Ecuadorian Superstar Poleth Mendes Eyes Another Gold at Paris 2024

Poleth Mendes, Ecuador’s ultimate champion broke the dry spell of Ecuador at the Paralympic Games at the Tokyo 2020 by winning Ecuador’s first Paralympic Gold medal. Born in the community of Tumbatú, Bolivar canton, Carchi Province, Poleth is the second of four children in her family. Her journey from a small town to the global stage is a testament to her resilience and determination. 

“My biggest supporters are my family—my dad, mom, and siblings,“ Poleth shares, highlighting the unwavering support system that has been crucial to her success.  

“I think I was born with that gift of being an athlete and since I was a little girl I have liked it, I was involved in everything related to sports, in both school and college. I tried many different sports, but the one that caught my attention the most was athletics. I like the technique and I like it because it’s a strength-related sport”, she says, reflecting on her early passion for athletics.  

Poleth’s role model is unique—she looks up to herself, which underscores her self-reliance and inner strength. This confidence is mirrored in her training regimen, which is intense and demanding.  

“It’s a double-day workout, two and a half hours in the morning, two and a half hours in the afternoon, three days of technique and two days of weight training,” she explains. 

Training with her sister, Anais Mandez, who also has intellectual impairment and is a shot-put thrower and won bronze at the Tokyo 2020, has added a special dimension to her athletic journey.  

“It feels great to train with someone I’ve grown up with all my life. We get along, make jokes, laugh, and correct each other, I enjoy training and travelling with her”, she says.  

“We support each other by correcting mistakes when we do technique. With more experience, I tell her what I have been through, and what I have experienced so that she can continue on that path of success,” she further added. 

Poleth has faced challenges due to her intellectual impairment, particularly with memory.  

“It has affected me in the matter of memorizing things, I easily forget them,” she admits. However, she has not let this define her.  

Poleth acknowledges that there is often a lack of understanding about intellectual impairments within society.  

“I have faced discrimination and negative attitudes because of my impairment, but it is not something that has dominated me. I think the reason behind all these negative attitudes is the lack of information and knowledge about disability, only those who go through it know perfectly well what this intellectual impairment is like and how it affects us.” 

This gap in understanding is something she hopes to bridge through her achievements and advocacy.  

Poleth received her international eligibility with Virtus in July 2017 which opened doors for her at the international para-sports competitions. Poleth made an impressive win for Ecuador in the Women’s shot put F20 at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, where she created history by winning the first Paralympic medal for Ecuador. She also set New World and Paralympic records with a distance of 14.39m.  

Poleth recently won silver in the T20 shot-put at Kobe 2024, gold at the II1 women’s shot-put and silver in discuss throw from the 2023 Virtus Global games. Reflecting on her historic achievement at Tokyo 2020, where she won the first Paralympic medal for Ecuador, Poleth is focused on Paris 2024.  

“I hope to bring out everything I’ve trained for, all my dedication and effort, to achieve a second Paralympic gold and come back with my second gold medal,” she declares. 

When asked about her biggest competitor, Poleth’s response is introspective: “Myself.” This highlights her belief in self-improvement and personal growth.  

She also mentioned the significant role Virtus Global Games played in her preparation for the Paralympic Games.  

“It helped me to know, to see how my rivals are doing, and according to that, to make an analysis and adjustment,” she explains. 

Poleth’s favourite medal is the one she won in Tokyo, a symbol of her hard work and triumph.

“My ultimate goal in life is to start my own family and have children,” she shares, revealing a personal dream beyond athletics. 

Her message to young athletes with intellectual impairments is powerful,

“If you have a dream, keep going and don’t stop for anything. There are no obstacles in life other than the ones we set for ourselves.” 

Poleth Mendes’s journey is a source of inspiration, not just for athletes with disabilities but for anyone facing challenges. As she prepares for Paris 2024, she continues to break barriers and redefine what is possible.  

“Through this campaign, we invite people to empathize and understand athletes who have disabilities, to know our dreams, and to support us as we aim for the top,” she concludes. 

Join Virtus’ #MakingInvisibleVISIBLE campaign in making Poleth’s journey Visible. 

WHAT IS INTELLECTUAL IMPAIRMENT? 

Intellectual impairment is an umbrella term to describe a vast and neuro-diverse group of people with varying types of cognitive impairments including intellectual disability, Down syndrome and autism. Having an intellectual impairment impacts how an athlete understands the rules of the sport, interacts with other players, and adjusts to different environments. They might find it difficult to manage reaction times, remember specific race or game strategies, retain focus for long period of time, or maintaining impulse control.