Juan Carlos Garrido Acevedo

Started: He took up the sport in 1998 in Santiago, Chile. (Athlete, 11 Jul 2019, 08 Feb 2012) Reason: He played wheelchair basketball until a friend suggested he should try powerlifting and, within three months, he was competing at the 1998 World Championships in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. "I chose it because it is an individual sport." (Athlete, 11 Jul 2019; eldefinido.cl, 16 Jan 2014) Ambition: To compete at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. (latercera.com, 18 Nov 2023) Awards: In 2015 and 2019 he was named Para Powerlifter of the Year by the Chile Sports Journalists Association. The same organisation named him Para Athlete of the Year in 2014. (eldinamo.cl, 13 Dec 2019; paralympic.org, 22 Dec 2015; teleton.cl, 22 Dec 2015; paralimpico.cl, 19 Dec 2014) He was flag bearer for Chile at the opening ceremony of the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. He was also flag bearer for Chile at the closing ceremony of the 2015 Parapan American Games in Toronto, ON, Canada. (mindep.cl, 29 Jul 2016; paralympic.org, 15 Aug 2015) He received the 2015 National Sports Award from the Minster of Sports of Chile. (24horas.cl, 29 Dec 2016) Additional Info: COMPETITIVE BREAKS He decided to take a 15-month break from competing after failing to register a valid lift while competing in the 59kg category at the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. "I was very well prepared for Rio, but sadly I couldn't get what I was looking for. After that, I took time off and only returned in 2017 for the world championships. It was my first competition since Rio and I had plenty of things in my head. However, I finished fifth which made me very happy. I'm not used to celebrating a position outside the podium but the fact that I achieved this result after being away from competition for a year made me feel very happy." Previously, he had taken a break from the sport after claiming he had been mistakenly entered into the 48kg category instead of the 56kg category at the 2004 Paralympic Games in Athens and could not make the weight. He returned to compete in the 67.5kg category at the 2006 World Championships in Busan, Republic of Korea, and then did not participate in Para powerlifting again until 2011 when he was inspired to come back by his daughter. "My coach called me the same day I got separated from my wife and I wanted to show to my daughter that, even though I am away from her, I am fighting for her." (SportsDeskOnline, 29 Apr 2021; paralympic.org, 07 Mar 2021, 17 Aug 2016; paralimpico.cl, 11 May 2020) OTHER ACTIVITIES He has served as a director of the National Commission of Athletes of Chile [DAR]. (X profile, 25 Apr 2021) CARPENTER He enjoys making furniture in his spare time. "My workshop is the place where I come to clear my head, to get rid of all the problems, forget about brands, competitions, training, and I have it well armed. Every chance I get I buy new tools, because at some point I will leave the sport and perhaps I will have more time to dedicate myself to furniture making." (latercera.com, 22 Oct 2023)