Pedzisa mutsara unotevera: De Lima akakunda marathon yake yokutanga muna 1996, achitora zita reTokyo International Marathon. Akaenda kumitambo yake yokutanga yeOlympic yegore iroro, achimhanya mumarathon pa
Mitambo yeAtlanta ya1996 uye akapedza ari panzvimbo yechi47. Kuoneka kwake kwenyika kwakatanga gore rakatevera pa1997 World Championships in Athletics, kwaakapedza ari wechi23. Akagadzira nguva yake yakanakisa ye2:08:31 pa1998 Tokyo Marathon, achipedza wechipiri kuseri kwaAlberto Juzdado.