Leryn Dahiana Franco Steneri (born 1 March 1982 in Asunción) is a Paraguayan model, actress and former athlete who currently works for the athletics department of Club Sol de América. Franco participated at the 2004, 2008 and 2012 Olympics competing in the javelin throw.
On 8 June 2012, Franco achieved a personal best throw of 57.77 m in Barquisimeto, Venezuela at the 2012 Ibero-American Championships in Athletics. Her achievement also became the new national record, having surpassed the previous record of 55.66 m, which Franco threw at the 2011 South American Championships in Athletics.
In 2013, she was cast in Irish film Eliza Lynch: Queen of Paraguay, portraying the role of the younger Eliza Lynch.
Athletics On 3 September 2002, she broke her own javelin throw record reaching 51 metres in an international tournament contested in São Caetano, Brasil.
Modeling and beauty pageants Franco appeared in the 2011 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. She has competed in several beauty pageants. In 2006, she was runner-up Miss Universo Paraguay 2006. She participated in the Miss Bikini of the Universe pageant. Franco has her own calendar, which was photographed in 2007 by Martin Crespo.
Personal life Franco's parents were born in Uruguay and she is a fan of Olimpia in Paraguay and Peñarol in Uruguay. Franco played football before pursuing javelin. She is also a graduate in Business Administration.
Acting career In 2013, Franco was cast for the role of Younger Eliza Lynch in the film which was filmed in Paraguay, Argentina, Brazil, France, England and Ireland. Film Ireland described how Franco "beautifully captures the spirit of a young Eliza Lynch".
Film Year Show Role Notes2013 Eliza Lynch: Queen of ParaguayYounger Eliza Lynch
Personal bests Javelin throw: 57.77 m NR – Barquisimeto, 8 June 2012
Competition record
International competitions Representing 1996South American Youth ChampionshipsAsunción, Paraguay8th4 × 100 m relay53.89 s11thLong jump4.60 m8thPentathlon2236 pts1997South American Junior ChampionshipsSan Carlos, Uruguay7th (h)200 m28.61 s (wind: +1.1 m/s)7th (h)400 m66.89 s7th4 × 100 m relay55.08 s1998South American Junior ChampionshipsCórdoba, Argentina8thTriple jump11.03 m6thJavelin throw39.35 mSouth American Youth ChampionshipsManaus, Brazil5thTriple jump10.68 m 1stJavelin throw40.26 m6thPentathlon2602 pts1999World Youth ChampionshipsBydgoszcz, Poland7th (q)Javelin throw43.56 mSouth American Junior ChampionshipsConcepción, Chile 3rdJavelin throw42.26 m2000Ibero-American ChampionshipsRio de Janeiro, Brazil6thJavelin throw45.08 mSouth American Junior ChampionshipsSão Leopoldo, Brazil 3rdJavelin throw46.50 m2001UniversiadeBeijing, China10thJavelin throw43.69 mSouth American Junior ChampionshipsSanta Fe, Argentina11thLong jump5.06 m 1stJavelin throw43.69 mPan American Junior ChampionshipsSanta Fe, Argentina 2ndJavelin throw47.28 m2003South American ChampionshipsBarquisimeto, Venezuela7thJavelin throw45.06 mPan American GamesSanto Domingo, Dom. Rep.8thJavelin throw50.21 mWorld ChampionshipsParis, France24th (q)Javelin throw51.13 m2004South American U23 ChampionshipsBarquisimeto, Venezuela 1stJavelin throw51.53 mIbero-American ChampionshipsHuelva, Spain7thJavelin throw50.00 mOlympic GamesAthens, Greece42nd (q)Javelin throw50.37 m2007South American ChampionshipsSão Paulo, Brazil 3rdJavelin throw53.80 mPan American GamesRio de Janeiro, Brazil8thJavelin throw52.24 mUniversiadeBangkok, Thailand10thJavelin throw52.24 m2008Olympic GamesBeijing, China51st (q)Javelin throw45.34 m2009UniversiadeBelgrade, Serbia14th (q)Javelin throw48.26 m2011South American ChampionshipsBuenos Aires, Argentina 2ndJavelin throw55.66 m (NR)ALBA GamesBarquisimeto, Venezuela2ndJavelin throw56.17 mPan American GamesGuadalajara, Mexico13thJavelin throw48.70 m2012Ibero-American ChampionshipsBarquisimeto, Venezuela 2ndJavelin throw57.77 m (NR)Olympic GamesLondon, United Kingdom34th (q)Javelin throw51.45 m2013South American ChampionshipsCartagena, Colombia4thJavelin throw54.79 m2014South American GamesSantiago, Chile5thJavelin throw52.86 m
National championships 2013Paraguayan Athletics ChampionshipsAsunción, Paraguay1stJavelin throw50.51m2014Paraguayan Athletics ChampionshipsAsunción, Paraguay1stJavelin throw45.95m
Seasonal bests IAAF Profile 1999 - 43.56 2000 - 46.50 2001 - 47.28 2002 - 51.81 2003 - 53.09 2004 - 54.68 2005 - 49.78 2007 - 55.38 2008 - 53.34 2010 - 50.98 2011 - 55.66 2012 - 57.77 (NR) 2013 - 55.68 2014 - 52.86
References
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