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Colombia

Republic of Colombia South America Bogota 46,245,297 inhabitants 1,138,910 sq km 40.60 inhabitants/sq km Colombian pesos (COP) population evolution

Famous people from Colombia

Here is a list of famous people from Colombia. Curious if anybody from Colombia made it our most famous people in the world list? Read the aformentioned article in order to find out.

Radamel Falcao

Soccer

Radamel Falcao García Zárate, commonly known simply as Radamel Falcao or Falcao García in South America, is a Colombian football striker, who plays for AS Monaco in the French Ligue 1 and represents the Colombia national football team. He is sometimes nicknamed as El Tigre and King of the Europa League. Falcao is considered by many experts to be the 'deadliest' striker in the world and among the best ever, having surpassed Jürgen Klinsmann's record of 15 goals in a single annual club football European competition UEFA Champions League/UEFA Europa League campaign. He also played a key role in guiding F.C. Porto to a second Europa League title, as well as finishing undefeated in the 2010–11 Primeira Liga season. In July 2011, Falcao was regarded as the fifth best player in Europe during the 2010–11 season through balloting by 53 sportswriters of the UEFA member associations. Falcao had also received the Portuguese Golden Ball award in 2011, becoming the first Colombian to do so. Falcao had won both the GQ Spain award for sportsman of the year and the Globe Best Footballer in 2012. In 2012, Falcao was listed 6th in The 100 best footballers in the world by The Guardian. Falcao was listed into the FIFA XI for 2012.

Sofía Vergara

Actor

Sofía Margarita Vergara Vergara is a Colombian actress, television hostess, and model. Vergara had been widely known for co-hosting two television shows for Spanish-language television network Univisión in the late 1990s. Her first notable acting job in English was in the 2003 film Chasing Papi. Subsequently, she appeared in films, including two Tyler Perry films, Meet the Browns and Madea Goes to Jail, receiving an ALMA Award nomination for the latter. Vergara's success on television has earned her roles in recent films, The Smurfs, New Year's Eve, Happy Feet Two The Three Stooges, and Escape From Planet Earth. In 2012 and 2013, she was the top-earning actress on US television. Vergara stars on the ABC series Modern Family as Gloria Delgado-Pritchett, for which she was nominated for three Golden Globe Awards, four Primetime Emmy Awards, and seven Screen Actors Guild Awards.

Juan Pablo Montoya

Racing driver

Juan Pablo Montoya Roldán is a Colombian racing driver known internationally for being one of the few drivers participating in NASCAR, Formula One, CART and IndyCar race competitions. He currently competes in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, driving the No. 42 Chevrolet SS for Earnhardt Ganassi Racing through the end of the 2013 season. He will return to the IndyCar Series in 2014, driving for Penske Racing. The highlights of his career include winning the International F3000 championship in 1998, and the CART FedEx Championship Series in 1999, as well as victories in some of the most prestigious races in the world. He is the only driver to have won the premier North American open-wheel CART title, the Indianapolis 500 and the 24 Hours of Daytona, all at the first attempt. Montoya is one of two drivers to have won the CART title in his rookie year, the first being Formula One World Champion Nigel Mansell in 1993. He has also equalled Graham Hill's feat of being a Monaco Grand Prix and Indianapolis 500 race winner; Montoya is currently one of only two active drivers who has won two legs of the Triple Crown of Motorsport. Montoya has also become a crossover race winner by winning races in Formula One, CART, IndyCar, Grand-Am and NASCAR equalling in that respect Mario Andretti's caliber of success; And shares honors as well with Dan Gurney in being IndyCar/F1/NASCAR race winner. Montoya is also the only driver to have competed in all three major events at Indianapolis, finishing fourth or better in each event. He finished 1st in the Indianapolis 500, 2nd in the Brickyard 400, and 4th in the US Grand Prix.

Pablo Escobar

Drug lord

Pablo Emilio Escobar Gaviria was a wealthy Colombian drug lord and an elusive cocaine trafficker. In 1983, he had a short-lived career in Colombian politics.

Juanes

Latin pop Artist

Juan Esteban Aristizábal Vásquez, better known as Juanes, is a Colombian musician who was a member of the heavy metal band Ekhymosis and is now a solo artist. In 2000, his solo debut album Fíjate Bien won three Latin Grammy Awards. According to his record label, Juanes has sold more than 15 million albums worldwide. Raised in Medellín, Colombia, Juanes began playing guitar at age seven. At age 15, He started his first band, Ekhymosis, in 1988, which went on to release five albums, achieving recognition in his native Colombia. The track "Sólo" from the album "Niño Gigante" in 1992 was very popular. In 1997 after the band broke up, Juanes continued solo and in 2000 he released the album, Fíjate Bien, which earned him three Latin Grammys. His follow-up album, Un Dia Normal, was released in 2002 and was later certified platinum in multiple countries throughout Latin America. Juanes' third album, Mi Sangre, which becomes an international bestseller, managing to position well in a number of countries around the world, achieved success due to the single "La Camisa Negra". He has since released La Vida... Es Un Ratico and P.A.R.C.E.. On May 29, 2012 Juanes released the album Juanes MTV Unplugged.

Jackson Martínez

Soccer

Jackson Arley Martínez Valencia or simply Jackson is a Colombian footballer who plays as a striker for F.C. Porto of the Portuguese Primeira Liga. He is often named Cha Cha Cha for his dance-like moves on the pitch. Noted columnist Tim Vickery describes him as "an out-and-out goalscorer, a front-to-goal centre-forward who can finish off both feet". Jackson has also represented Colombia's national team since 2009, where he has gained 20 caps and scored 8 goals so far.

Carlos Vives

Latin pop Artist

Carlos Alberto Vives Restrepo is a Grammy Award and three-time Latin Grammy Award-winning Colombian singer, composer and actor. He holds a publicist degree from Jorge Tadeo Lozano's University.

