Poleth Méndes

Poleth Isamar Méndes Sánchez also simply known as Poleth Mendes (born 4 February 1996) is an Ecuadorian Paralympic athlete.[1] She along with her younger sister Anaís Méndez claimed the first medals for Ecuador in the history of the Paralympics.[2] Both have the unique distinction of being the only siblings combination to be the first two Paralympic medalists for a country.

Poleth Isamar Mendes Sanchez
Personal information
NationalityEcuadorian
Born (1996-02-04) 4 February 1996
Carpuela, Ecuador
Sport
SportParalympic athletics
Disability classF20
Event(s)shot put
Medal record
Women's Para-athletics
Representing  Ecuador
Paralympic Games
Gold medal – first place 2020 Tokyo Shot put F20
World Championships
Silver medal – second place 2017 London Shot put F20
Parapan American Games
Gold medal – first place 2019 Lima Shot put F20

Méndes and her sister share different spelling of their surnames due to a clerical error in the civil registry.[3]

Career

She made her maiden Paralympic appearance representing the Ecuador at the 2016 Summer Paralympics.[4] She was also the flag bearer for Ecuador during the 2016 Summer Paralympics Parade of Nations.[5] She also claimed a silver medal in the women's shot put F20 category at the 2017 World Para Athletics Championships.[6]

She clinched gold medal with a new world record of 14.39 in the women's F20 shot put event during the 2020 Summer Paralympics.[7] Coincidentally, her sister won bronze medal in the same discipline making it a rare instance of athletes coming from same family who go on to win medals in a same competition. Poleth Isamar Mendes Sanchez won Ecuador's first ever gold medal in Paralympics history while her younger sister Anaís Méndez won Ecuador's first ever bronze medal in Paralympics history.[2] Prior to the 2020 Summer Paralympics, Ecuador had never won a Paralympic medal.[8]

References
  1. "Poleth Isamar Mendes Sanchez- Athletics | Paralympic Athlete Profile". International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved 2021-08-29.
  2. "Super Sunday sees a new fastest Paralympian and Ecuador's first gold". International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved 2021-08-29.
  3. "¿Por qué Poleth Méndes y Anaís Méndez tienen apellidos distintos si son hermanas? Un error es la razón de la diferencia entre las medallistas paralímpicas ecuatorianas". Qué Noticias (in Spanish). 29 August 2021. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
  4. "Athletics Poleth Isamar Mendes Sanchez - Tokyo 2020 Paralympics". .. Retrieved 2021-08-29.
  5. "Full list of flag bearers for opening ceremony of Rio 2016 Paralympic Games". Rio2016.com. International Paralympic Committee. 7 September 2016. Archived from the original on 15 September 2016. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
  6. "Results - Women's Shot Put F20 Final" (pdf). IPC. 18 July 2017. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
  7. "Athletics - Women's Shot Put - F20 Schedule | Tokyo 2020 Paralympics". .. Archived from the original on 2021-08-29. Retrieved 2021-08-29.
  8. "Paralympic History for #ECU Before Today, Ecuador Had Never Won a Paralympic ... - Latest Tweet by Paralympic Games | 🏆 LatestLY". LatestLY. 2021-08-29. Retrieved 2021-08-29.
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