Roller speed skater Julio César Mirena won Pan American silver in the senior men’s 1,000-metre event. The medal came after a thrilling final at the Pan American Speed Skating Championship in Colombia. The athlete finished just fractions of a second behind the gold medallist. Therefore, adding another international achievement to a career that has placed him among Paraguay’s leading representatives in the discipline.
The competition took place in Guarne, Antioquia, bringing together some of the continent’s strongest speed skaters. Mirena completed the senior men’s 1,000-metre race with a time of 1:20.220, narrowly missing first place by only 0.145 seconds.
Colombia’s Juan Yepes claimed the gold medal after crossing the finish line in 1:20.075. On the other hand, Ecuador’s Jeremy Isral Ulcango took bronze with a time of 1:20.658. The close result highlighted the intensity of the final, where every movement and fraction of a second determined the podium positions.
Making history
Mirena has become one of the country’s most successful roller speed skaters. He has helped to bring greater visibility to a sport traditionally dominated by countries such as Colombia and Argentina. His international career reached a historic milestone in 2025, when he became the first Paraguayan athlete to win a medal at The World Games in Chengdu, China. He earned gold in the 5,000-metre points race and silver in the 10,000-metre road points race.
The athlete has continued to build on those achievements in 2026, competing against some of the world’s best skaters and strengthening Paraguay’s presence in international competitions.
Looking towards future challenges
The Pan American Silver medal for Mirena represents part of the wider preparation process for upcoming continental events, including the 2027 Pan American Games in Lima, Peru. With his recent performances, Mirena continues to position himself as one of Paraguay’s strongest hopes in roller speed skating.
His latest medal reflects Mirena’s individual dedication and also the growing development of Paraguayan athletes competing beyond traditional sporting disciplines. As Mirena continues his international journey, he carries the country’s colours onto tracks around the world.
To follow his speed skating journey, check Julio Mirena on Instagram.
