Zuray Marcano facts for kids
in Rio in 2016
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| Personal information | |||||||||||
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| Nationality | Venezuelan | ||||||||||
| Born | 26 May 1954 El Tigre, Venezuela |
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| Died | 23 August 2020 (aged 66) Maracay, Venezuela |
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| Sport | |||||||||||
| Country | Venezuela | ||||||||||
| Sport | Powerlifting | ||||||||||
| Event(s) | 50 kilogram class | ||||||||||
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Medal record
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| Updated on 7 September 2016. | |||||||||||
Zuray Marcano Fuenmayor (born May 26, 1954 – died August 23, 2020) was an amazing Venezuelan teacher and a strong Paralympic powerlifter. She showed incredible determination throughout her life. In 2016, she competed in the Rio Paralympics when she was 62 years old!
Zuray's Early Life
Zuray Marcano was born in 1954. When she was just a baby, she got a sickness called polio. This illness caused her to have disabilities. Because of this, she couldn't join in sports with her friends at school. Instead, she often helped by keeping score. Even though she couldn't play, she still loved being part of the action.
Zuray was very smart and loved learning. She went to college and earned a degree in teaching. Later, she even got a master's degree in Education from the University of the Basque Country in Bilbao, Spain. She became a dedicated teacher.
Becoming a Powerlifter
Even though she couldn't play sports as a child, Zuray found her passion later in life. She tried different activities like athletics and swimming. But when she was 35 years old, she discovered powerlifting. This sport involves lifting heavy weights. She found she was very good at it!
Zuray had two children. When she was chosen to compete in the 2000 Summer Paralympics in Sydney, Australia, it was a huge moment for her. She saw it as a chance to learn and prove that she could compete at a high level. In Sydney, Zuray came in eighth place in the 48 kilogram (about 106 pounds) category. She managed to lift 62 kilograms (about 137 pounds)!
She continued to train and compete. In 2011, she took part in the Parapan Am Games in Guadalajara, Mexico.
Rio Paralympics and Legacy
Zuray's hard work paid off when she qualified for the 2016 Summer Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. She was 62 years old at the time, which is truly inspiring! In Rio, Zuray lifted her personal best weight. She lifted 63 kilograms (about 139 pounds) in her 50 kilogram (about 110 pounds) category. She finished in eighth place. The gold medal in her category was won by Lidiia Soloviova from Ukraine, who lifted 107 kilograms (about 236 pounds).
Zuray Marcano passed away on August 23, 2020, in her hometown. She was 66 years old. Zuray's life showed everyone that with determination and hard work, you can achieve amazing things, no matter your age or challenges. She was a true role model for many.
See also
In Spanish: Zuray Marcano para niños
