Famous Bolivian Athletes: Who Are They?

Bolivia has produced several athletes who have gone on to represent their country in the Olympics and other international competitions. One of the most famous Bolivian athletes is Marco Antonio Etcheverry, a soccer player and trainer born in Santa Cruz in 1970. Nicknamed El Diablo due to his ability to break through defensive lines, Etcheverry played for various national and South American teams before joining the US team DC United. He represented Bolivia in the 1994 US World Cup and is considered one of the country's most famous athletes. Another renowned Bolivian athlete is Hugo Dellien Velasco, a professional tennis player who achieved a career-high ATP singles ranking of No. 64 in August 2022. He is currently the top-ranked Bolivian player in the world and has established himself as a competitive force in both singles and doubles matches.

Marco Etcheverry: former football midfielder, considered one of Bolivia's best players

Marco Antonio Etcheverry Vargas, born on September 26, 1970, is a former professional footballer from Bolivia. Known as "El Diablo", Etcheverry played as a forward or midfielder and is considered one of the greatest Bolivian players of all time.

Etcheverry began his career in 1986, making his debut at the age of 16 with the Bolivian club, Destroyers, where he scored 17 goals in 81 games. He then moved to another Bolivian club, Bolivar, where he continued his impressive form, scoring 21 goals in 41 games. His outstanding performances caught the attention of European clubs, and he signed with Spanish club Albacete for the 1991-92 season. However, his stint in Spain was short-lived, and he returned to South America, playing for Colo-Colo in Chile and America de Cali in Colombia.

In 1996, Etcheverry joined D.C. United of Major League Soccer (MLS) in the United States, and it was here that he established himself as a football legend. During his eight seasons with the club, Etcheverry helped D.C. United win three MLS Cups (1996, 1997, and 1999), one US Open Cup (1996), one CONCACAF Champions' Cup, and a Copa Interamericana (1998). He was named MLS MVP in 1998 and was selected to the MLS Best XI in four consecutive seasons from 1996 to 1999. In total, Etcheverry played 191 games for D.C. United, scoring 34 goals and registering an impressive 101 assists.

Etcheverry also had a successful international career with the Bolivian national team. He earned 71 caps and scored 13 goals between 1989 and 2003. He was part of Bolivia's "Golden Generation" and helped the country qualify for the 1994 FIFA World Cup, scoring a historic goal against Brazil in qualification. At the World Cup, Etcheverry was sent off in the opening game against Germany, resulting in a suspension that kept him out of the remainder of the tournament.

Following his retirement from professional football, Etcheverry has pursued coaching opportunities. He has managed several clubs, including Sociedad Deportiva Aucas in Ecuador and Oriente Petrolero in Bolivia. He has also worked with youth teams, coaching the Bolivian U-15s and the under-15 boys' team for the D.C. United Academy.

Erwin Sánchez: former attacking midfielder, dubbed Platini

Erwin Sánchez is a famous Bolivian athlete, known for his career as a football player and trainer. Born in 1969 in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, he trained at the Tahuichi Academy, which has produced many of Bolivia's outstanding football players.

Sánchez played for two national teams before moving to Portugal, where he played until his retirement, winning various national championships. He was also a member of the 1994 national team that represented Bolivia in the US World Cup. His powerful kicking style earned him the nickname "Platini", in reference to the French player Michel Platini.

Sánchez is considered one of Bolivia's most famous athletes and has helped put Bolivian football on the map. His talent and success have made him a well-known and celebrated figure in Bolivian sports.

María Fernanda Álvarez Terán: former tennis player, achieved notable success in junior and senior competitions

María Fernanda Álvarez Terán is a former tennis player from Bolivia, born in Santa Cruz in 1989. She has achieved notable success in both junior and senior competitions, becoming the highest-ranked Bolivian player by the International Tennis Federation, at number 15 in the Juniors category in 2007.

Álvarez has won various national and international singles and doubles tournaments throughout her career. She made history for her country in 2013 by winning a WTA match in doubles tennis, and continued her success the following year, ranking well in the Fed Cup in Puerto Rico.

Her achievements have brought recognition to Bolivia in the world of tennis, and she is considered one of the country's most successful athletes. Tennis is a popular sport in Bolivia, and Álvarez has inspired many young Bolivians to pursue their passion for the sport.

Álvarez's dedication and talent have left a lasting impact on Bolivian tennis, and she remains a respected figure in the country's sporting community.

Hugo Dellien Velasco: Bolivia's top-ranked tennis player, with a competitive career

Hugo Dellien Velasco is a Bolivian professional tennis player with a competitive career. He is the current No. 1 tennis player from his country, achieving a career-high ATP singles ranking of No. 64 on 1 August 2022. Dellien also boasts a career-high ATP doubles ranking of No. 185, attained on 2 February 2015. In juniors, he reached as high as No. 2 in the rankings.

Dellien made his ATP debut at the 2019 Córdoba Open and has since participated in several notable tournaments, including the 2019 Rio Open, where he reached the quarterfinals. At the 2022 French Open, he defeated Dominic Thiem to record his second Rolland Garros win. He also reached the quarterfinals at the 2023 Rio Open, defeating ninth seed Alex Molčan.

In 2023, Dellien entered the Australian Open using a protected ranking, having been inactive on the ATP Tour since July 2022. He then reached the quarterfinals at the Córdoba Open in Argentina as a qualifier, defeating two Argentines and the 2021 champion, Juan Manuel Cerundolo, to advance to his first ATP semifinal. Despite these successes, he struggled with form in 2023, causing him to drop out of the top 100 rankings.

Dellien qualified to represent Bolivia at the 2020 Summer Olympics (postponed to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic). He has also represented his country in the Davis Cup, with a notable win against Zizou Bergs in 2021.

In addition to his athletic pursuits, Dellien owned an ice cream business with his father, Hugo Sr., using some of his early career earnings. He is married to retired tennis player Liz Camila Giangreco Campiz, and they share a daughter. Dellien's younger brother, Murkel Dellien, is also a tennis player, and their father represented the Beni Department as a substitute member of the Chamber of Deputies from 2006 to 2010.

Geovana Irusta: racewalker, considered the best Bolivian athlete in the 20-kilometre specialty

Geovana Irusta Morejon, born in 1975 in Chuquisaca, Bolivia, is a female racewalker who has represented her country in this specialty for many years. She is considered the best Bolivian athlete in the 20-kilometre race walk, a specialty in which she has earned many medals and accolades.

Irusta made her Olympic debut at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, competing in the women's 10-kilometre race walk and finishing thirty-seventh with a time of 47:13. Since then, she has gone on to represent Bolivia in two more Olympic Games: Sydney in 2000 and Athens in 2004. At her second Olympics, she placed forty-second in the 20-kilometre race walk, achieving a personal best time of 1:43:34.

In addition to her Olympic achievements, Irusta has had a successful career in the South American Championships, capturing nine consecutive titles in both the 10 and 20-kilometre race walks. She also set a personal record in the 20-kilometre race walk with a time of 1:32:06 at the La Coruña Grand Prix in Spain. This time also served as her qualification for the 2004 Athens Olympics.

Geovana Irusta is a proud representative of Bolivia in the sport of racewalking. Her dedication to her craft has earned her a place among the best athletes in her discipline, not just in Bolivia but also on the international stage. Her achievements have inspired and continue to inspire many, showing that with hard work and perseverance, one can reach great heights.

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