About Gracia
My name is Gracia Sotomayor, I am Peruvian, a promoter and ambassador of artistic cycling in Latin America, and also an athlete.
How did you discover this sport?
In 2018, I saw a photo of Viola Brand in a magazine. I thought what I was seeing was impossible; the control of the bike seemed incredible to me. At that time, I was learning to do some tricks on a fixed-gear bike, and I decided to completely change direction and discover this discipline of cycling.
What do you like most about artistic cycling?
What I like most is the analogy between artistic cycling and life. Every figure is a lesson. The next one you learn is always harder, but what you have already achieved becomes extraordinary and gains value. Sometimes you fall, but you have to get up and keep going…
How long have you been practicing?
I moved to Germany at the end of 2019 to learn artistic cycling. I am part of the VfH Worms club. At the end of 2021, I moved to Belgium, where I continued training alone so I wouldn’t forget what I had learned. Since the beginning of this year, I have been living in Ghent, where I was able to start learning new figures again with the support of the W.A.S. club.
Representing Peru at the World Cup
Representing Peru at the World Cup means giving visibility to Latin American countries. In a discipline dominated by European countries, I find it essential to maintain a presence, even modest, so that others see minorities are represented.
Facing athletes trained since childhood
Competing internationally against athletes who have trained since childhood is a huge challenge. What matters is to remain aware that the path I am paving opens the way for future generations in countries where this sport is little known. The level gap is vast… My only option is to give my best without comparing myself and fully enjoy the chance to be there.
An atypical journey
I know my path is very atypical and that difference often attracts attention. But I am convinced that I do not want to return to a “normal life”. Artistic cycling truly deserves more attention.
Why invest so much in promoting this sport?
I wasn’t the first Latin American to want to learn this sport. I was fortunate to learn in a language that is not my own. I want to help other passionate people, as I have been greatly helped to get here. Sport conveys powerful values; it gives strength. Learning to control your body and mind can transform a mentality — even a society.
Is it difficult to practice in Peru?
In Peru, as in many Latin American countries, this sport is little known and obtaining financial support is very difficult. Bikes are very specialized and expensive; finding a suitable venue is costly; volunteers need sustainable income; and even the rules can feel rigid for newcomers.
Why promote in Spanish-speaking countries?
During the pandemic, I translated the official rules into Spanish and realized it was the only source in that language. That made me think beyond Peru — to Spanish-speaking America. With several countries involved, competition can grow — and who knows, maybe one day the Olympic Games. Potential exists everywhere, if we dare to start.
What keeps you going?
It is a visually stunning and inspiring sport. Messages from people learning thanks to my translations motivate me. The bicycle — historically a symbol of female emancipation — continues to convey this strength through a new discipline. I’m also driven by the idea that others will go further than me, representing America internationally.
Strength, commitment… and doubts
I doubt more often than I’d like — my age, my body, my fears. But when the music starts on the floor, I feel only gratitude. Before artistic cycling, I had “success” by society’s standards but lacked meaning. This sport made life feel real, difficult, and beautiful. That desire to live gives me the strength to continue. Art and sport are universal.
To the young who watch you
I want to share the joy I feel and help them see that sport isn’t inaccessible: it’s built step by step.
Thinking about
I feel both fear and excitement. I want to give my best — and also have fun. The image that comes is the Peruvian flag… and I dream of seeing neighboring flags alongside mine.
“Nothing is truly impossible.”
Artistic cycling began for me as an impossible dream. Today, learning these figures reminds me that limits often exist only in our minds. It’s not easy — it takes effort, time, and patience — but it’s possible.
Interview by CSM Puteaux Cyclisme — JF
