Melissa Nair Tillner Galeano

Started: She took up Para athletics in 2018. She initially trained in distance events before getting involved in sprinting in 2019. (Athlete, 25 Aug 2021; independiente.com.py, 26 Jul 2021) Reason: She transitioned from goalball to Para athletics. After beginning athletics, she and her guide Victor Duarte Adorno decided to switch from distance events to sprinting. "We started just for fun in long-distance competitions, and as we were adding successes, we got excited and moved into track events." (theworldnews.net, 01 Jun 2021) Ambition: To win a medal at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. (ultimahora.com, 11 Aug 2024) Milestones: She became the first female athlete to represent Paraguay in any sport at the Paralympic Games when she competed in the women's T12 100m at the 2020 Games in Tokyo. Paraguay was making its first appearance at the Games. (SportsDeskOnline, 12 Aug 2024) In 2019 she was part of the first delegation to represent Paraguay at the Parapan American Games, when the event was held in Lima, Peru. (radionacional.gov.py, 29 Aug 2019) Awards: She and guide runner Victor Duarte Adorno were Paraguay's flag bearers at the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. (medias.paris2024.org, 28 Aug 2024) She and cyclist Ivan Caceres were flag bearers for Paraguay at the opening ceremony of the 2023 Parapan American Games in Santiago, Chile. She performed the same role at the 2019 Parapan American Games in Lima, Peru. (santiago2023.org, 17 Nov 2023; theworldnews.net, 01 Sep 2019) She was named Female Para Athlete of the Year for 2021 by the Paraguayan Olympic Committee. (Comite Olimpico Paraguayo Facebook page, 30 Dec 2021) She and swimmer Rodrigo Hermosa were Paraguay's flag bearers at the opening ceremony of the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo. She was also flag bearer for the NPC at the closing ceremony in Tokyo. (Comite Paralimpico Paraguayo Facebook page, 05 Sep 2021; snd.gov.py, 24 Aug 2021) Additional Info: FURTHER EDUCATION She has begun studying to become a university teacher. (ultimahora.com, 11 Aug 2024)