Manuela Rotundo

Happy birthday to Uruguay’s javelin trailblazer Manuela Rotundo, who has spent her young career collecting firsts no Uruguayan athlete had ever touched. The bronze she won at the World U20 Championships in Cali was Uruguay’s first medal in the history of that event. Her runner-up finish at the NCAA Championships for the University of Georgia — with First Team All-America honors, helping the Bulldogs claim the national team title — was hailed by the Uruguayan Olympic Committee as unprecedented for the country. And her national record of 64.17m stands among the longest throws in collegiate history. Pan American U20 champion, top-40 in the world rankings, and still just entering her prime throwing years.

This past indoor season, with the javelin waiting for spring, Manuela showed off her range instead — scoring 4,137 points in the pentathlon at the SEC Championships and leaping a 6.05m long jump along the way. It tracks: this is an athlete who grew up representing Uruguay in both volleyball and athletics before choosing the spear.

Uruguay once crowned the poet Juana de Ibarbourou “Juana de América” for verses full of wild natural grace — and there’s something of that spirit in a javelin in full flight. No one in Uruguayan history has sent one flying farther than the pride of Paysandú.

¡Feliz cumpleaños, Manuela! ¡Que sigas haciendo historia! 🎂🎁🎉🫶🫶🇺🇾