Discover Peru
English Español Français
Alfonso Santistevan - Playwright and actor

Alfonso Santistevan

Playwright and actor

Alfredo Bryce Echenique - Novelist

Alfredo Bryce Echenique

Novelist

Ana María Intili - Writer and poet

Ana María Intili

Writer and poet

Ángela Leyva - Volleyball player

Ángela Leyva

Volleyball player

Antonio Raimondi - Italian-Peruvian naturalist and geographer

Antonio Raimondi

Italian-Peruvian naturalist and geographer

Arturo Zambo Cavero - Singer and percussionist

Arturo Zambo Cavero

Singer and percussionist

Atahualpa - Last Inca emperor

Atahualpa

Last Inca emperor

Beatriz Merino - Politician, former prime Minister

Beatriz Merino

Politician, former prime Minister

Beto Ortiz - Journalist and TV host

Beto Ortiz

Journalist and TV host

Blanca Varela - Poet

Blanca Varela

Poet

Cahuide - Inca warrior

Cahuide

Inca warrior

Carlos Alcántara - Actor and comedian

Carlos Alcántara

Actor and comedian

Carlos Bustamante - Biophysicist

Carlos Bustamante

Biophysicist

Carlos Germán Belli - Poet

Carlos Germán Belli

Poet

Carlos Monge Medrano - Doctor and researcher

Carlos Monge Medrano

Doctor and researcher

Carlos Rodríguez-Pastor - Businessman, Interbank group

Carlos Rodríguez-Pastor

Businessman, Interbank group

César Hildebrandt - Journalist and writer

César Hildebrandt

Journalist and writer

César Vallejo - Poet and writer

César Vallejo

Poet and writer

Chabuca Granda - Singer and songwriter

Chabuca Granda

Singer and songwriter

Ciro Alegría - Writer

Ciro Alegría

Writer

Claudia Llosa - Film director, Berlin Golden Bear winner

Claudia Llosa

Film director, Berlin Golden Bear winner

Claudio Pizarro - Football player

Claudio Pizarro

Football player

Clorinda Matto de Turner - Writer and journalist

Clorinda Matto de Turner

Writer and journalist

Daniel Alcides Carrión - Doctor and scientist

Daniel Alcides Carrión

Doctor and scientist

Deborah Valença - Photograph

Deborah Valença

Photograph

Deysi Cori - Chess player

Deysi Cori

Chess player

Eduardo Hochschild - Industrialist

Eduardo Hochschild

Industrialist

Edwin Donayre - Former general

Edwin Donayre

Former general

Elmer Huerta - Specialist in public health

Elmer Huerta

Specialist in public health

Érika Villalobos - Actress and singer

Érika Villalobos

Actress and singer

Eva Ayllón - Afro-Peruvian music singer

Eva Ayllón

Afro-Peruvian music singer

Federico Villarreal - Mathematician and engineer

Federico Villarreal

Mathematician and engineer

Felipe Huamán Poma de Ayala - Indigenous chronicler

Felipe Huamán Poma de Ayala

Indigenous chronicler

Fernando Cabieses Molina - Neurologist and anthropologist

Fernando Cabieses Molina

Neurologist and anthropologist

Fernando de Szyszlo - Painter

Fernando de Szyszlo

Painter

Flavio Maestri - Football player

Flavio Maestri

Football player

Francisco Bolognesi - National hero, military leader

Francisco Bolognesi

National hero, military leader

Francisco González Prada - Intellectual and reformer

Francisco González Prada

Intellectual and reformer

Gastón Acurio - Chef and entrepreneur

Gastón Acurio

Chef and entrepreneur

Gerardo Privat - Fashion designer

Gerardo Privat

Fashion designer

Gian Marco - Singer-songwriter

Gian Marco

Singer-songwriter

Gisela Valcárcel - TV presenter

Gisela Valcárcel

TV presenter

Gladys Tejeda - Marathon runner

Gladys Tejeda

Marathon runner

Guaman Poma - Indigenous Peruvian chronicler

Guaman Poma

Indigenous Peruvian chronicler

Gustavo Gutiérrez - Theologian

Gustavo Gutiérrez

Theologian

Héctor Chumpitaz - Former national team captain

Héctor Chumpitaz

Former national team captain

Hernán Garrido Lecca - Economist and former health minister

Hernán Garrido Lecca

Economist and former health minister

Inés Huaylas Yupanqui - Inca princess

Inés Huaylas Yupanqui

Inca princess

Jaime Bayly - Writer and television host