Carlos Valderrama

Soccer Midfielder

Carlos Alberto Valderrama Palacio, also known as El Pibe is a former Colombian football player. His mesmerizing mass of blond afro hair, coupled with his equally flamboyant and mesmeric technique on the ball, made him one of Colombia's most recognizable footballers, and arguably, one of the most recognizable footballers around the globe historically. Valderrama was well known during his time in the MLS. Perhaps one of the most noticeable foreign players to ever grace the MLS, he played a huge role in the uprising of the league itself during the 1990s. Most noticeably by becoming a pioneer that inspired a wave of Colombian footballers to play their talents in the league causing a huge influence of increasing both the popularity and strength of the league itself. To this day, he is an icon as one of the most decorated playmakers to ever play in the MLS. Valderrama was a member of the Colombia national football team in the 1990s. Between 1985 and 1998 he represented Colombia in 111 full internationals and scored 11 times, making him the most capped player in the country's history. Valderrama was known for the accuracy of his passing, his tactical brain which allowed him to have a strong presence without the necessity of running as much as it would be expected, his exquisite technique on the ball, and his ability to provide assists that were very immaculate. Valderrama played a huge role during the golden era of Colombian football during the 1990s. In 2004, Valderrama was included in the FIFA 100, a list of "greatest living footballers" chosen by Pelé to celebrate the 100th anniversary of FIFA.

Diomedes Díaz

Vallenato Artist

Diomedes de Jesús Díaz Maestre is a Colombian vallenato singer and composer. He is the most widely recognized performer of this musical genre. His well known El Cacique de la Junta was given early in his career by vallenato singer Rafael Orozco Maestre in honor of his birthplace; La Junta.

James Rodríguez

Soccer Midfielder

James David Rodríguez Rubio or simply James is a Colombian footballer who plays for AS Monaco in French Ligue 1. He is considered to be one of the best young players in the world and within his generation. His playmaking skills has led many to consider him to be the successor of Colombian legend icon Carlos Valderrama thus being referred as 'El Nuevo Pibe'. His dribbling, speed, creativity, ball control, and powerful shots has been compared to Cristiano Ronaldo even to the point where he considered to be his 'South American' counterpart. His talents have been described as 'phenomenal' and acknowledged among many football experts as one of the most talented young prospects in the world. Rodríguez is one of Colombia's most talented young prospects. Succeeding at an early age with various youth clubs, he's contributed to many club victories as well as with the national team. One of his most noticeable moments hinting his successful future, was a famous rare Olympic Goal he scored with his first club Club Atlético Banfield in the Argentine Primera División at only 16 years of age. He was captain of the Colombian-U20 team, leading them to a victory at the 2011 Toulon Tournament where he was voted the best player. He also captained the U-20 team during the 2011 FIFA U-20 World Cup where his talents were recognized being a crucial part of the new Colombian golden generation. On the senior national level, he impressed contributing to crucial victories making him a regular at only 20 years of age. He scored his first senior national goal against Peru in a 1–0 victory in less than 6 months after his debut.

Álvaro Uribe

Politician

Álvaro Uribe Vélez is a Colombian politician who served as the 31st President of Colombia from 2002 to 2010. In 2012 Uribe and a group of political allies founded the Centro Democratico or Democratic Center movement to contest the 2014 national elections. In August 2010 he was appointed Vice-chairman of the UN panel investigating the Gaza flotilla raid. Uribe started his political career in his home department of Antioquia. He has held office in the Empresas Públicas de Medellín and in the Ministry of Labor and in the Civil Aeronautic. Later he held office as the mayor of Medellín in 1982, then he was Senator between 1986 and 1994 and finally Governor of Antioquia between 1995 and 1997 before he was elected President of Colombia in 2002. Before his current role in politics Uribe was a lawyer. He studied law at the University of Antioquia and afterwards attended Harvard Extension School, where he received a Certificate of Special Studies in Administration and Management in 1993. He was awarded the Simón Bolívar Scholarship of the British Chevening Scholarships programme and was appointed Senior Associate Member at St Antony's College, Oxford after completing his term in office as the governor of Antioquia in 1998.

Faustino Asprilla

Soccer

Faustino Hernán "Tino" Asprilla Hinestroza is a former Colombian football player who most notably played for Parma A.C., Newcastle United F.C. and the Colombia national football team as a forward. Though never a prolific goalscorer, he was known for his skill and pace, as well as for being temperamental and controversial both on and off the field. Asprilla was known by his supporters in his home country as The Octopus for his voracious appetite. In 1996, he was named by FIFA as the sixth best player in the world.

René Higuita

Soccer

José René Higuita Zapata is a Colombian former football goalkeeper nicknamed El Loco. Rene Higuita was well known for his 'sweeper' playing style taking risk in leaving his post empty to clear balls and even dribble. Unique and 'crazy' by his nickname, he stood out in football history as one of the greatest and most remarkable goal keepers of all time. In a friendly against England in 1995, he created the famous scorpion kick, where he faces the pitch, falls forward to waist level and parallel to the ground, knees bent, feet curl back and kick the ball away from the goal. He was often considered to be the 'master of the unpredictable'. Higuita is the current 4th highest goalscoring goalkeeper of all time with 41 goals. Higuita's style of play influenced a new FIFA rule during the 1990 FIFA World Cup that a goalkeeper is not allowed to touch the ball with his hands if his teammates pass the ball to him. IFFHS ranked Higuita the 8th best keeper in South American history.

Juan Pablo Ángel

Soccer

Juan Pablo Ángel Arango is a Colombian footballer who plays for Atlético Nacional in Categoría Primera A. He began his career at Nacional, whom he helped to win the championship in 1994, and then moved to River Plate of Argentina, where he was the league's top scorer in 2000. The following year he moved to Europe, joining Aston Villa of the Premier League for a club record £9.5 million. In 2007, he moved to the United States, where he played for three clubs in Major League Soccer before returning to Atlético Nacional in 2013. Ángel was also a full international for Colombia, and made 33 appearances from his debut in 1995, scoring 9 goals.

Teófilo Gutiérrez

Soccer

Teófilo Antonio Gutiérrez Roncancio is a Colombian international footballer who plays for Argentine side River Plate.

