Lima, Peru – At this summer’s Paris 2024 Olympics, Peruvian sailor Stefano Peschiera, who comes from a family of boaters and is deeply committed to his faith, took home what would be the country’s only medal of the games.
The 29-year-old recently won gold at the 2024 ILCA Central and South American Championships and Peru reports sat down with him to discuss how his faith and family heritage have guided his career.
A legacy shaped by family and faith
Peschiera took third in the Men’s Laser in Paris, a one-man dinghy race held in Marseille, France in August.
He said his extended family, including family members with sailing connections, helped inspire him to compete in the event.
“I’m the youngest of 24 cousins and the only one who ended up being a professional sailor,” he explained, fondly recalling his grandfather, Alfonso Peschiera, who first instilled in him his love of the sport.
His grandfather, an amateur sailor who bought a wooden sailboat, made a deep impression on the young athlete. “He died in 2008, just before an optimistic South American championship” in Paracas Bay, a coastal town in western Peru, he recalled.
He ended up losing the championship at Paracas Bay, but he didn’t give up. In honor of his grandfather’s legacy, he decided to continue to advance in the sport.
“They gave me a little card of my grandfather and another of the Divine Child Jesus … I keep them in my vest when I compete,” he said. “They mean a lot to me.”
In addition to his famous relationship, Peschiera said his faith is also a driving force in his success. “Many times I look in the sky and see both, God and my grandfather”, he added.
“Sailing has made me a cold person”
While faith and family play an important role in his life, Peschiera also readily admits to some of the negative personality traits that competing at the highest level has brought out in him.
“Sailing has made me a very cool person,” he said, adding that the discipline – which requires quick and accurate decision-making – has made him more calculating under pressure.
“It’s like playing chess while running a marathon,” he said. “You have to make important decisions with a quick heart, exerting tremendous effort. You have to be very cool because your decisions affect everyone else.”
And while that cool calculation comes in handy when steering a boat on the open water, Peschiera admits it has influenced his behavior outside of the sport.
“I used to share a lot; I was very friendly and liked to compete as part of a team. But when I started competing individually, I thought, ‘I have to become a little more selfish,'” he reflected.
However, he tries to reconnect with his true self outside of competition. “The moments when I felt the most touched were in churches, with God,” he said.
Faith and sacrifice in the midst of adversity
Like many athletes, Peschiera’s journey to Paris 2024 was not an easy one.
Despite leading on the first day of racing, several challenges along the way, including weather delays in the race, led to an emotional fight for third place.
“It was a very difficult and exhausting race and I felt helpless that I couldn’t do better,” he said, recalling the pressure he felt.
But standing at the podium, he could finally reflect. “I had finally achieved my goal,” he said. “Olympic medalist! For all of Peru and for me.”
And in Peru, she IS a big deal. Including Peschiera, Peru has won just five medals in its Olympic history, and it was the country’s first podium finish in 32 years.
On the podium that day, the sailor could not contain his emotions. “Those tears were something I had never experienced before. It’s normal to have those feelings; opening up and crying connects you to yourself,” he said.
The Challenge of Facing “Temptations”
Throughout his career, Peschiera has faced not only physical challenges, but also what he describes as “emotional temptations” such as envy and revenge.
“It’s hard to self-assess, but with maturity, I’ve figured things out a lot quicker,” he explained.
As he has grown, he has learned to recognize when these negative thoughts arise. “Sometimes I notice that I have some thoughts … but I realize that this is not the path I should take.”
For Peschiera, the important thing is to notice in time and correct the course. “There is always a chance to improve. The best thing is to stay humble,” he said.
Future: Balance and legacy
At just under 30 years old, Peschiera is at a point in his life where he is beginning to reflect on balancing his sporting career and personal life.
“When you’re younger, you have more time for yourself, for the sport you play, and you can be a little more selfish,” he said. This perspective is beginning to change today. “As you grow up, you want to leave a legacy … and, in the end, who are you going to leave a legacy to if you don’t have a family?” he asked.
As for his sports career, Peschiera has no intention of stopping. “The Olympic silver medalist was about 34 or 35, and I’m 29 … it’s possible.”
With his sights set on the 2027 Pan American Games in Lima, Peschiera dreams of flying Peru’s flag high once again. “I would like to carry the flag again.”
He added that for those seeking to achieve big dreams, “”Never lose faith or hope. I believe they are essential for an athlete to stay focused and have the support they need.”
“In my case, faith in God has gotten me so far and given me so much… You have to get involved and make it the best you can.”