Jaime Bayly

Writer and television host

Jaime Guardia - Folk musician

Jaime Guardia

Folk musician

Javier Heraud - Poet and guerrilla

Javier Heraud

Poet and guerrilla

Javier Pérez de Cuéllar - Former UN secretary-general

Javier Pérez de Cuéllar

Former UN secretary-general

Javier Wong - Chef, known for fusion cuisine

Javier Wong

Chef, known for fusion cuisine

Jefferson Farfán - Football player

Jefferson Farfán

Football player

Jorge Chávez - Peruvian aviation pioneer

Jorge Chávez

Peruvian aviation pioneer

Jorge Eduardo Eielson - Poet and artist

Jorge Eduardo Eielson

Poet and artist

José Carlos Mariátegui - Marxist philosopher and writer

José Carlos Mariátegui

Marxist philosopher and writer

José Graña Miró Quesada - Industrialist and businessman

José Graña Miró Quesada

Industrialist and businessman

José María Arguedas - Novelist and ethnologist

José María Arguedas

Novelist and ethnologist

José Sabogal - Painter and muralist

José Sabogal

Painter and muralist

Juan Diego Flórez - Opera tenor

Juan Diego Flórez

Opera tenor

Juan José Cueva - Fashion designer

Juan José Cueva

Fashion designer

Juan Landázuri Ricketts - Cardinal of Lima

Juan Landázuri Ricketts

Cardinal of Lima

Juan Pablo Varillas - Peruvian tennis player

Juan Pablo Varillas

Peruvian tennis player

Juan Reynoso - Football coach

Juan Reynoso

Football coach

Juan Santos Atahualpa - Leader of the indigenous rebellion

Juan Santos Atahualpa

Leader of the indigenous rebellion

Juan Valer Sandoval - Military hero

Juan Valer Sandoval

Military hero

Leoncio Prado - War of the Pacific hero

Leoncio Prado

War of the Pacific hero

Lina Medina - The youngest mother in history

Lina Medina

The youngest mother in history

Lourdes Flores Nano - Politician

Lourdes Flores Nano

Politician

Lucha Reyes - Creole music singer

Lucha Reyes

Creole music singer

Lucho Horna - Tennis player

Lucho Horna

Tennis player

Lucho Quequezana - Musician

Lucho Quequezana

Musician

Luis Alberto Sánchez - Writer and politician

Luis Alberto Sánchez

Writer and politician

Luis Bedoya Reyes - Politician and founder of the Christian Democratic Party

Luis Bedoya Reyes

Politician and founder of the Christian Democratic Party

Luis Fernando Figari - Founder of Sodalitium Christianae Vitae

Luis Fernando Figari

Founder of Sodalitium Christianae Vitae

Luis Guillermo Lumbreras - Archaeologist and anthropologist

Luis Guillermo Lumbreras

Archaeologist and anthropologist

Luis Miguel Sánchez Cerro - Military leader and politician

Luis Miguel Sánchez Cerro

Military leader and politician

Magaly Medina - Television host

Magaly Medina

Television host

Magaly Solier - Actress and singer

Magaly Solier

Actress and singer

Margarita Checa - Contemporary sculptor

Margarita Checa

Contemporary sculptor

María Elena Moyano - Women’s rights activist

María Elena Moyano

Women’s rights activist

María Julia Mantilla - Beauty queen

María Julia Mantilla

Beauty queen

María Luisa Aguilar - Astrophysicist

María Luisa Aguilar

Astrophysicist

María Parado de Bellido - Heroine of independence

María Parado de Bellido

Heroine of independence

María Reiche - Mathematician and archaeologist

María Reiche

Mathematician and archaeologist

María Rostworowski - Historian and anthropologist

María Rostworowski

Historian and anthropologist

Mariano Ignacio Prado - Military figure and historical figure

Mariano Ignacio Prado

Military figure and historical figure

Mario Testino - Fashion photographer

Mario Testino

Fashion photographer

Mario Vargas Llosa - Writer, Nobel Prize in Literature, Politician

Mario Vargas Llosa

Writer, Nobel Prize in Literature, Politician

Mateo Pumacahua - Revolutionary leader

Mateo Pumacahua

Revolutionary leader

Máxima Acuña - Environmental activist

Máxima Acuña

Environmental activist

Micaela Bastidas - Leader of the indigenous rebellion

