Hope of playing in 2016 Rio Games is still alive in Leryn Franco

Hope ofplaying in 2016 Rio Games is still alive in Leryn Franco

One look at Paraguayan athlete Leryn Franco’s eyes and you go into a trance. Not for nothing is the three-time Olympian listed among the sexiest sportswoman alive and has been in news more for her chiselled body and drop-dead looks rather than her sporting achievements.

But beneath those doe-shaped eyes lie a heroic tale of perseverance and mental strength, and a vision to see her country grow into a competitive nation in athletics. In a country obsessed with soccer, Leryn popularised a hitherto unconventional sport like javelin and represented Paraguay thrice in the Olympics, including the London Games this year — by virtue of her personal best effort of 57.77m at the Ibero-American Athletics Championship in June — though without much success.

The impressive figure, however, does not stand anywhere near to the current world record of 72.28m held by Czech Republic’s Barbora Spotakova. Her national record though is unbroken since the last 12 years.

“I don’t feel bad about not winning an Olympic medal; for me, to have represented Paraguay three times at the Games is itself a medal, an honour, because I did it on my own, without the support of anyone,” Leryn, currently in India to promote her modelling career, told TOI.

Leryn took to athletics (not javelin) at the age of 13, inspired by her mom Gabriela, who herself was a national roller-skating champion from Uruguay. But the progression was not easy as there was no financial support; her dad Oscar ran just a small beverage shop at her hometown Asuncion.

“I started off with track and field events but my coaches discovered that I had good amount of power in my shoulders and that I should exploit it. So I got into jump throw, then tennis, handball and eventually javelin,” said the twin gold medallist at the South American GP.

“I think in my childhood I used to throw everything that came in my hand… maybe those were signs enough to suggest that I will take up javelin in future,” added Leryn, who grabbed headlines last year for posing topless in Sports Illustrated’s Swimsuit Edition.

Surprisingly, Leryn never wanted to enter into modeling. “Rather, modelling chose me. I took it up to fund my sporting career and studies as I had no financial support — neither from the government, nor from corporates. It’s not easy to compete in sport, study and work at the same time,” explained Leryn, who has a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degree from American University.

But just when things started getting smooth, destiny posed another challenge. Her parents got separated in 2000, when she was just 18, sending her mom into depression that ultimately led to her death in 2007. “My mother is my greatest inspiration in life. She motivated me to take up athletics. I inherited all my values through her. She always stressed upon developing a positive attitude: ‘If certain windows get closed, one or the other door will definitely open,’ she would tell me. I still can’t get over her loss,” her voice gets choked.

The 30-year-old has already acted in an Irish film, Madame Lynch by Alan Gilsenan, that’s due for release in March next year. She was also rumoured to be dating tennis ace Novak Djokovic during the Beijing Games.

Having sustained an elbow injury earlier this year, she has stopped rigorous training but is still ‘hopeful’ of competing in the Rio Games (2016). “I wish to participate in Rio but I don’t know if that can happen… I have an elbow injury but I have still managed to train for five hours daily,” she signs off.

Short URL: https://www.newspakistan.pk/?p=37433

Posted by Fahad Zafar on Jan 18 2013. Filed under Pakistan. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.