Juan Manuel Santos

Politician

Juan Manuel Santos Calderón is the 32nd and current President of the Republic of Colombia. An economist by profession and a journalist by trade, Santos is a member of the wealthy and influential Santos family, who from 1913 to 2007 were the majority shareholders of the Editorial House El Tiempo until its sale in 2007 to Editorial Planeta. Shortly after graduating from the University of Kansas, he joined the National Federation of Coffee Growers of Colombia as an Economic Advisor and delegate to the International Coffee Organization in London, where he also attended the London School of Economics and Political Science. In 1981, he was appointed Deputy Director of El Tiempo, becoming its Director two years later. In 1991, he was appointed by President César Gaviria Trujillo, as Colombia's first Minister of Foreign Trade. Santos worked in expanding international trade with Colombia, and worked in creating various agencies for this purpose including: Proexport, Bancoldex, and Fiducoldex. In 2000, he was appointed by President Andrés Pastrana Arango, as Minister of Finance and Public Credit of Colombia. Santos rose to prominence during the Administration of President Álvaro Uribe Vélez. In 2005, he co-founded and led the Social Party of National Unity, a liberal-conservative party coalition that backed the policies of President Uribe, successfully supporting his attempt to seek a Constitutional reform to be able to run for a second term. In 2006, after Uribe was successfully re-elected, and the Party of the U, won a majority of seats in both chambers of Congress, Santos was appointed Minister of National Defence, and continued defending the security policies of President Uribe, taking a strong and forceful stance against the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia and the other guerilla groups operating in Colombia. He oversaw rescue operations of hostages, including Operation Jaque that led to the rescue of former presidential candidate Íngrid Betancourt Pulecio, three American citizens, and 11 other members of the Colombian Army that had been held for several years. Though widely viewed as a heroic endeavour that cemented Santos' popularity, the rescue was criticized for misappropriating emblems of the International Red Cross,a violation of the Geneva Conventions.

Andrés Escobar

Soccer

Andrés Escobar Saldarriaga, commonly known as Andrés Escobar, was a Colombian footballer who played as a defender. He played for Atlético Nacional, BSC Young Boys, and the Colombia national team. Escobar was shot and killed in Medellín, and it is widely believed that was caused due to his own goal in the 1994 FIFA World Cup against the United States, which supposedly would have caused gambling losses to several powerful drug lords of the time. Escobar is still held in the highest regard by Colombian fans, and is especially mourned and remembered by Atlético Nacional's fans. Escobar is known for his famous line "Life doesn't end here".

Íngrid Betancourt

Politician

Ingrid Betancourt Pulecio is a Colombian politician, former senator and anti-corruption activist. Betancourt was kidnapped by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia on 23 February 2002 and was rescued by Colombian security forces six and a half years later on 2 July 2008. The rescue operation, dubbed Operation Jaque, rescued Betancourt along with 14 other hostages. In all, she was held captive for six years after being taken while campaigning for the Colombian presidency as a Green. She had decided to campaign in the former "zone of distention", after the military operation "Tanatos" was launched, and after the zone was declared free of guerrillas by the government. Her kidnapping received worldwide coverage, particularly in France, where she also held citizenship due to her prior marriage to a French diplomat. She has received multiple international awards, such as the Légion d'honneur. In 2008 she received the Concord Prince of Asturias Award. After her release, she was portrayed by some of her fellow captives as 'controlling and manipulative'; others described her as a person with a caring and courageous nature. One of them claims Betancourt saved his life.

Fredy Guarín

Soccer Midfielder

Fredy Alejandro Guarín Vásquez is a Colombian professional footballer who plays for Internazionale in Italy. A versatile player, he is comfortable in the central or right side of midfield. Capable of efficiently shooting from long-range with both feet and also being able to act as a playmaker, he started his career with Envigado, then had a short spell in Argentina and played two years in France with Saint-Étienne. Guarín made a name for himself with F.C. Porto in Portugal, where he spent four seasons winning ten major titles, namely three national championships and the 2011 Europa League.

Fredy Montero

Soccer

Fredy Henkyer Montero Muñoz is a Colombian footballer who plays as a forward for Primeira Liga club Sporting Clube de Portugal on loan from Seattle Sounders FC. Montero is Seattle's all-time top scorer in official club competitions, having scored 60 goals since joining the club in 2009. Montero has been called up to the Colombian national team 4 times, scoring once. Montero was born to a policeman and his wife in Campo de la Cruz, Atlántico in northern Colombia and began playing youth soccer at Deportivo Cali at age 13. He earned his professional debut at age 18 in 2005 before being sent on loan to Academia for the season. Montero was loaned to Atlético Huila for two additional years, becoming the league topscorer in the 2007 Torneo Apertura before returning to Deportivo Cali and becoming league topscorer for a second time in the 2008 Torneo Finalización. Cali loaned him to the MLS expansion team Seattle Sounders in 2009, where he was named Newcomer of the Year and led the team in goals. Montero was sold to the Sounders in 2010 and became a Designated Player and a permanent resident of the United States. During his four seasons as a Sounders player, Montero has been named to the MLS All-Star squad twice, playing against Everton in 2009 and being named inactive in 2010.

Freddy Rincón

Soccer Midfielder

Freddy Eusebio Rincón Valencia, is a Colombian football midfielder who played 84 games for the Colombia national team between 1990 and 2001.

Mario Yepes

Soccer

Mario Alberto Yepes Díaz is a Colombian professional footballer who currently plays as a defender for Serie A club Atalanta. Yepes was well-known for his time in Paris Saint-Germain where he was considered to be one of the best defenders at the time dubbing him as 'Super Mario' before moving to Milan. He has also been the captain of the Colombian national team since 2008. Yepes is one of the last of the original members of the Colombian golden generation during their dying years where they won the 2001 Copa America. Thus, with the current golden generation, he's played in both the '90s golden generation to the present golden team, along with Faryd Mondragón.

Mariana Duque Marino

Tennis Player

Mariana Duque Mariño is a Colombian tennis player, born in Bogotá. Her career high rank is No. 90, achieved on 28 October 2013, Her doubles tour rank at 8 July 2013 was a career high of 100. Mariana's debuted on the International Tennis Federation junior tour in 2004, As a junior, reached the final of the girls' singles tournament at the 2007 French Open, the Colombian defeated 10th-seeded Ksenia Pervak in the first round, and ousted World No. 1 in Juniors, Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in the semifinals. Mariana lost in the final to France's Alizé Cornet, in three sets. Mariana had some setbacks during the tournament, due to losing her tennis rackets at the airport. Without money to buy replacements, she had to play with rackets someone had lent to her. Despite this, it did not stop her and she still played very well, in her first grand slam. In her very first appearance in a Grand Slam even She won her first professional tournament in March 2006. Her biggest win in senior competition is beating Anna Chakvetadze, No. 26 seed at the 2009 French Open, in three sets.

