Andre Rocha

Started: He took up the sport in 2013. (cpb.org.br, 07 Dec 2018; img.org.br, 11 Jun 2018) Reason: He discovered Para athletics after reading about the sport in a magazine article. (globoesporte.globo.com, 06 Oct 2015) Ambition: To compete at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. (revistareacao.com.br, 31 Dec 2021) Awards: In 2015 and 2018 he was named Male Para Athlete of the Year in Taubate, Brazil. (vozdovale.com.br, 29 Nov 2018; guiataubate.com.br, 19 Apr 2016) He received the People's Athlete of the Year Award at the 2017 Paralympic Awards organised by the Brazilian Paralympic Committee [CPB]. (cpb.org.br, 07 Dec 2018) Additional Info: SHOOTING PARA SPORT He has competed in shooting Para sport at national level in Brazil. "The desire to participate in shooting arose before I even started in Para athletics. However, the initial investment in shooting was high and at the time the conditions were not suitable. That's why I joined track and field. Things were flowing [in Para athletics], and I ended up leaving shooting aside. But it's a sport that has always interested me. Being in the military I identify with the practice. My initial idea was to move on to shooting after finishing my career in athletics, but I later decided to combine the two sports." (Programa Esporte Para Todos Facebook page, 07 Dec 2019) OTHER ACTIVITIES He has served as high performance coordinator of the Programa Esporte Para Todos [Sport for All Programme], a Para sports group in Taubate, Brazil. (Facebook page, 07 Nov 2023; Programa Esporte Para Todos Facebook page, 13 Feb 2023)