Leryn: Hailed as the Hottest Athlete in History

Leryn commands attention even in her stride. As she walks towards the waiting car, one can sense her experience on the runways of numerous international fashion shows in places like Miami, São Paulo, and Buenos Aires. Her walk is the crisp, decisive pace characteristic of models off-duty.

Leryn travels the world and is fluent in Spanish, Italian, and English. This is her first time in New York, and until today, she has been busy with shoots and hasn't had a chance to visit anywhere other than Niketown. This morning, she worked out at the hotel gym, but her usual schedule includes two training sessions a day, covering weights, technique, jumps, and general fitness. "I haven't been able to train properly this week. I've only managed one workout a day, which isn't enough," she laments. "When I return to Paraguay, I'll train on weekends too."

It's easy to see why the media calls her "the hottest athlete in history." Her body is sculpted with the lean muscle of a top athlete, her abs clearly defined, yet she retains a feminine curvaceousness. Even when trying on clothes, her natural confidence and enviable physique and composure are the result of dedication and discipline.

Leryn explored various sports, from tennis and gymnastics to handball and volleyball, before her talent was discovered by a local sports club trainer at the age of 13. Reflecting on that time, she says, "The trainer suggested I try track and field, so I participated in the long jump and the 100-meter dash. However, my best results were in the throwing events. Then, when I was 16, I tried the javelin throw for the first time and achieved a surprisingly good result, setting a Paraguayan record. So, I decided, 'Okay, I'll pursue this sport.'"

Her Achievements Prove That What Seems Like a Step Back Can Be a Step Forward

By the age of 22, she was competing internationally, gaining attention not only for her performance but also for her beauty. This came about through an unexpected turn of events. An elbow injury forced her to take a break from competition, which led to her next career path. "When I was a child, people suggested I become a model or enter beauty pageants (in Paraguay), but I always refused, saying 'No, thank you, I'm not interested, it's not for me.' After my elbow injury, I was invited to participate in a contest again. With nothing else to do, I accepted, thinking, 'Okay, I'll give it a try.'" As a result, she received offers to become a fashion model and appeared in advertising campaigns and on television.

In 2008, she moved to Italy to further improve her skills, scouted by a local club. Despite being away from friends and family and dedicating herself solely to training every day, her results were, in her own words, "terrible, heartbreaking." It was too late for regrets, Leryn explains. "My mother passed away in October, and I left Italy in November. I should have stayed in Paraguay. I was very lonely and miserable, and all those experiences made me grow up fast."

Now, Leryn is back in Paraguay, living near her father, four sisters, and her nieces and nephews, whom she calls "my dear children." "Even if you decide not to go back and to move forward, sometimes what seems like a step back is actually a step forward." Her recent achievements since returning to Asunción attest to this. Surrounded by her team, family, and friends, she has broken her personal best in the javelin throw twice in the past year, with her current record standing at 55.66 meters. She achieved a commendable second place in the South American Championships in 2011. However, to qualify for this summer's World Championships, she needs to improve her personal best by 3 meters by May 2012.

Driven by the Belief That "You Make Your Own Luck," She Aims for Higher Goals

For Leryn, an elite athlete and model, nutrition is paramount. Her dietary approach, she reveals, is simple and steadfast: "I take plenty of vitamins and supplements every day. And I eat well and sleep well. I don't drink alcohol. Of course, I get bored sometimes, but life isn't always easy." With that, she takes a bite of a sandwich, completely defying the common notion that models don't eat.

"I love competing, whether in school, sports, or anything else. For me, competition doesn't cause stress. Of course, there's pressure, but I like pressure too. It pushes me to improve and aim for higher goals. And the feeling when everything goes right is indescribable." Unlike many athletes, she doesn't listen to music to psych herself up for competitions. What she needs to concentrate is silence. She doesn't rely on luck or fate either. "You make your own luck," she says.

Although Paraguay is a small country, she feels a great honor in representing it. This fuels her determination to compete fiercely and with pride on the world stage. Leryn personally sets short-term goals, and upon achieving them, she challenges herself with even higher ones.

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