Fernando Botero

Painting Artist

Fernando Botero Angulo is a figurative artist and sculptor from Medellín, Colombia. His signature style, also known as "Boterismo", depicts people and figures in large, exaggerated volume, which can represent political criticism or humor, depending on the piece. He is considered the most recognized and quoted living artist from Latin America, and his art can be found in highly visible places around the world, such as Park Avenue in New York City and the Champs Elysées in Paris. Self-titled "the most Colombian of Colombian artists" early on, he came to national prominence when he won the first prize at the Salón de Artistas Colombianos in 1958. Working most of the year in Paris, in the last three decades he has achieved international recognition for his paintings, drawings and sculpture, with exhibitions across the world. His art is collected by many major international museums, corporations, and private collectors. In 2012, he received the International Sculpture Center's Lifetime Achievement in Contemporary Sculpture Award.

Rigoberto Urán

Professional Road Racing Cyclist

Rigoberto Urán Urán, ODB is a Colombian professional road racing cyclist, currently riding for UCI World Tour Team Sky. At the 2012 Summer Olympics, he won a silver medal in the road race. He became the first Colombian ever to make the podium of the Giro d'Italia, when he finished second behind Vincenzo Nibali in the 2013 edition of the race, having taken leadership of Team Sky following the abandonment of team captain Bradley Wiggins. He also won a mountain-top stage in that race with a solo breakway. The previous year, he had won the white jersey for best young rider, and a seventh place finish overall.

Alejandro Falla

Tennis Player

Alejandro Falla Ramirez is a professional male tennis player from Colombia. The left-hander turned pro in 2000 and achieved a career-high singles ranking of World No. 48 in July 2012. At the 2006 Wimbledon tournament, Falla upset 9th seed Nikolay Davydenko and at the 2007 Sony Ericsson Open he beat 9th seed Tommy Haas in straight sets. He reached the semifinals of the Grand Prix de Tennis de Lyon in 2007, beating players such as the 5th seed Ivan Ljubičić.

Danna García

Singer

Danna Maria García Osuna is an actress and model best known for her roles in telenovelas.

Santiago Giraldo

Tennis Player

Santiago Giraldo Salazar is a Colombian male tennis player from Pereira in Colombia. He plays on the ATP tour and represents Colombia in the Davis Cup competition. Giraldo's career-high singles ranking is World No. 39.

Joe Arroyo

Cumbia Artist

Álvaro José Arroyo González was a Colombian salsa and tropical music singer, composer and songwriter. Considered one of the greatest performers of Caribbean music in his country.

Silvestre Dangond

Vallenato Artist

Silvestre Francisco Dangond Corrales, is a Colombian Vallenato singer, composer and Timbales player. Dangond is considered one of the mainstream representatives of the "new wave" of vallenato musicians.

Luis Muriel

Soccer

Luis Fernando Muriel Fruto is a Colombian striker. He currently plays for Italian Serie A club Udinese. He has been considered to be one of the most promising strikers in world football. Often receiving praise from European dominants, Manchester United, Arsenal and Barcelona. During his first season with Udinese, Muriel won the Serie A Young Footballer of the Year along with Stephan El Shaarawy. Muriel is currently a Colombian international having represented his nation at a full international level since 2012. Considered to be a member of the current golden generation of Colombia, Muriel is regarded as the future of the national team. He made his senior debut in June 2012, in a World Cup qualifying match against Ecuador. The following year, Muriel scored his first goal, against Guatemala. His technique with the ball as led to many comparisons to that of Brazilian legend Ronaldo. Most noticeably hailed in Italy.

Caterine Ibargüen

Olympic Track and field Athlete

Caterine Ibargüen Mena is a Colombian athlete competing in high jump, long jump and triple jump.

Juan Fernando Quintero

Soccer Midfielder

Juan Fernando Quintero Paniagua is a Colombian footballer who plays as attacking midfielder for Porto in the Primeira Liga. He has been mentioned among the more coveted players in European football by The Times of London. At the age of 19, Quintero already started to receive praise for his impressive performances during his time in Italy. During his time of the 2013 South American Youth Championship, he has been recognized as not only one of the most promising youth aspects from only South America, but the world. Quintero has represented Colombia since he was 19, making his official debut in 2012 against Cameroon. At the 2013 South American Youth Championships, he led Colombia to their 3rd title while voted as the tournament's MVP for contributing more than any other player for his respective nation. He also took part in the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Turkey where he gained more praised for his talents after creating a huge impact in the tournament. His overall size and style of play as well as his left-foot has led him to be compared to Lionel Messi.

Fanny Lú

Latin pop Artist

Fanny Lucía Martínez Buenaventura, better known professionally as Fanny Lú, is a Colombian singer-songwriter and actress from Santiago de Cali, Colombia. She studied at the University of the Andes and received a degree in industrial engineering. She is the mother of two children, Mateo and Valentina, and is currently divorced. She signed with Universal Music Latino record label. Her first job in the entertainment industry was in Colombia, as hostess to a music magazine called "Siempre Música". She then moved on to radio voice in the principal radio stations from her country. However, she wasn't recognized until 1998, when she made part of the cast from the Colombian soap opera Perro Amor. In 2006 she released Lágrimas Cálidas, winning fame in Colombia and some countries from Latin America, with her two singles that reached the top on the Latin charts. Her 2008 album Dos consolidated her musician career, giving credibility as a famous artist. Her hit single "Tú No Eres Para Mi" was number one in several countries. She released her third album Felicidad y Perpetua on November 2011. Her humanitarian work grented her to be named "Goodwill Ambassador" from the FAO.

Dorlan Pabón

Soccer Midfielder

Dorlan Maurício Pabón Ríos is a Colombian footballer who currently plays for Valencia CF in La Liga, as a striker. Pabón is sometimes nicknamed Memín by the Nacional supporters.

Alex Campos

Gospel Artist

Édgar Alexánder Campos Mora, better known as Alex Campos, is a Colombian Christian singer that is popular in Latin America and in Spanish speaking countries. Campos was born in Bogota, where he founded his musical company, Misión Vida, to promote his ministry in 2001. He has been nominated for a Latin Grammy and for Premios Shock.

Juan Sebastián Cabal

Tennis Player

Juan Sebastián Cabal is a Colombian professional tennis player. His greatest doubles ranking was 20 and in singles was 184 in February 2011 after reaching the final at the challenger of Medellin and Manizales and Future in the semifinals in Cali and Bogotá challenger.

Jorge Eliécer Gaitán Ayala

Politician

Jorge Eliécer Gaitán Ayala was a politician, a leader of a populist movement in Colombia, a former Education Minister and Labor Minister, mayor of Bogotá and one of the most charismatic leaders of the Liberal Party. He was assassinated during his second presidential campaign in 1948, setting off the Bogotazo and leading to a violent period of political unrest in Colombian history known as La Violencia.

