Olympic Bronze Medalist Celebrates Victory with Mass at Historic Peruvian Sanctuary

Together with family, friends, and other devotees, Peruvian sailor Stefano Peschiera, who won the bronze medal at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, participated in Mass at the historic Sanctuary of Las Nazarenas in Lima, Peru to thank God for this achievement.

Peschiera recently made history by winning Peru's first Olympic medal in 32 years, finishing third in the men's Dinghy competition.

The young man, who has shown his faith on social media by sharing the altar that accompanied him during this adventure, has highlighted his devotion to one of the main devotions in Peru: the Lord of Miracles.

Peschiera invited all his social media followers to join him on Aug. 13, 2024, for a Mass of thanksgiving at the Sanctuary of the Nazarenas, where the image of the Lord of Miracles is located.

With great devotion, the athlete participated in the Holy Mass, accompanied by family, friends, and other devotees, including Peruvian soccer player Edison Flores.

At the end of the Eucharistic celebration, the priest blessed Peschiera's medals: the bronze medal from the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and the gold medal from the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games.

The athlete told local media that he prays for his grandfather's soul and that this achievement is for him, Peru, and Peruvian sports.

As he left the sanctuary, many faithful gave him rosaries and images of the Lord of Miracles, which he lovingly received.

“Thank you for the holy card, I appreciate it very much, it is Christ, the Lord of Miracles,” he told one of them.

“I have had faith in God all my life, I was raised Catholic.”

Peschiera told local media that the Lord of Miracles always accompanies him.

“We Peruvians are believers and the Lord of Miracles represents us, so I am happy to be here and to be able to renew my faith every time I come..."

"I carry him [the Lord of Miracles] in my vest, I carry him in my wallet, I take him wherever I go, and the truth is that he accompanies me inside and watches me and protects me from above.”

The athlete stated that to find happiness, it is closeness to God is essential and emphasized that these accomplishments are a blessing.

“I have had faith in God all my life. I was raised Catholic and recently I went on a retreat and there I truly realized that I had to get closer to God if I wanted to be a happy, calm person, with relief and without a guilty conscience basically, and the truth is that this has made me have a clear conscience today and am willing to fight against whoever, because I am accompanied, I am very well accompanied.”

“She taught me to be a believer.”

When asked about his gesture to a woman upon his arrival at the airport, the athlete indicated the importance of his nanny, Piedad, in his faith life.

“[Piedad] is very special to me because she has been with me since I was born and raised me. Her values ​​are the ones I have today and she taught me to be a believer," he said.

Peschiera's Message for Young People

Peschiera encouraged all young people hoping to excel in sports not to get discouraged to continue studying.

“I would tell young people that there is no free prize, work is what will make them achieve their results, it is a process, you have to respect it, they have to obey their parents, they have to play sports, but they also have to study, it is important to study to develop the mind and develop thoughts, that helps in sports, they have to stay away from bad influences, from drugs, and they have to always go with everything, we should not feel less for being Peruvian, we have to go out as equals.”