María Francisca Mardones receives National Sports Award 2021!
The para-athlete was chosen by the committee chaired by Sports Minister Alexandra Benado and made up of Acting Director of the National Sports Institute (IND) Israel Castro, Senator Sebastián Keitel, Member of Congress Marisela Santibáñez, and President of the Circle of Sports Journalists Danilo Díaz. Minister Benado told Ms. Mardones via videocall that she had been recognized by Chile for her achievements and outstanding sports career.
The committee chaired by Sports Minister Alexandra Benado, and made up of Acting Director of the National Sports Institute Israel Castro, Senator Sebastián Keitel, Member of Congress Marisela Santibáñez, and President of the Circle of Sports Journalists Danilo Díaz, gave the National Sports Award 2021 this morning to María Francisca Mardones Sepúlveda.
Sports Minister Benado was tasked with telling the para-athlete that she had received the highest recognition given by the Chilean State to both conventional and para-athletes. The award recognizes the achievements that Chilean athletes have accomplished over the previous calendar year. During the event, Minister Benado stated, “today is a very special day. I would like to congratulate María Francisca Mardones, whom the National Sports Award committee has selected to win this prize.”
She added, “María Francisca, we hug and congratulate you. You are a tremendous woman and athlete. We believe that you are absolutely deserving of this award for your achievements and your sporting merits, for having won the gold medal in Tokyo, and for having set a world record. We congratulate you once more and we look forward to seeing you shine at the 2023 Santiago Games.”
The National Sports Award 2021 winner won the gold medal and set the world record in the Women’s Shot Put F54 at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, which took place in 2021. The record of 8.33 meters that she achieved at the event remains unbroken. Prior to this, Francisca was also a gold medalist and world record holder in the Shot Put F54 at the Dubai 2019 World Para Athletics Championships. She was a silver medalist at the Lima 2019 Parapan American Games in the Shot Put and a bronze medalist at the same games in the Javelin. In addition to these disciplines, Ms. Mardones also competes in the Discus.
A Hospitality and Tourism graduate, María Francisca Mardones began her sporting career following rehabilitation from a serious accident she suffered while on a work placement that prevented her from walking again. In her early days as a para-athlete, she stood out in tennis, where she won the gold medal in doubles alongside Macarena Carbillana at the Santiago 2014 South American Games.
As winner of the National Sports Award 2021, María Francisca Mardones Sepúlveda will receive a one-off prize of 245 UTM (Unidad Tributaria Mensual: an indicator whose value is adjusted in accordance with the Consumer Price Index) and a diploma that will be awarded by President Gabriel Boric Font.
National Sports Award
Chile’s National Sports Award is established in article 79 of Sports Law No. 19.712 and recognizes the sporting triumphs of Chilean athletes during the previous calendar year. It is a recognition that can be achieved only once in an athlete’s lifetime. To be eligible for the award, athletes must be nominated by a National Sports Federation, the Chilean Olympic Committee, the Chilean Paralympic Committee, or the National Defense Sports Confederation.
The award has been made since 2002 and, according to the Sports Law, that year was the only time it was awarded to two athletes or teams of athletes: rowers Miguel Cerda and Cristián Yanti; and the Olympic Soccer Team, who won the bronze medal at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.
Since then, the athletes who have won the award are:
2003: Nicolás Massú, Fernando González and Marcelo Ríos (Tennis)
2004: Carlo de Gavardo (Motorcycling)
2005: Alberto González Más (Sailing)
2006: Women’s Roller Hockey Team
2007: Francisco López Contardo (Motorcycling)
2008: Natalia Ducó Soler (Athletics)
2009: Kristel Kobrich (Swimming)
2010: Bárbara Riveros (Triathalon)
2011: Tomás González (Gymnastics)
2012: Cristián Valenzuela (Para Athletics)
2013: Felipe Miranda (Waterskiing)
2014: María José Moya (Speed Skating)
2015: Juan Carlos Garrido (Para Powerlifting)
2016: Pablo Quintanilla (Motorcycling)
2017: María Fernanda Valdés (Weightlifting)
2018: Alberto Abarza (Para Swimming)
2019: Francisca Crovetto (Skeet Shooting)
2020: Joaquín Niemann (Golf)
2021: María Francisca Mardones (Para Athletics)
Source: Sports Ministry