Micaela Bastidas

Leader of the indigenous rebellion

Michael Spitzer - Musician from Gaia band

Michael Spitzer

Musician from Gaia band

Miguel Grau - War hero

Miguel Grau

War hero

Miguel Iglesias - Military leader and politician

Miguel Iglesias

Military leader and politician

Mitsuharu Tsumura - Chef, known for Nikkei cuisine

Mitsuharu Tsumura

Chef, known for Nikkei cuisine

Natalia Málaga - Volleyball coach and former player

Natalia Málaga

Volleyball coach and former player

Nélida Sifuentes - Environmental activist

Nélida Sifuentes

Environmental activist

Nicola Porcella - Television personality

Nicola Porcella

Television personality

Oswaldo Reynoso - Writer

Oswaldo Reynoso

Writer

Paolo Guerrero - Football player

Paolo Guerrero

Football player

Patricia García - Epidemiologist and former health Minister

Patricia García

Epidemiologist and former health Minister

Pedro Paulet - Inventor and aerospace pioneer

Pedro Paulet

Inventor and aerospace pioneer

Pedro Ruiz Gallo - Soldier and inventor

Pedro Ruiz Gallo

Soldier and inventor

Pedro Suárez Vértiz - Rock singer

Pedro Suárez Vértiz

Rock singer

Pía León - Chef and co-owner of Central restaurant

Pía León

Chef and co-owner of Central restaurant

Ramón Castilla Márquez - Painter

Ramón Castilla Márquez

Painter

Raúl Ruidíaz - Football player

Raúl Ruidíaz

Football player

Rebeca Escribens - TV presenter and actress

Rebeca Escribens

TV presenter and actress

Ricardo Blume - Actor

Ricardo Blume

Actor

Ricardo Palma - Writer and historian

Ricardo Palma

Writer and historian

Rosa María Palacios - Journalist and lawyer

Rosa María Palacios

Journalist and lawyer

Ruth Shady - Archaeologist, founder of Caral site

Ruth Shady

Archaeologist, founder of Caral site

Saint Martin de Porres - Monk and Saint

Saint Martin de Porres

Monk and Saint

Saint Rose of Lima - Saint, patron of Latin America

Saint Rose of Lima

Saint, patron of Latin America

Santiago Antúnez de Mayolo - Physicist and engineer

Santiago Antúnez de Mayolo

Physicist and engineer

Sofía Mulanovich - World champion surfer

Sofía Mulanovich

World champion surfer

Sofía Rocha - Actress

Sofía Rocha

Actress

Sophie Jallais - Oncologist

Sophie Jallais

Oncologist

Susana Baca - Singer, Latin Grammy winner

Susana Baca

Singer, Latin Grammy winner

Susana Villarán - Former mayor of Lima

Susana Villarán

Former mayor of Lima

Tania Libertad - Singer

Tania Libertad

Singer

Tatiana Astengo - Actress

Tatiana Astengo

Actress

Teodoro Fernández - Former football player

Teodoro Fernández

Former football player

Teodoro Núñez Ureta - Painter

Teodoro Núñez Ureta

Painter

Teófilo Cubillas - Former football player

Teófilo Cubillas

Former football player

Tilsa Tsuchiya - Painter

Tilsa Tsuchiya

Painter

Titu Cusi Yupanqui - Inca leader

Titu Cusi Yupanqui

Inca leader

Toribio de Mogrovejo - Archbishop, saint

Toribio de Mogrovejo

Archbishop, saint

Túpac Amaru II - Leader of the indigenous rebellion

Túpac Amaru II

Leader of the indigenous rebellion

Túpac Katari - Revolutionary indigenous leader

Túpac Katari

Revolutionary indigenous leader

Víctor Andrés Belaunde - Diplomat and intellectual

Víctor Andrés Belaunde

Diplomat and intellectual

Víctor Delfín - Sculptor and painter

Víctor Delfín

Sculptor and painter

Víctor Raúl Haya de la Torre - Political leader, founder of APRA

Víctor Raúl Haya de la Torre

Political leader, founder of APRA

Violeta Bermúdez - Lawyer and Former prime minister

Violeta Bermúdez

Lawyer and Former prime minister

Virgilio Martínez - Chef of Central restaurant

Virgilio Martínez

Chef of Central restaurant

Vladimiro Montesinos - Former head of secret services

Vladimiro Montesinos

Former head of secret services

Wendy Sulca - Popular singer

Wendy Sulca

Popular singer

Yirko Sivirich - Fashion designer

