LIMA, August 30, 2024 - As soon as he crossed the finish line, Ramón Fuenzalida approached the stands to embrace his father in a warm hug. Just seconds before, the Chilean athlete had shone on the track at the National Sports Village Athletics Stadium by qualifying for the semi-finals of the 400m hurdles at the U20 World Athletics Championships in Lima.

Ramón’s father, also named Ramón, was a former athlete and a Chilean national champion in the 400m hurdles. His own experiences in athletics have been instrumental in shaping his son’s career. Despite coming from a country that is not a powerhouse in athletics, Ramón senior instilled a passion for the sport in his son from a young age. However, he never imagined seeing him compete at a world level.

DAD-SON CONNECTION Today, at 18 years old, Ramón Fuenzalida is among the top 24 young athletes in the world in his event and is emerging as one of Chile’s promising talents in athletics. His father’s support has been crucial to his development. “My father has always supported me since I was a child, through all the championships. This is the first step towards the great things that are coming, and he was here, just as he was for the smaller milestones,” explains Ramón Fuenzalida.

From his seat at the Videna, Ramón senior reflects the pride and satisfaction of seeing his son make his debut at a World Championship. “I am very proud. This is a reward for the effort and sacrifice he has made. It’s not just a prize for him but a prize for everyone who has been involved and helped him,” he says.

Moreover, he has financed nearly his son’s entire career. For this reason, he deeply values the achievement, which is rarely seen in Chile. “It is a tremendous result. No Chilean has reached a track final, so I believe what he is achieving here is historic, especially in an event that is one of the toughest in athletics,” he concludes.