JEFFERSON SIMPLY GRAND 
GREECE, 25/08/2004. The Ecuadorian athlete Jefferson Pérez finished fourth in the 20 km race walking event, held just a few hours ago in Athens.
The walkers covered nine laps of the 2,000-meter circuit to complete 18 km, which added to the distance in the Olympic stadium, totaled 20 km. The somewhat uneven route was traversed by 48 athletes of 30 countries. Ecuador participated with three athletes: Rolando Saquipay, Xavier Moreno and Jefferson Pérez
The competition started at 9:00 o'clock local time with an extenuating temperature of 38 degrees centigrade and 70% humidity that from early on caused harm to the participants, some of whom did not finish the event. For the first kilometers the leaders were the Spaniard, Francisco Fernández, the Italian, Ivano Brugnetti, the Australian, Nathan Deakes, Jefferson Pérez of Ecuador and five other racewalkers, who formed a compact group that stayed together until the 12th kilometer, when the high temperature began to play a burdensome role in the competition and succeeded in dividing the group. The leading group was reduced to four, including Jeff; however, the walking judges appeared and began to issue warnings without pity to those who were out front, to such a degree that Deakes, Brugnetti and Pérez received two warnings, and Fernández had one to that point. Nevertheless, and in spite of the pressure that having two warnings represents, there was a man who was prepared for anything, except losing, and continued fighting with great heart until the end, never giving up, including at the moment of entering the Olympic stadium, when he gave all he had in an attempt to catch up with the leaders although it was impossible.
The history of this Olympiad was written in capital letters with the name of a fighter, dreamer and winner, JEFFERSON PEREZ QUEZADA, in fourth place. The race was decided in the final 1,000 meters. Brugnetti, Fernández and Deakes took the gold, silver and bronze, respectively.
An entire nation that had been anticipating the participation of its most successful son acknowledged Jeff's effort, to the last drop of his sweat shed on the streets of Athens. Thirteen million citizens in Ecuador and a million more around the world felt proudly represented by the colors of their native land; yellow, blue and red, that became transformed into Blood, Sweat and Tears, because Jefferson never gave up.
Reactions were varied, however, with the majority coinciding in stating that Jeff gave his all for his country, and that he owes nothing to anyone. In addition to Jeff, Saquipay finished in 17th place and Moreno was disqualified meters before crossing the finish line.
THANK YOU CHAMPION FOR BEING THE GREATEST PRIDE OF AN ENTIRE NATION.
YOU WILL FOREVER BE THE BEST
Photo courtesy of Diario Hoy
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