Dunia Felices

Started: She took up the sport in 2017 at the Paralympic Club in Lima, Peru. (Athlete, 02 Dec 2017) Reason: She was involved in a number of sports before her amputation. She then was inspired to practise Para swimming after discovering the work of US photographer Michael Stokes, depicting wounded war veterans and Para sportspeople. "I saw they all had strong, healthy bodies. They had overcome their limits. The hardest part [about swimming following her amputation] was psychological as I had never taken off my prosthesis in front of other people. But I did it. I got in the water and did not recognise my body. I was more aware of who I was." (peru21.pe, 24 Jan 2019; Athlete, 02 Dec 2017; elcomercio.pe, 12 Nov 2020) Additional Info: OTHER ACTIVITIES In 2021 she founded Paramas, a Para sport organisation in Peru that initially focused on archery and sitting volleyball. "The project's goal is to give impaired people more opportunities to practise sport, either as a pastime or as a competitive athlete." She also served as an ambassador for the 2019 Parapan American Games in Lima, Peru. "The impact [the Games] will have on young people who want to be a Para athlete will be enormous." (Instagram profile, 01 Aug 2019; elperuano.pe, 09 Feb 2019; Facebook profile, 27 Feb 2021; Paramas Peru Facebook page, 27 Feb 2021) OCCUPATION She took up mouth painting as a hobby following her amputation and later became a member of the Asociacion De Pintores Con La Boca Y Con El Pie [Association of Painters with the Mouth and the Foot] in Peru. Her work has been exhibited in Switzerland. She has also taught art to children with an intellectual impairment. "I have an art workshop. I send the works I create to Europe, where they are reproduced on cards or calendars all over the world." (somossostenibles.pe, 21 Jul 2022; Latina.pe YouTube channel, 16 Mar 2019; elperuano.pe, 09 Feb 2019; peru21.pe, 05 Mar 2017; Asociacion De Pintores Con La Boca Y Con El Pie, 05 Dec 2014)