Andrés Cepeda

Pop Artist

Andrés Cepeda is a popular Colombian singer and songwriter. He was born in Bogotá, the youngest of five children. He displayed an inclination towards music from an early age, studying piano since the age of 5. He composed his first piece at the age of 12. His musical career began as the lead voice of Poligamia, a latin rock-pop group which he founded with some friends during his adolescence. After Poligamia was disbanded, Cepeda continued with his musical career as a soloist, finding success in different musical genres such as bolero and Balada, among other romantic genres. His album El carpintero achieved quadruple-platinum sales in Colombia.

Carlos Bacca

Soccer

Carlos Arturo Bacca Ahumada is a Colombian footballer who plays as a striker for Sevilla FC in La Liga.

J Balvin

Reggaeton Artist

José Álvaro Osorio Balvín, known artistically as J Balvin, is a Colombian singer. Balvin was born in Medellín, the largest city of Antioquia, where he became interested in rap, reggae, champeta and bachata at a young age. He is known for his song "Yo Te Lo Dije" and "Tranquila".

Juan Camilo Zúñiga

Soccer

Juan Camilo Zúñiga Mosquera is a Colombian football winger/wingback who currently plays for Serie A club Napoli and the Colombian national team. He is well known for his contributing assists when playing as a defender and an overall versatile player, making a huge impact during counterattacks.

Francisco de Paula Santander

Politician

Francisco José de Paula Santander y Omaña, was a Colombian military and political leader during the 1810–1819 independence war of the United Provinces of New Granada. He was the acting President of Gran Colombia between 1819 and 1826, and later elected by Congress as the President of the Republic of New Granada between 1832 and 1837. Santander came to be known as "The Man of the Laws".

Iván Córdoba

Soccer

Iván Ramiro Córdoba Sepúlveda is a retired Colombian footballer, who played for Internazionale and the Colombia national team. He was the vice-captain of Internazionale and has also served as captain for his country. He is currently the team manager for F.C. Internazionale.

Juan Guillermo Cuadrado

Soccer Midfielder

Juan Guillermo Cuadrado Bello is a Colombian footballer who currently plays for Fiorentina in the Serie A. He generally plays as a winger, but can also play as a wing-back and as a full-back. His speed, pace and dribbling ability has allowed him to contribute greatly for both club and nation while earning the reputation of one of Europe's most lethal players.

Faryd Mondragón

Soccer

Faryd Camilo Mondragón Alí is a Colombian footballer who currently plays for Deportivo Cali in the Colombian First Division. He is also a long-time member of the Colombian national team, having played with them since 1993. This makes him one of the last few members of the original 1990s golden generation, while playing for the 2010s generation along with Mario Yepes.

Eddie Martinez

Actor

Eddie Martinez is an actor.

Juan Agudelo

Soccer

Juan Sebastián Agudelo is a Colombian-born American soccer player who plays as a striker for New England Revolution in Major League Soccer. After moving from Colombia to New Jersey at an early age Agudelo began his career with the New York Red Bulls and made his Major League Soccer debut in October 2010. After scoring six goals in 2011 he was traded to Chivas USA in May 2012. Agudelo spent a year in California before he was traded to the New England Revolution in May 2013. In August 2013 he signed a pre-contract agreement with English club Stoke City. Internationally, Agudelo has represented the United States youth program at the Under-17, Under-20, and Under-23 levels. He made his debut for the senior national team against South Africa on November 17, 2010, scoring the only goal of the match.

Jorge Isaacs

Novelist

Jorge Isaacs Ferrer was a Colombian writer, politician and soldier. His only novel, María, became one of the most notable works of the Romantic movement in Spanish literature.

Pablo Estifer Armero

Soccer Midfielder

Pablo Estifer Armero is a Colombian footballer playing for Italian club Napoli. He usually plays as left wing-back and is renowned for his pace and stamina. He can also play as a full-back and winger.

Dayro Moreno

Soccer Midfielder

Dayro Mauricio Moreno Galindo is a Colombian footballer currently playing as a forward for Millonarios in the Categoría Primera A.

Luis Herrera

Cyclist

Luis Alberto "Lucho" Herrera Herrera known as "el jardinerito" is a retired Colombian road racing cyclist. Herrera was a professional from 1985 to 1992 but had a successful amateur career before that in Colombia. He entered his first Vuelta a Colombia in 1981 where he finished 16th overall and 3rd in the New Rider competition. Although he abandoned his second Vuelta a Colombia in 1982, he won Colombia's second major stage-race the Clásico RCN. In 1983 Herrera won Clásico RCN again as well as two stages and finishing second overall to Alfonso Florez Ortiz in the 1983 Vuelta a Colombia. In 1984 he would win the Vuelta a Colombia, the Clásico RCN as well as winning stage 17 to Alpe d'Huez in the 1984 Tour de France, becoming the first Colombian to win a stage of the race. He would win the Vuelta a Colombia and the Clásico RCN four times each but his greatest achievement was in 1987, when he won the Vuelta a España, the first South American to win a Grand Tour. Herrera also won the Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré in 1988 and 1991 and five "King of the Mountains" jerseys from the three Grand Tours. Luis Herrera is the second rider to win the "King of the Mountains jersey in all three Grand Tours. The first was Federico Bahamontes of Spain.

Abel Aguilar

Soccer Midfielder

Abel Enrique Aguilar Tapias is a Colombian professional footballer who plays for Toulouse FC in France, as a central midfielder.

Fonseca

Latin pop Artist

Juan Fernando Fonseca, better known as Fonseca is a Colombian singer, songwriter, record producer, and activist. Born and raised in Bogotá, he primarily studied at the Colegio Los Nogales, then studied music at the Berklee College of Music in Boston before withdrawing to focus on his musical career. He began recording some demos and performing in the rock music scene of Bogotá with a rock band "Baroja" and was signed with Líderes Entertainment Group, an EMI label to produce his first three studio albums. He debuted in 2002 with his first album, Fonseca, which was popular in his home country. His follow-up album, was Corazón and included hits such as "Te Mando Flores" and "Hace Tiempo". Fonseca's third album, Gratitud included the singles Enrédame and Arroyito. After breaking with the label EMI Capitol he decided release his fourth album Ilusión under the label Sony Music Latin with the hit Eres Mi Sueño. Influenced heavily by Carlos Vives, his style is a blend of vallenato and cumbia, two traditional and popular forms of Colombian music. His achievements include three Latin Grammy Awards and one Billboard Latin Music Awards.

