Jamy Franco
Encyclopedia
Jamy Amarilis Franco Núñez (born 1 July 1991) is a Guatemala
n race walker.
Born in Santa Rosa
, Franco is the daughter of former Olympic
race walker Evelyn Núñez. In 2005 at the age of 14, Franco won the 10,000 meter race walk at the Pan American Junior Athletics Championships
in Windsor, Canada
, setting a new record in the event. The following year, aged 15, she won the 4000 m race walk in the Central American and Caribbean Junior Championships
, under-17 category, again setting a competition record.
In March 2011, she won the Pan American Race Walking Cup
, her first major title, and in August 2011 at the World Championships
she finished in 19th place in the 20 km event, being the top ranked woman from the Americas and setting high expectations for the Pan American Games
competition later that year.
On 23 October 2011, at the age of 20, she won the 20 km race walk at the Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico
, breaking the Pan American Games women's record in the process and finishing the event 59 seconds ahead of her compatriot Mirna Ortíz, who finished second. It was the first time in the games' history that Guatemala won gold and silver medals in the same athletic event. It was also Guatemala's first win in an athletics event at the Games since Mateo Flores
won the Marathon in the 1955 edition
.
Cuban coach Rigoberto Medina has worked with her since 2010.
Guatemala
Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...
n race walker.
Born in Santa Rosa
Santa Rosa Department
Santa Rosa Department may refer to:*Argentina**Santa Rosa Department, Catamarca**Santa Rosa Department, Mendoza*Guatemala**Santa Rosa Department, Guatemala...
, Franco is the daughter of former Olympic
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
race walker Evelyn Núñez. In 2005 at the age of 14, Franco won the 10,000 meter race walk at the Pan American Junior Athletics Championships
2005 Pan American Junior Athletics Championships
The 13th Pan American Junior Athletics Championships were held inWindsor, Ontario at the University of Windsor Stadium on July 29-31, 2005.-Participation :Detailed result lists can be found on the Athletics Canada, the CACAC, the...
in Windsor, Canada
Windsor, Ontario
Windsor is the southernmost city in Canada and is located in Southwestern Ontario at the western end of the heavily populated Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. It is within Essex County, Ontario, although administratively separated from the county government. Separated by the Detroit River, Windsor...
, setting a new record in the event. The following year, aged 15, she won the 4000 m race walk in the Central American and Caribbean Junior Championships
2006 Central American and Caribbean Junior Championships
The 17th Central American and Caribbean Junior Championships was held in the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain, Trinidad, on 14–16 July 2006, and organized by the National Amateur Athletic Association of Trinidad & Tobago...
, under-17 category, again setting a competition record.
In March 2011, she won the Pan American Race Walking Cup
Pan American Race Walking Cup
The Pan American Race Walking Cup is a biennial race walking competition for athletes representing countries from the Americas. It was established in 1984 and has featured races for senior men and women, and for junior athletes. The women competed in the 10 km road race until 1996, and then...
, her first major title, and in August 2011 at the World Championships
2011 World Championships in Athletics – Women's 20 kilometres walk
The Women's 20 kilometres walk event at the 2011 World Championships in Athletics was held on a loop course starting and finishing at Gukchae - bosang Memorial Park on August 31....
she finished in 19th place in the 20 km event, being the top ranked woman from the Americas and setting high expectations for the Pan American Games
2011 Pan American Games
The 2011 Pan American Games, officially the XVI Pan American Games, was an international multi-sport event that was held from October 14–30, 2011 in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. Some events were held in the nearby cities of Ciudad Guzmán, Puerto Vallarta, Lagos de Moreno and Tapalpa...
competition later that year.
On 23 October 2011, at the age of 20, she won the 20 km race walk at the Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico
Guadalajara
Guadalajara may refer to:In Mexico:*Guadalajara, Jalisco, the capital of the state of Jalisco and second largest city in Mexico**Guadalajara Metropolitan Area*University of Guadalajara, a public university in Guadalajara, Jalisco...
, breaking the Pan American Games women's record in the process and finishing the event 59 seconds ahead of her compatriot Mirna Ortíz, who finished second. It was the first time in the games' history that Guatemala won gold and silver medals in the same athletic event. It was also Guatemala's first win in an athletics event at the Games since Mateo Flores
Mateo Flores
Mateo Flores, born Doroteo Guamuch Flores , was a Guatemalan long-distance runner who won several international events, including the Boston Marathon in 1952.-Career:...
won the Marathon in the 1955 edition
1955 Pan American Games
The 2nd Pan American Games opened on March 12, 1955 in the University Stadium in Mexico City, Mexico, in front of a capacity crowd of 100,000 spectators....
.
Cuban coach Rigoberto Medina has worked with her since 2010.