Guatemala debuted in the Paralympic movement at the [[1976 Summer Paralympics]] in [[Toronto]], Canada. They have sent a delegation to most [[Summer Paralympic Games]] since, missing only the [[1980 Summer Paralympics|1980]], [[1992 Summer Paralympics|1992]], [[1996 Summer Paralympics|1996]] and the [[2000 Summer Paralympics|2000]] editions.<ref name="GuatemalaIPCOverview">{{cite web|url=https://www.paralympic.org/sdms/hira/web/country/guatemala|title=Guatemala at the Paralympic Games|publisher=[[International Paralympic Committee]]|archive-url=https://archive.istoday/UArjY20181017112609/https://www.paralympic.org/sdms/hira/web/country/guatemala|archive-date=17 October 2018|deadurl=no|accessdate=17 October 2018|df=dmy-all}}</ref> The Games in Rio de Janeiro were the nation's seventh appearance at a Summer Paralympiad.<ref name="GuatemalaIPCOverview" /> Guatemala have won two Paralympic medals in the sport of [[Olympic weightlifting|weightlifting]].<ref name="ADeportivaSep16">{{cite news|title=Oscar Raxón, la carta para los Juegos Paralimpicos de Río 2016|url=https://antorchadeportiva.com/oscar-raxon-la-carta-para-los-juegos-paralimpicos-de-rio-2016/|newspaper=Antorcha Deportiva|language=Spanish|date=3 September 2016|accessdate=17 October 2018|deadurl=no|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160904161240/http://antorchadeportiva.com/oscar-raxon-la-carta-para-los-juegos-paralimpicos-de-rio-2016/|archive-date=4 September 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref> The 2016 Summer Paralympics were held from 7–18 September 2016 with a total of 4,328 athletes representing 159 [[National Paralympic Committee|National Paralympic Committees]] taking part.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.paralympic.org/rio-2016|title=Rio 2016|publisher=International Paralympic Committee|accessdate=16 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180720033214/https://www.paralympic.org/rio-2016|archive-date=20 July 2018|dead-url=no|df=dmy-all}}</ref> [[Middle-distance running|Middle-distance runner]] Óscar Raxón Siquiej was the only athlete to represent Guatemala at the Rio de Janeiro Summer Paralympic Games,<ref name="PNewsSep16">{{cite news|url=https://www.publinews.gt/gt/deportes/2016/09/02/oscar-raxon-recibe-bendicion-azul-blanco-previo-viaje-rio.html|title=Óscar Raxón recibe "la bendición" de la azul y blanco previo a su viaje a Rio|last=Damián|first=Reina|date=2 September 2016|newspaper=[[Metro International|Publinews]]|accessdate=17 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181017112218/https://www.publinews.gt/gt/deportes/2016/09/02/oscar-raxon-recibe-bendicion-azul-blanco-previo-viaje-rio.html|archive-date=17 October 2018|deadurl=no|language=Spanish}}</ref> and was selected to be the flag bearer for the [[2016 Summer Paralympics Parade of Nations|parade of nations]] during the [[2016 Summer Paralympics opening ceremony|opening ceremony]].<ref name="BBCSportSep16">{{cite web|last1=Lofthouse|first1=Amy|last2=Williams|first2=Nate|title=Rio 2016 Paralympics opening ceremony – as it happened|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/live/disability-sport/37226555|publisher=[[BBC Sport]]|date=7 September 2016|accessdate=17 October 2018|deadurl=no|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160912053704/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/live/disability-sport/37226555|archive-date=12 September 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref> He was accompanied by the [[Head of mission|chef de mission]] of the team Noé Hinestroza, Siquiej's coach Luis Álvarez, doctor Erika Pérez and Paralympic attaché Rodolfo Quezada.<ref name="ADeportivaSep16" />