Paola Rey

Actor

Paola Andrea Rey Arciniegas is a Colombian actress and model. She has worked in a number of Colombian telenovelas, including The Baby Sister, Pasión de Gavilanes, and La mujer en el espejo. She has appeared in several films, including Como el gato y el raton, which won awards in several international competitions., and The Private Archives of Pablo Escovar She also works as a model, appearing on the cover of the Fall, 2005 edition "Fuego", and has been the face of Neutrogena

Policarpa Salavarrieta

Dressmaker

Policarpa Salavarrieta, also known as La Pola, was a Neogranadine seamstress who spied for the Revolutionary Forces during the Spanish Reconquista of the Viceroyalty of New Granada. She was captured by Spanish Royalists and ultimately executed for high treason. She is now considered a heroine of the independence of Colombia. Because her birth certificate was never found, her legal given name is unknown. The name Salavarrieta is known only by the names her family and friends used. Her father referred to her as Apolonia in his will, which Salvador Contreras, the priest who formalized the testament on 13 December 1802, confirmed. Her brother Viviano, who was closest to her because when her parents died she was the one who took care of him. La Pola started being called Policarpa, when the armed forces in Guaduas started looking for. In her 1817 forged passport, used to get in and out of Bogotá during the Reconquista, she appeared as Gregoria Apolinaria. Andrea Ricaurte de Lozano, whom Policarpa lived with, and officially worked for in Bogotá, as well as Ambrosio Almeyda, a guerrilla leader to whom she supplied information, also called her by that name. Her contemporaries referred to her simply as La Pola, but Policarpa Salavarrieta is the name by which she is remembered and commemorated.

Carlos Lehder

Organization founder

Carlos Enrique Lehder Rivas or simply Carlos Lehder is a Colombian drug dealer currently imprisoned in the United States, having been co-founder of the Medellín Cartel. Born in Armenia, Colombia, Lehder eventually ran a cocaine transport empire on Norman's Cay island, 210 miles off the Florida coast in the central Bahamas. Lehder was allegedly also active in the Quintín Lamé Movement, an indigenous guerrilla organization tied to the Colombian 19th of April Movement and FARC insurgencies. Lehder was also a founding member of Muerte a Secuestradores, a paramilitary group whose focus was to retaliate against the kidnappings of cartel members and their families. He was one of the most important operators therein, and is considered to be one of the most important Colombian drug kingpins to be successfully prosecuted in the United States. In the 2001 movie Blow, the character Diego Delgado was based on him. Lehder is of mixed German-Colombian descent, his father a German engineer and mother a Colombian schoolteacher. The family owned a semi-legitimate used car business in the Medellin area in which Carlos got his start as a criminal by supplying it with stolen American cars.

Edgar Rentería

Baseball Player

Edgar Enrique Rentería Herazo, nicknamed "The Barranquilla Baby," is a Colombian former professional baseball shortstop. He threw and batted right-handed. He played for the Florida Marlins, the St. Louis Cardinals, the Boston Red Sox, the Atlanta Braves, the Detroit Tigers, San Francisco Giants and Cincinnati Reds. Born in Barranquilla, Colombia, Rentería was signed by the Florida Marlins in 1992. He debuted with them in 1996, and he finished second to Todd Hollandsworth in Rookie of the Year Award balloting. In 1997, his RBI single off of Charles Nagy in the eleventh inning of Game 7 of the 1997 World Series won the first World Series in Marlins' history. He was selected to his first All-Star Game in 1998, and he was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals following the season. He was the starting shortstop for the Cardinals for six years, and he was selected to the All-Star Game in 2000, 2003, and 2004. In 2002 and 2003 he won the Silver Slugger and Gold Glove Awards. Following the 2004 season, he signed with the Boston Red Sox. After a year with them, he was traded to the Atlanta Braves. He was selected to another All-Star Game in 2006, but following the 2007 season he was traded to the Detroit Tigers. After 2008, he became a free agent, and he signed with the San Francisco Giants. In the 2010 World Series, Rentería won the World Series Most Valuable Player Award after he hit game-winning home runs in Game 2 and Game 5. He became a free agent again after the season, and he signed with the Cincinnati Reds.

Luis Amaranto Perea

Soccer

Luis Amaranto Perea Mosquera is a Colombian footballer who plays for Cruz Azul in Mexico. Gifted with incredible stamina and pace, the central defender can also be adapted at right back. He played most of his senior career with Atlético Madrid, appearing in nearly 350 official games over the course of eight La Liga seasons.

Paula Garcés

Actor

Paula Garcés is a Colombian American film and television actress, known for her appearance in films such as Clockstoppers and The Harold and Kumar Series, and on TV shows such as CSI: Miami, The Shield, Law and Order: Special Victims Unit, The Sopranos, Oz, Devious Maids and currently All My Children.

Luis Gabriel Rey

Footballer

Luis Gabriel Rey Villamizar is a Colombian football striker, who currently plays for América of the Liga MX. He holds Mexican citizenship.

Víctor Ibarbo

Soccer Midfielder

Segundo Víctor Ibarbo Guerrero is a Colombian footballer who plays as a second striker for Italian Serie A club Cagliari.

Andrés Pastrana Arango

Politician

Andrés Pastrana Arango was the 30th President of Colombia from 1998 to 2002, following in the footsteps of his father, Misael Pastrana Borrero, who was president from 1970 to 1974.

Manolo Cardona

Actor

Manolo Cardona is a Colombian actor.

Duvier Riascos

Soccer

Duvier Orlando Riascos Barahona is a Colombian professional football player who currently plays for Pachuca. He is known as the "Culebra" mainly due to his celebration when he scores.