Yirko Sivirich

Fashion designer

Yma Sumac - Exotic music singer

Yma Sumac

Exotic music singer

Lina Medina - Gave birth at the age of 5

Biography

Lina Medina, born on September 23, 1933, in Ticrapo, a small village in The Andes of Peru, is known worldwide as the youngest mother in recorded history. In 1939, at just five years old, Lina astonished the international medical community by giving birth to a baby, a case that continues to intrigue medical professionals to this day.

An Unprecedented Medical Case

Lina Medina's case began when her parents took her to the hospital due to unusual abdominal swelling. Initially, doctors believed Lina had a tumor, but they were shocked to discover that she was approximately seven months pregnant. At the age of five, Lina gave birth to a healthy baby boy via cesarean section on May 14, 1939. The baby, named Gerardo in honor of one of the doctors who treated her, weighed 2.7 kilograms.

Precocious Puberty

Lina Medina's pregnancy was the result of an extremely rare condition known as precocious puberty, which causes the early development of reproductive organs. Although uncommon, this condition has been documented in other cases, but Lina's remains the most remarkable due to her young age at the time of birth.

Repercussions and Media Attention

Lina Medina's case attracted worldwide media attention. Doctors and journalists from various parts of the world traveled to Peru to learn more about the case. Despite the media attention, Lina's parents, concerned about their daughter's well-being, chose to maintain her privacy as much as possible. To this day, details about the child's father and the circumstances surrounding the pregnancy remain a mystery, as Lina and her family have never disclosed this information. This has led to much speculation over the years, but the Medina family has chosen silence, protecting Lina from public exposure.

Life After the Birth

After giving birth, Lina Medina and her son Gerardo were raised together, with Lina taking on the role of older sister to avoid the social stigma that might have arisen. Gerardo grew up within the Medina family and lived a relatively normal life, unaware that his "sister" was actually his biological mother until he was ten years old. Sadly, Gerardo passed away at the age of 40 due to illness, while Lina Medina has led a quiet life, away from the media spotlight. Over the years, she has maintained great discretion about her personal life and has never publicly spoken about the events that shaped her early years.

Impact on Medical Science

Lina Medina's case has continued to be a subject of study and analysis in the medical field due to the rarity of the situation. Over the years, numerous theories and speculations have been proposed about how the pregnancy occurred, but no definitive explanation has emerged. Her case has helped science gain a better understanding of precocious puberty and its implications, but it remains a unique medical mystery in modern medical history.

Privacy and Personal Life

Throughout her life, Lina Medina has preferred to maintain a low profile. After the events that made her world-famous, she chose not to speak publicly about her experience. Although some journalists have attempted to interview her over the years, Lina has maintained strict privacy about her personal life. She currently lives in Lima, Peru, with her husband and another child, leading a simple life away from the public eye.

Conclusion

Lina Medina remains an enigmatic figure in medical history. Her case serves as a reminder of the complexities and mysteries of the human body. Despite the attention she has received over the years, she has managed to preserve her privacy and live a quiet life. Lina Medina's story is undoubtedly one of the most extraordinary in medical history, and her legacy as the world's youngest mother continues to endure.