Jennifer began her sports journey while studying at Barrio San Jacinto special education school. Her passion led her to artistic gymnastics, fueled by a dream of winning medals and representing her country in national and international competitions. Jennifer’s affiliation with Special Olympics has been a source of immense joy, allowing her to participate in two global events: Special Olympics World Games Los Angeles 2015 and Special Olympics World Games Abu Dhabi 2019. In these prestigious events, she won two gold medals, one silver, and two bronze collectively.
In 2021, Jennifer actively engaged in the “Unified Generation, Healthy Generation” training project—an initiative by Special Olympics El Salvador that promotes inclusion and diversity between individuals with intellectual disabilities and those without. Through this project, she learned the significance of maintaining a well-structured routine, enabling her to practice healthy habits and effectively manage stress and emotions. She puts everything she learned into practice at home or away from home. She says: “I try to eat healthy and drink enough water or natural soft drinks. I include vegetables or salad in my meals, and fruit in my snacks. I don’t forget to wash my hands with water and soap whenever necessary since it is the most hygienic way to help us prevent diseases”. She maintains that physical activity should not be missing from her daily routine.
As a Health Messenger, Jennifer shares nutrition information during health interventions at sporting events. She enjoys discussing topics such as the healthy plate, hydration, and food groups. Additionally, she imparts knowledge of warm-up techniques and exercise routines.
Beyond sports and health advocacy, Jennifer enjoys reading, studying English, listening to music, dancing, singing, playing with her dog, feeding birds, assisting her mother at home, and spending quality time with her family. Her hobbies include walking in the park, seeking fresh air near the volcano site, hitting the gym, and swimming.
Health Messengers 2024
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Rimi Ando
Special Olympics Nippon -
Jennifer Stephanie López Avelar
Special Olympics El Salvador -
Asma Baker
Special Olympics United Arab Emirates -
Gerard Diedhiou
Special Olympics Senegal -
Tyler Griswold
Special Olympics Kansas -
Sharon Johnson
Special Olympics Arkansas -
Lam Wai Kwan
Special Olympics Hong Kong -
Patricia Larkin
Special Olympics Ireland -
Daniel Fernando Velasquez Lecointe
Special Olympics Guatemala -
Michael León
Special Olympics Southern California -
Banele Makhonco
Special Olympics South Africa -
Sam Micallef
Special Olympics Malta -
Odion-Imafidon Osatohamwen
Special Olympics Nigeria -
Elbegzaya Purev
Special Olympics Mongolia -
Adéla Šavlová
Special Olympics Czech Republic -
Enma Maria Madrid Vallecillo
Special Olympics Honduras -
Ying Yung
Special Olympics Chinese Taipei