Karen Macarena Roco Aceituno (born 7 October 1986) is a Chilean canoeist. She is commonly known in her country to compete alongside María José Mailliard, with whom she has been interviewed or referenced multiple times.[3][4]

Karen Roco
Personal details
Born (1986-10-07) 7 October 1986 (age 37)
Constitución, Chile[1]
Political partyIndependent
Children1[2]
Alma materSanto Tomás University[2] (BA)
OccupationCanoeist
ProfessionPhysical Trainer[2]
Sports career
Height1.76 m (5 ft 9 in)
SportCanoeing
EventWomen's C-2 500 metres
Medal record
Women's canoe sprint
Representing  Chile
Pan American Games
Silver medal – second place 2019 Lima C-2 Mix 500 m

Early life edit

Between 1996 and 1997, Roco began to do canoe when she was 10 in her hometown Constitución, where she attended the Eduardo Martín Abejón School, whose then director was the President of the Chilean Canoeing Federation.[2] According Roco, she was «very restless and they ―the teachers―» used to send her to the inspector's office.[2]

With the goal to improve her skills, the director decided to send her to a sports workshop dedicated to canoeing when still she didn't know how to swim.[2] Thus, all her «classmates wanted to go», reason why she had a stimolous to got into canoeing.[2]

Sports career edit

On 29 July 2019, Roco algonside María José Mailliard obtained a silver medal in the 2019 Pan American Games.[5][6]

On 18 January 2021, Roco was honored in her hometown Constitución by the mayor of the city and Cecilia Pérez, then minister of Sport of the second government of Sebastián Piñera (2018−2022).[7][8][9]

She competed with Mailliard in the 2020 Summer Olympics.[10][11][12][13] There, they finished in the ninth place.[14][15]

Political career edit

On 6 August 2021, it was reported that Roco will run for regional councilor of the Maule Region in quota for Evópoli,[16] centre-rightist party.

References edit

  1. ^ "Karen Roco ya tiene su calle en Constitución". La Tercera. 19 January 2021. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g "Karen Roco tiene pasaje a los juegos olímpicos de Tokio 2020". Santo Tomás University. 8 November 2019. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  3. ^ "Las campeonas de canotaje María José Mailliard y Karen Roco". Canal 13. 27 November 2018. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
  4. ^ "María José Mailliard y Karen Roco clasifican como dupla a los Juegos Olímpicos de Tokio y Chile ya suma siete representantes". Emol. 25 August 2019. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
  5. ^ "Las chilenas que brillaron en el canotaje e hicieron historia al conseguir una inesperada medalla en los Panamericanos". Emol. 29 July 2019. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  6. ^ "María José Mailliard y Karen Roco ganan medalla de plata en el canotaje de Lima 2019". El Deportero. 27 July 2019. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  7. ^ "Ministra Cecilia Pérez encabeza homenaje a Karen Roco en Constitución". Ministry of Sports (Chile). 18 January 2021. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  8. ^ "Karen Roco ya tiene su calle en Constitución". La Tercera. 18 January 2021. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  9. ^ "El homenaje que recibió Karen Roco: "Jamás olvidaré este día"". AS Chile. 18 January 2021. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  10. ^ "Karen Roco". Olympics.com. Archived from the original on 6 August 2021. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
  11. ^ "Karen Roco, canoísta que va a los Juegos Olímpicos: "La expectativa es estar entre las ocho mejores"". ADN Radio Chile. 10 May 2021. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  12. ^ "¡Tremendas! Karen Roco y María José Mailliard ganaron la Final B y terminaron novenas en Tokio 2020". Radio Cooperativa. 6 August 2021. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  13. ^ Zamorano, Javier (6 August 2021). "La decepción de Karen Roco tras malos resultados en Tokio 2020: "Siento que defraudé"". Radio Bío-Bío. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  14. ^ "¡Tremendas! Karen Roco y María José Mailliard ganaron la Final B y terminaron novenas en Tokio 2020". Radio Cooperativa. 6 August 2021. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  15. ^ "¡Por muy poco! Karen Roco y María José Mailliard quedaron fuera de la lucha por medalla en Tokio 2020". Radio Cooperativa. 6 August 2021. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  16. ^ "En el Maule, Evopoli apuesta por cambio de rostros en la parlamentaria". Crónica Digital. 6 August 2021. Retrieved 3 November 2021.