Shantallee Barrios Bonalde, first semester student of the Bachelor’s degree program in Elementary Basic Education at the Universidad Industrial de Santander (UIS), received the presentation uniform of the UIS sports teams, which she will proudly wear when representing Colombia in the U-17 Pan American Championship of Olympic Wrestling, to be held from June 18 to 22 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
“I am very happy to receive this honor, to wear the uniform and represent UIS in Brazil. I thank the University and my mother for all the support they have given me,” said the young athlete excitedly.
Barrios is considered one of the great promises of Olympic wrestling in Colombia. Last week she was crowned national champion in the U-20 category (65 kg), in a tournament held in the department of Nariño. In May, she repeated her first place in the U-17 category, thus securing her place in the Colombian National Team that will seek a ticket to the World Championship in Greece.
Her outstanding career includes the gold medal at the South American U-17 Championship in Brazil in 2024, the bronze medal at the Pan American U-15 Beach Championship in Panama City, and the first place at the U-17 National Championship in Maracay, Venezuela, which she attended as a guest.
“I have won several titles. I have been national champion five times, which has allowed me to represent Colombia abroad. My routine is demanding: I study in the morning and in the afternoon, and I train from 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. I have to be very organized to keep up with my work. You have to be very organized to keep to the schedule,” Barrios commented.
Her dream goes beyond sporting glory. Shantallee aspires not only to win Pan American and world titles, but also to graduate as a UIS graduate, since teaching is another of her great passions.
“In the future I see myself as a Pan American and world champion, but also as a UIS teacher. My mom has always told me that before being an athlete I must be a professional,” she said with determination.
It is no easy task to combine high performance in sports with academic commitments, but Barrios is an example of discipline, perseverance and love for what he does, which makes his mother, Eliana Bonalde, a professor at the School of Mathematics and the School of Systems and Computer Engineering, very proud.
“I feel immensely proud. She has excelled in the struggle and as a student. Although it has been complex to balance both responsibilities, thanks to the support of the University and the teachers she has come through,” said the professor.
The UIS has provided different tools to support this high-level athlete, so that she can continue her professional training without neglecting her competitive preparation.
“From the Sports Department and with the support of the Rector’s Office, we have begun to grant incentives to this young promise. I am sure that the professors will facilitate the conditions for him to be able to present evaluations or work without missing any competition. At UIS, we recognize and value the talents that make homeland and also make institution”, emphasized Fabio Villafrades, director of the Department of Physical Education and Sports UIS.