Martha Higareda

Actor

Martha Elba Higareda Cervantes is a Mexican actress. Higareda was born in Villahermosa, Tabasco, the daughter of actress Martha Cervantes and artist Jose Luis Higareda, and sister of the actress Miriam Higareda. Her debut was participating in various plays like Bang, Don Juan Tenorio, La Fonda de las Siete Cabrillas, La Casa de Té en la Luna de Agosto, Mujercitas, Muerte Que Te Quiero Muerte, La Corbata, Flores Para Chava Flores and Niñas Mal. She also appeared in diverse advertising campaigns and video clips. It is not until 1999, when she receives her professional debut as a show hostess in Disney Channel’s "Zapping Zone". After that she also appeared in other Mexican soaps like Carita de Ángel and "Cara o Cruz." In 2002, Higareda finally appeared in her first movie as a protagonist. The movie "Amarte Duele", directed by Fernando Sariñana, in which she shares credits with Luis Fernando Peña and Alfonso Herrera. A year after, she debut as a protagonist in the Mexican soap opera, "Enamórate", TV Azteca Mexican TV chain, next to Yahir, where she also shared credits with Martha Cristiana, Fernando Sarfati, and Amara Villafuerte. In 2004, she participates in another protagonist for “Las Juanas” another of TV Azteca’s soap opera.

Angie Cepeda

Actor

Angélica María Cepeda Jiménez, professionally known as Angie Cepeda, is a Colombian actress. The younger sister of actress Lorna Paz, she is probably the best known for her roles in telenovela Pobre Diabla and films Captain Pantoja and the Special Services and Love in the Time of Cholera.

Gustavo Rojas Pinilla

Military officer

Gustavo Rojas Pinilla was the 19th President of Colombia from 1953 to 1957. An Army General, he mounted a successful coup d'état against the incumbent President, Laureano Gómez Castro, imposing martial law and establishing a dictatorship-style government in Colombia.

David Ospina

Soccer

David Ospina Ramírez is a Colombian footballer who plays for Nice as a goalkeeper. Ospina is well known for incredible reflexes, remarkably saving goals by quickly crouching down low.

Macnelly Torres

Soccer Midfielder

Macnelly Torres Berrío is a Colombian footballer who currently plays for Al Shabab FC and for the Colombia national football team best known for his very accurate through passes. Torres has declared that his first name Macnelly was given to him by his father because of a famous baseball player that was around at the time of his birth.

Carmen Villalobos

Woman

Yorley del Carmen Villalobos Barrios is a Colombian actress, recognized for her supporting roles in several telenovelas including La Tormenta and Amores de Mercado. However, Villalobos is most recognized for her lead role as Catalina Santana, a pretty young prostitute with big ambitions who seeks breast augmentation in order to escape poverty in Sin Senos no hay Paraíso and most recently her lead role as Alejandra Paz, a humble poor school girl forced to attend a "rich-kid" school where the students are wild and out of control in Niños Ricos, Pobres Padres. In 2009, Carmen was included on the list of People en Español's 50 Most Beautiful list. Her next role was Lola Volcán in Mi Corazón Insiste alongside of Jencarlos Canela, Ana Layevska, and Angelica Maria. In the first half of 2012 Carmen undertook the one of the main characters in the series Made In Cartagena. The show is now aired on TV Unimas.

Mauricio Soler

Cyclist

Juan Mauricio Soler Hernández is a Colombian former professional road bicycle racer, who last rode for UCI ProTour team Movistar Team. He competed in the Tour de France for the first time in 2007, winning stage 9 having broken away on the Col du Galibier. He won that year's King of the Mountains title. Soler stated the stage win was "a victory from heaven. It is the biggest win of my life, and in my first Tour de France. I didn't think it would come so quickly." He finished 11th overall that year.

Omayra Sánchez

Deceased Person

Omayra Sánchez Garzón was a Colombian girl killed in Armero, department of Tolima, by the 1985 eruption of the Nevado del Ruiz volcano, when she was 13 years old. Volcanic debris mixed with ice to form massive lahars that rushed into the river valleys below the mountain, killing nearly 25,000 people and destroying Armero and 13 other villages. After a lahar demolished her home, Sánchez became pinned beneath the debris of her house; she remained trapped in water for three days. Her plight was documented as she descended from calmness into agony. Her courage and dignity touched journalists and relief workers, who put great efforts into comforting her. After 60 hours of struggling, she died, likely as a result of either gangrene or hypothermia. Her death highlighted the failure of officials to respond promptly to the threat of the volcano, contrasted with the efforts of volunteer rescue workers to reach and treat trapped victims, despite a dearth of supplies and equipment. Sánchez became internationally famous through a photograph of her taken by the photojournalist Frank Fournier shortly before she died. When published worldwide it generated considerable controversy; it was later designated the World Press Photo of the Year for 1985. Sánchez has remained a lasting figure in popular culture, remembered through music, literature, and commemorative articles.

Camilo Villegas

Golfer

Camilo Villegas is a Colombian professional golfer who plays on the PGA Tour.

César Gaviria

Politician

César Gaviria Trujillo was the 28th President of Colombia from 1990 to 1994, and the 7th Secretary General of the Organization of American States from 1994 until 2004.

Giovanni Moreno

Soccer

Giovanni Andrés Moreno Cardona is a Colombian footballer who plays for Chinese Super League side Shanghai Shenhua. Moreno is primarily an attacking midfielder.

Jaime Garzón

Journalist

Jaime Hernando Garzón Forero was a Colombian journalist, a comedian, lawyer, peace activist and political satirist. He was very popular on Colombian television during the 1990s, especially for his political satire. In addition to his work on television, he also had roles as a peace negotiator in the release of FARC guerrillas' hostages. He was murdered by suspected right-wing paramilitary forces in 1999, although the case remains open and unsolved.

Fabián Andrés Vargas

Soccer Midfielder

Fabián Andrés Vargas Rivera is a Colombian football midfielder who currently plays for Barcelona SC. He played also as a captain for the Colombia national team, Vargas can either play as a central Midfielder or as a defensive midfielder. Vargas is a player of physical approach to the game, Vargas' nickname is el perro. He spent most of his professional career playing for Boca Juniors, playing 106 appearances in six years.

Carlos Quintero

Soccer

Carlos Darwin Quintero Villalba is a professional Colombian football striker, currently playing for Santos Laguna in the Mexican Primera División.

Ximena Duque

Actor

Ximena Duque is a Colombian actress who rose to fame after appearing as a contestant on the second season of the Telemundo reality competition Protagonistas de Novela. Although Ximena did not win the competition, she has gone on to appear in several telenovelas, including Pecados Ajenos, El Rostro de Analia, Valeria, Los Victorinos, La Casa de al Lado, Corazón Valiente and Santa Diabla.

Lillo Brancato, Jr.

