Paper short abstract:

This paper explores the presence in the national imaginary of indigenous sportsmen and sportswomen in relation to the comic-strip 'Supercholo'.

Paper long abstract:

Sport in Peru has tended to be the domain of members of the white social elites and, since the 1920s, of Afro-Peruvians (notably in football, volleyball, boxing). Since the 1960s, however, there has been an increased presence of indigenous sporting figures in the national media, both in terms of men and women who excel in their chosen field and of fictional characters. Focusing on visual representations that have appeared in a variety of sources and media over recent decades, particular attention will be given to the place of Peruvian sporting figures in national competitions, and at international events such as the 2012 London Olympics. The presence or absence on such occasions will be considered in the context of 'Supercholo', the comic superhero who has featured in the Peruvian media during several periods of recent years. This study will consider the ways in which these representations contribute to the position of the indigenous in the contemporary national imaginary.