Eighty-four Ticos participating in the 2019 Pan American Games

The 2019 Pan American Games begin Friday, July 26 in Lima.

Eighty-four Costa Rican athletes — 44 women and 40 men — will participate in the multi-sport event, which will feature competitors from 41 countries.

Soccer star Shirley Cruz and runner Sherman Güity will carry the Costa Rican flag at Friday’s Opening Ceremony.

According to a spokesperson for Costa Rica’s Olympic Committee, Tico athletes will compete in more than two-dozen sports, including running, swimming, boxing, bicycling, fencing, martial arts and volleyball.

President Carlos Alvarado on Sunday tweeted a video introducing some of the athletes who will participate in the 2019 Pan American Games.

The video includes the family trio of Dixiana Mena Torres, Andrea Vargas Mena and Noelia Vargas Mena.

“When you are in Peru, remember that in every moment, you have 5 million people behind you, who admire and will defend you,” Alvarado wrote.

124 atletas costarricenses competirán en los Juegos Deportivos Panamericanos @Lima2019Juegos. Cuando estén allá en Perú, recuerden en todo momento que tienen a 5 millones de personas atrás que los admiran y defienden 🇨🇷 pic.twitter.com/85dOdgvGt6

— Carlos Alvarado Quesada (@CarlosAlvQ) July 22, 2019

Costa Rica has participated in every iteration of the Pan American Games, which were first held in 1951. Tico athletes have earned a total of 20 medals: five gold, six silver and nine bronze.

The country’s most successful year was 1987, when Costa Rica earned 11 medals, including three gold.

Historically, the United States has dominated the Pan American Games. The North Americans have won 4,430 medals, including 1,948 gold. Cuba is second with 875 gold, and Guatemala leads Central American countries with 75 total medals.

Information from AFP was used in this story.