Anais Mendes

Started: She took up the sport at age 15. (Athlete, 14 Nov 2019) Reason: She followed her sister into the sport. (primicias.ec, 16 Nov 2023) Milestones: At the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo she and her sister Poleth became the first athletes from Ecuador, male or female, to win a medal at the Paralympic Games in any sport. The sisters both finished on the podium in the women's F20 shot put, with Anais claiming bronze and Poleth winning gold. (SportsDeskOnline, 13 Aug 2024) Additional Info: SISTERS SHARING THE PODIUM She and her sister Poleth both finished on the podium in the women's F20 shot put at the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo, with Anais claiming bronze and Poleth winning gold. The medals were Ecuador's first in any sport at the Paralympic Games. "What we did was something historic," Anais said. (SportsDeskOnline, 13 Aug 2024; primicias.ec, 16 Nov 2023)

Sporting Relatives: Her older sister Poleth has represented Ecuador in Para athletics, and won gold in the F20 shot put at the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo. Her cousin Damian Carcelen has also competed in Para athletics. He represented Ecuador in the T20 400m and long jump at the 2016 and 2020 Paralympic Games. (SportsDeskOnline, 13 Aug 2024; ecuavisa.com, 25 Aug 2019)