At age nine, Andrea Celeste López Barrios discovered karate at the sports school of the National Sports Secretariat (SND). What began as an extracurricular activity soon became a way of life. A resident of Bañado Sur in Asunción and an eighth-grade student, Celeste – as she is known – showed her competitive skills early on. At age ten, she made her international debut at the Bushinkan Cup, taking third place in kumite (combat).
That debut marked the start of a journey that reached its peak this year. Celeste became the 2026 national champion in the U14 category, a feat that earned her the official technical spot to represent Paraguay at the South American Karate Championship. The continental competition will bring together the region's best athletes in Cartagena, Colombia, from June 15 to 22.
Her mother, Elisa Barrios, along with the rest of the family, is looking for ways to cover the delegation's airfare, accommodation, and meals. The estimated budget is US$1,600, a restrictive amount for the family's resources. To support the athlete or coordinate direct sponsorships, the family has made the alias 0971 168908 available for contributions.