1st WMC Para-Athletics and Trail-O - Summary News
QUITO (ECU) – Quito’s Escuela Superior Militar “Eloy Alfaro” delivered a milestone week for military sport, hosting the 1st CISM World Military Trail-O Championship alongside the 2nd CISM World Military Para-Athletics Championship from 18–22 August 2025. Delegations from Brazil, Ecuador, Spain, Greece, Italy, Peru, and Russia marched into an opening ceremony attended by senior military leaders and diplomats, setting an inclusive, dignified tone under CISM’s motto, Friendship Through Sport. With both venues open daily to the public, Quito embraced the dual showcase of precision orienteering and para-athletics power, welcoming fans to cheer world-class military athletes.
Competition began with a statement in Trail-O (TempO), orienteering’s high-concentration format where map reading, control description mastery, and split-second decision-making matter more than speed. Russia struck gold and silver through Aleksei Karelin and Anton Eksanov, while Ecuador’s René Pacheco earned a popular bronze to ignite home support. The same trio headlined the historic TempO finale on 22 August, with Karelin becoming CISM’s first TempO champion, Eksanov again second, and Pacheco securing bronze; teammates Eduardo Seis and Ángel Pulla placed fourth and fifth, confirming Ecuador’s emergence in the new discipline.
On the track, the opening program produced surges of emotion and elite performances. In the 100m, Sergei Makarenkov (RUS) won T42/T44, Roberto Como (ITA) took T47, Carlo Calcagni (ITA) claimed T72, and Ángel González (ECU) delivered a cherished home victory in T63. The 800m finals brought shoulder-to-shoulder duels: Bolat Kosumov (RUS) edged T46, Sergei Tanygin (RUS) controlled T62/T64 with Ecuador’s Jaime Castillo earning silver, Darwin Vallejo (ECU) won T44, and Gustavo Molina (ESP) topped T53. Castillo kept the stadium on its feet with high jump T63/T64 gold at 1.20 m, beating Luis Lopez (ESP) on countback.
Field events showcased depth and dominance—especially from Brazil. Titles stacked up across throwing circles: Orlando De Freitas (F63/F64), Matheus Benini (F46), André Luis da Rocha Antunes (F52) and Jonas Licurgo Ferreira (F55/F56/F57) all struck gold. Wendel Pereira da Silva (F64) added a notable shot put 11.25 m and a javelin 41.12 m title as the meet advanced, while Greece’s Fotios Ntimeris (F42) captured discus early and later completed a shot–javelin sweep. In the women’s throws, Soultana Keramyda (GRE) delivered a discus–javelin double in F55/F56, finishing ahead of Brazil’s Márcia Carvalho.
The penultimate day expanded the medal map. Makarenkov (RUS) leapt to long jump T42 gold; Ecuador swept the T63/T64 long jump podium; on the track Kosumov (RUS) powered to 400m T46 (58.61), Como (ITA) won T47, Milton Paucar Pachacama (ECU) delighted fans with 400m T38 gold, and Calcagni (ITA) set the T72 standard in 1:00.98. Over 1500m, Petr Goriainov (RUS) dominated T46 (4:57.53), Vallejo (ECU) won T44, Tanygin and Artem Kurilko (RUS) led T64, and Paucar Pachacama doubled in T38.
Final-day sprints and distance races sealed the athletics narrative. Makarenkov (RUS) took the 200m T42 (26.89); Kosumov (RUS) won T46 (27.01); Calcagni (ITA) added the 200m T72 (29.40); and Eksanov (RUS) edged Ángel Pulla Páez (ECU) in T64. Long-distance glory followed in the 5000m: Goriainov (RUS) again topped T46, Vallejo (ECU) struck gold in T44, Molina Martínez (ESP) won T53, and Russia completed a T64 one-two (Tanygin, Kurilko) ahead of José Ignacio Fiallo Vásquez and Ángel González of Ecuador.
Beyond medal counts, Quito’s twin championships stood out for accessibility and atmosphere: stands filled with families and cadets, delegations supporting rivals’ victories, and athletes turning rehabilitation journeys and military discipline into performance under pressure. That spirit framed a proud closing ceremony on 22 August, where Lt. Col. Christian Lützkendorf, CISM Official Representative, praised the organization and hospitality of the Ecuadorian Delegation, and saluted the athletes’ courage, sportsmanship, and international camaraderie.
As the flags were lowered, CISM’s newest discipline had its first champions, para-athletics added chapters of resilience and excellence, and Quito etched its name into CISM history—a week where precision met power, inclusion matched intensity, and Friendship Through Sport proved once again to be the strongest finish line.
 | Quito crowns champions as Para-Athletics and Trail-O conclude with historic finales |
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(Source: CISM Media & Communication Department)
