Mariana Canillas

{{short description|Paraguayan athlete}}

{{use dmy dates|date=January 2018}}

{{Infobox sportsperson

| name = Mariana Canillas

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| nationality = Paraguayan

| sport = Athletics

| event = Discus throw

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| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1984|12|28|df=yes}}

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| medaltemplates =

{{MedalSport|Women's athletics}}

{{MedalCountry|{{flagu|Paraguay}}}}

{{MedalCompetition|FISU America Games}}

{{MedalGold|2006 Curitiba|Discus throw}}

{{MedalBronze|2006 Curitiba|Shot put}}

}}

Mariana Canillas (born 28 December 1984) is a Paraguayan athlete. She competed in the women's discus throw at the 2000 Summer Olympics.{{cite Sports-Reference |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ca/mariana-canillas-1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200418004015/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ca/mariana-canillas-1.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=18 April 2020 |title=Mariana Canillas Olympic Results |accessdate=15 January 2018}}

Canillas was the second ever Paraguayan woman to qualify for athletics at the Olympics.{{cite web|url=https://d10.ultimahora.com/paris-una-luz-en-la-carrera-de-xenia|title=París, una luz en la carrera de Xenia|language=es|access-date=31 March 2025|website=ultimahora.com}} Aged only 15 years old, Canillas finished last in the Olympic discus competition, and it was noted that her mark of 32.31 m was over 19 metres shorter than the second-to-last finisher and {{convert|118|ft}} behind the winner.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nacion.com/puro-deporte/cubano-anier-garcia-gana-los-110-metros-con-vallas/YPJIT4GLWNFC3C6SLZJT7NA7DA/story/|title=Cubano Anier García gana los 110 metros con vallas|language=es|access-date=31 March 2025}} She was compared to "Eric the Eel" for throwing so far behind her competition.{{cite web|url=https://www.nacion.com/puro-deporte/cortos-de-los-juegos/E4TO4M22YRHQ3E5JSSRCVXCERU/story/|title=Cortos de los Juegos|website=nacion.com|language=es|access-date=31 March 2025}} Her throw was listed by Sports Illustrated as among the "Worst Performances by Non-Equatorial Guineans" at the Olympics.{{cite web|url=https://vault.si.com/vault/2000/10/09/scorecard-sydney-mysteriesiverson-trash-talkanna-loses-love-match|title=Scorecard Sydney Mysteries--Iverson Trash Talk--Anna Loses Love Match|website=Sports Illustrated|access-date=31 March 2025}}

The following year, Canillas set the Paraguayan U18 record in the hammer throw, throwing 43.35 metres. Her mark stood for eight years until it was broken by Paola Miranda in 2009.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ultimahora.com/paolita-miranda-bate-tres-records-n237338|website=ultimahora.com|language=es|title=Paolita Miranda bate tres récords|access-date=31 March 2025}}

Canillas competed representing the athletics division of Deportivo San José. In July 2004, she broke her own Paraguayan senior national record in the hammer throw, throwing 43.58 metres to break her own 43.35 m previous record.{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.com.py/deportes/mariana-canillas-bate-record-en-el-aniversario-del-olimpia-776410.html|title=Mariana Canillas bate récord en el aniversario del Olimpia|language=es|access-date=31 March 2025|website=abc.com.py}} In July 2005, she improved her record again from 46.06 m to 48.90 m.{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.com.py/deportes/mariana-canillas-bate-su-record-de-martillo-844214.html|title=Mariana Canillas bate su récord de martillo|website=abc.com.py|access-date=31 March 2025}}

Canillas qualified for the 2006 FISU America Games in Curitiba, Brazil in both the shot put and discus throw. She won the gold medal in the discus and bronze in the shot put.{{cite web|url=http://www.gbrathletics.com/ic/saug.htm|title=SOUTH AMERICAN UNIVERSITY GAMES|publisher=Athletics Weekly}}