Montreal, Canada, in 2023; gold at the Paratriathlon World Cup in Long Beach, United States, in 2023; and silver at the Triathlon World Championships in Pontevedra, Spain.
In May 2024, his victory at the World Series in Montreal secured him a spot at the Paris Paralympics, thus capping a decade of effort, commitment, and perseverance in the sport.
“The experience of making it to the Olympics is completely unique, since you find yourself competing alongside Olympic and world medalists. It’s a matter of believing in yourself, of knowing that you’re there because you have what it takes to compete at that level”, Kenia shares.
A promoter of sports culture among students
Kenia began her career in swimming, but in 2020, under the guidance of her coach Heriberto Olivares Villalobos, she made the leap to paratriathlon, one of the most demanding disciplines, which includes a 750-meter open-water swim, a 20-kilometer bike ride, and a five-kilometer run, in addition to rigorous gym training.
Coach Olivares has played a key role in Kenia’s development and in training students on the Universidad Panamericana triathlon team. “I always tell athletes that they must balance their studies and sports. Kenia is a prime example: in addition to her bachelor’s degree in Physical Education and Sports, she completed a certificate program in Sports Management at Panamericana, which has opened up new opportunities in the sports world,”, he says.
The Impact of the Universidad Panamericana Your Career
For Kenia, the support of the Universidad Panamericana has been essential. Her academic training, combined with her experience in the Sports Management Certificate Program, has allowed her to broaden her horizons and grow in the sports field. “This experience has been a recognition of years of dedication and effort, and it is proof that dreams are achieved through hard work and perseverance,”, says Kenia.
La Panamericana, Aguascalientes Campus, remains a cornerstone in the development of athletic talent that represents Mexico on the world stage.
Discover everything the Universidad Panamericana to offer in the world of sports and follow the inspiring stories of our top athletes: https://www.up.edu.mx/vida-deportes/
