Reigning winners of the Parapanamerican games for South America, the sub21 Colombian Volleyball team just lost key member to cancer.

20-year-old, Daniel Peña from Bogota, died during an operation to treat his cancer. Just before, he was gathered with other 3 athletes to represent Colombia in Seated Volleyball at the Parapanamerican games in Sao Paulo, Brazil, as they were ready to face against other 3 teams from all over South America.

“The games were a great experience for all of us who were able to go and win,” said sub21 teammate and TCS Junior, Tomas Moreno.

Peña won alongside Moreno and their coach Miguel Angel Ortiz Moreno. Even though the teammates didn’t know each other that well, they still shared an incredible bond form by those games which took place over the summer in Brazil.

“I met Daniel in November,” said the coach Ortiz. “Daniel will remain in my heart as one of my biggest accomplishments and memories”

After about how he had recovered and moved on, Ortiz said the following:

“We all have to move on eventually and even though his death brought a lot of mourning I had to move on,” Ortiz commented.