Natalia Pulido (© Marabunta Agency)
It is 6:00 a.m. in the village of La Tulia, located in the north of Valle del Cauca. At this time, Natalia Pulido is ready to start her training. She has been practicing walking since 2016, a demanding modality that not any athlete "measures up" to.
Natalia is one of the youngest walkers of the department and although she is only 1.65 cms tall, her impetus gives her to stretch the victorious step next to her strongest contenders. Perhaps she inherited her energy from her family, those people faithful to a peasant culture forged with strength and commitment.
Natalia's goal was to qualify for the Under-20 World Athletics Championships to be held in Cali from August 1 to 6. Now that she has achieved it, her dream is to have the victory in representation of her family, her land, her department and Colombia; host country in the midst of 175 other nations that will be competing in different modalities.
"Nata", as she is called at home, manages to use 24 hours a day between training and her studies of Sports Management at the National Open and Distance University (UNAD). She recently achieved her qualifying mark at the South American Race Walking Championships in Lima, Peru last February.
The seed of sport has always been in her. Her father, Julio Cesar, who is also her personal trainer, was an athlete in the past and has been an important supporting force in the career of the athlete from Valle del Cauca.
In her short but successful career, "Nata" has already been champion in competitions such as Talentos Atletismo Colombiano (TAC), Juegos Supérate Intercolegiados, National Race Walking Cups and South American Championships.
Despite the difficulties she has had to overcome on a personal and sporting level, such as an injury she suffered earlier this year, she is currently at her best and training hard for the world competition that awaits her in the Sultana del Valle.
"The dream of all of us who participate in the world championship is to win the gold medal. This will be a competition that will add to my sports career and to this process for the Olympic Games. I hope to give my all, to give it all on that track", says the athlete while her mother, Maria Luisa, can't wait for her daughter to win as many medals as possible, for which she has never lost a minute of her time and support.
Natalia also dreams big; the Olympic Games are her goal. Although she understands that sport is about long work processes and that she must keep marching fast if she wants to achieve it.
"I think the most beautiful thing about being local is having the support of my family and people close to me; that is a great motivation," says the athlete.
The world championship dream is more alive than ever, the cultures of the world will feel the Cali heat, a feeling that ignites the athletic spirit of Colombian athletes like Natalia Pulido to leave the name of the country high and demonstrate, once again, that Cali is the Sports Capital of America.
Communications Local Organizing Committee of the U20 World Athletics Championships, Cali 2022.