Yanive Tórres: from an abyss to the light

Yanive Torres Martínez holds back tears as she tells her story. “It’s joy,” she says, so as to avoid misunderstandings. “All my dreams have come true,” adds this Colombian, who already has an impressive athletic record and an astonishing collection of medals. Her specialty is shot put, discus throw, and javelin.

Those who know Yanive describe her as a kind and sweet person. She transforms on the sports field. She competes with tenacity. She knows it's not just about winning, but about surpassing her own records, growing with each new challenge.

Yanive's life has been full of ups and downs. She hasn't always been so strong and determined. She's gone through several difficult times, but as she herself says, she's also dared to dream. And every dream has come true.

The morning everything changed

Yanive was 17 years old, in school, and happy in her hometown of Puente Nacional (Santander, Colombia). The people of this land are known for being fierce, temperamental, and fighters. At that time, the future looked bright for this girl who grew slowly, surrounded by the love of her family.

One morning she woke up to go to school and felt very weak. She was thirsty. Outside, there was a leafy orange tree, and she didn't hesitate. She went outside and climbed to pick one of the fruits. She remembers climbing the branches and finding the long-awaited orange. After that, she can't remember anything else.

She woke up days later. She was in the hospital and unable to move. There she learned that her weakness was due to contracting hepatitis A. That she had fallen from a tree and suffered a spinal injury. That her motor skills were affected. She didn't want to believe that her life would change forever. She was sure she was going to walk out of the hospital.

What is hepatitis A?

Yanivé's recovery process

Yanive fell into a deep depression. She couldn't accept the fact that many of her dreams had been dashed. She thought she would never be able to start a family, that she was doomed to depend on others. Her parents helped her with everything, sparing no effort. But she didn't want to be a burden on anyone and began to feel useless. She lost hope.

The girl chose to shut herself away in her house. Reluctantly, she agreed to finish the two years she needed to earn her high school diploma. She devoted herself to reading. Many books passed through her hands, including the Bible. Once, she came across the story of a young man with a disability, and it opened up a whole new perspective for her. Would it be possible for her to escape her state of despair?

One of her sisters arranged for her to move to Bogotá. Her parents didn't want to because they were overprotecting her. The trip changed Yanive's life. First, she got a job. Then, she learned to become increasingly independent, until she was able to live on her own.

A new life: sport

There are coincidences she still can't explain. One day, she was walking down the street and a young man approached her and asked if she played sports. She replied no, and he invited her to. He was a coach and was willing to support her. Yanive wasn't too keen on the idea. A year later, she ran into the same person again. This time, she accepted.

Then a true rebirth began for her. Sport gave her the opportunity to reach places she had never imagined. She began training, with immense sacrifice. The results were soon seen, and that filled her with enthusiasm. The first time she participated in the Paralympic Games was in London 2012. It was a learning period, and her performance was modest.

Then came the World Championships in Lyon, France, where she excelled. She placed fourth in the javelin throw, sixth in the shot put, and seventh in the discus. A year later, she experienced her finest moments as an athlete. She won three gold medals in all three throwing events at the 2014 Parasouth American Games in Santiago, Chile.

Later, Yanive was part of the Colombian delegation that participated in the 2016 Rio Games. She finished fifth in the shot put and earned an Olympic diploma. She was newly married and was decorated in her country for her participation. Now she is a woman who is grateful for life. Grateful for sport. She is happy and knows that anything is possible.