Actor

Lillo Brancato, Jr. is a Colombian-born American former actor, known for his performance as "Calogero Anello" in Robert De Niro's 1993 directorial debut, A Bronx Tale. He also played Matthew Bevilaqua, a young mobster on The Sopranos. In December 2005, Brancato was charged with second-degree murder for his role in a burglary in the Bronx, New York in which an off-duty police officer, Daniel Enchautegui, confronted two burglars and was killed in a shootout. Brancato was subsequently acquitted of murder, but he was convicted of first-degree attempted burglary and was sentenced to 10 years in prison. Co-defendant Steven Armento was convicted of firing the fatal shot in a separate trial and was sentenced to life in prison without parole.

Nina Garcia

Actor

Nina García, is a Colombian fashion journalist and critic who has held the post of Fashion Director at Elle and Marie Claire magazines, and has been a judge on the Lifetime reality television program Project Runway since its premiere season.

Luis Carlos Galán

Journalist

Luis Carlos Galán Sarmiento was a Colombian journalist and liberal politician who ran for the presidency of Colombia on two occasions, the first time representing the Liberal Party in 1982 which he lost to Belisario Betancur. These adverse results encouraged him to focus his aspirations in his political movement called New Liberalism that he had founded in 1979. The movement was initially the offspring of the mainstream Colombian Liberal Party but, with the mediation of former president Julio César Turbay, Galán returned to the party in 1987 and intended to win the party nomination for official candidate. Galán declared himself enemy of the dangerous and influential Colombian drug cartels, mainly the Medellín Cartel led by Pablo Escobar and Gonzalo Rodríguez aka "El Mexicano", that were corrupting the Colombian society at all levels. Galán supported an extradition treaty with the United States. After receiving several death threats, on 18 August 1989 Galán was shot to death by hitmen hired by the drug cartels during a public demonstration in the town of Soacha, Cundinamarca. At the time he was comfortably leading the polls for the forthcoming 1990 Presidential election. His murder investigation remains partially unsolved.

Charlie Zaa

Bolero Artist

Carlos Alberto Sánchez, better known in the entertainment world as Charlie Zaa, is a Colombian singer who has gained fame across Latin America and among Hispanics in the United States. Zaa is the son of singer Luis Humberto Sánchez.

Rafael Orozco Maestre

Vallenato Artist

Rafael Orozco Maestre, was a Colombian singer of vallenato music. He was one of the major representatives of that Colombian popular folk music and lead singer and owner, along fellow accordionist Israel Romero, of the vallenato group Binomio de Oro de América, very popular in Colombia, Mexico and Venezuela. Orozco was assassinated by gunmen in front of his house on his daughter's 15th birthday party. It is believed they were hired by an angry drug lord whose wife Orozco was having an affair with.

Luis Garavito

Man

Luis Alfredo Garavito Cubillos, a.k.a "La Bestia" or "Tribilín" is a Colombian rapist and serial killer. In 1999, he admitted to the rape and murder of 147 young boys. The number of his victims, based on the locations of skeletons listed on maps that Garavito drew in prison, could eventually exceed 300. He has been described by local media as "the world's worst serial killer" because of the high number of victims. Once captured, Garavito was subject to the maximum penalty available in Colombia, which was 30 years. However, as he confessed the crimes and helped authorities locate bodies, Colombian law allowed him to apply for special benefits, including a reduction of his sentence to 22 years and possibly an even earlier release for further cooperation and good behavior. Colombian law has since increased the maximum penalty to 60 years in prison. He is also the leader of an elite gang known only as the "RSK" In subsequent years, Colombians have increasingly felt that due to Garavito's approaching early release, his sentence is not sufficient punishment for his crimes. Colombian law originally had no way to extend the sentence, because cases of serial killers like Garavito had no legal precedent in the country and thus the legal system could not properly address this case. In late 2006, however, a judicial review of the cases against Garavito in different local jurisdictions found that his sentence could be extended and his release delayed, due to the existence of crimes he did not admit to and for which he was not previously condemned.

Juan Pablo Pino

Soccer Midfielder

Juan Pablo Pino is a Colombian footballer who lately played for Independiente Medellín in the Categoría Primera A. He primarily plays as a winger capable of playing on either side, but can also be utilized as a striker. He is known for his love to dribble with the ball and take long distance shots.

Maritza Rodríguez

TV Actor

Maritza Rodríguez Gómez is a Colombian telenovela actress and model. She is best known for her roles as Cristal Covarrubias in Venevisión's telenovela Ángel Rebelde, as Marfil Mondragon de Irázabal and Deborah Mondragón de Dávila in Venevisión's telenovela Acorralada, as Sara Andrade in Telemundo's telenovela El Rostro de Analia, as Pilar and Raquel Arismendi in Telemundo's telenovela La Casa de al Lado, as Antonia Villarroel in Telemundo's telenovela El Rostro de la Venganza and now as Teresa Cristina Palmer in Telemundo's telenovela Marido En Alquiler.

Natasha Klauss

Actor

Natasha Alexandra Rastapkavicius Arrondo, professionally known as Natasha Klauss, is a Colombian actress of Colombian and Lithuanian descent, best known for her roles in Telemundo telenovelas La Venganza, Pasión de Gavilanes, Zorro: La Espada y la Rosa and La Tormenta.

Francisco Maturana

Soccer

Francisco Maturana García, also known as Pacho is a Colombian ex-football player and football manager.

Adolfo Valencia

Soccer

Adolfo José Valencia Mosquera is a Colombian retired footballer who played as a striker. Nicknamed El tren due to his powerful physique, he played in seven different countries – having one-year spells in Germany and Spain's top-flight leagues – and represented Colombia at two World Cups.

Pedro López

Man

Pedro Alonso López is a Colombian serial killer, accused of raping and killing more than three hundred girls across South America. Aside from uncited local accounts, López’s crimes first received international attention from an interview conducted by Ron Laytner, a long time freelance photojournalist who reported interviewing López in his Ambato prison cell in 1980. Laytner’s interviews were widely published, first in the Chicago Tribune on Sunday, July thirteenth 1980, then in the Toronto Sun and The Sacramento Bee on July twenty-first 1980, and later in many other North American papers and foreign publications over the years. Apart from Laytner’s account and two brief Associated Press wire reports the story was published in The World's Most Infamous Murders by Boar and Blundell. According to Laytner’s story, López became known as the "Monster of the Andes" in 1980 when he led police to the graves of fifty-three of his victims in Ecuador, all girls between nine and twelve years old. In 1983 he was found guilty of murdering 110 young girls in Ecuador alone and confessed to a further 240 murders of missing girls in neighbouring Peru and Colombia. López was released from prison in 1998.