Biography
Started: He took up athletics in 2010 in Cali, Colombia. (Athlete, 08 Nov 2019)
Reason: Coach Freiman Arias convinced him to take up athletics after seeing him lift weights. (Athlete, 08 Nov 2019; Mundo Deportes, 23 Apr 2015; elpais.com.co, 08 Feb 2014)
Milestones: He became the first athletics competitor representing Colombia to win a gold medal at the Paralympic Games when he finished in first place in the F34 javelin at the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro. (SportsDeskOnline, 21 May 2024)
Awards: In 2017 and 2019 he was named Para Athlete of the Year in Colombia. (paradeportes.co, 06 Dec 2017; elpais.com.co, 20 Dec 2019)
He was named Para Athlete of the Year of the Valle del Cauca department in Colombia in both 2017 and 2019. (elpais.com.co, 19 Feb 2018; valledelcauca.gov.co, 09 Dec 2020)
Two stamps were dedicated to him by the national postal service in Colombia after he won a gold medal and a bronze medal at the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. (afitecol.com, 23 Jan 2017)
Additional Info: TEETH MODIFICATION
He had his canine teeth modified to resemble fangs in order to change the stereotype of Para athletes. "I didn't want to have the same smile as the rest of the world. I've always said that Paralympic sport has to be a show. That means being outside of the stereotype of sitting in a wheelchair. It's a matter of attitude in life, and while I am competing." (paranacionales.gov.co, 07 Dec 2019)
Sporting Relatives: His father Dagoberto played football for Alianza Llanos Covisan in Colombia. (cali.extra.com.co, 03 Aug 2016; 90minutos.co, 22 Jul 2016)
Frequently Asked Questions
Personal Details
GenderMale
Birth DateDecember 28, 1987
Place of ResidenceCALI
OccupationAthlete
EducationInformation Technology - Foundation CIDCA, Villavicencio, COL
Languages SpokenSpanish
CoachFreiman Arias [national]
Highlights
| Rank | Event | Year | Location | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paralympic Games | ||||
| 1 | Javelin Throw - F34 | 2016 | Rio de Janeiro, BRA | 36.65 |
| 2 | Javelin Throw - F34 | 2020 | Tokyo, JPN | 37.84 |
| 3 | Shot Put - F34 | 2016 | Rio de Janeiro, BRA | 11.10 |
| 5 | Shot Put - F34 | 2020 | Tokyo, JPN | 11.03 |
| 5 | Shot Put - F34 | 2012 | London, GBR | 11.82 |
| 9 | Men's Javelin Throw F33/34 | 2012 | London, GBR | 33.31 |
| 12 | Men's Discus Throw F32/33/34 | 2012 | London, GBR | 36.50 |
| World Championships | ||||
| 1 | Javelin Throw - F34 | 2019 | Dubai, UAE | 35.25 |
| 1 | Javelin Throw - F34 | 2017 | London, GBR | 35.21 |
| 2 | Javelin Throw - F34 | 2024 | Kobe, JPN | 37.07 |
| 2 | Javelin Throw - F34 | 2023 | Paris, FRA | 38.01 |
| 2 | Shot Put - F34 | 2023 | Paris, FRA | 11.68 |
| 2 | Men's Discus Throw F34 | 2015 | Doha, QAT | 35.06 |
| 2 | Javelin Throw - F34 | 2015 | Doha, QAT | 34.38 |
| 3 | Shot Put - F34 | 2019 | Dubai, UAE | 11.35 |
| 3 | Shot Put - F34 | 2017 | London, GBR | 10.89 |
| 3 | Shot Put - F34 | 2015 | Doha, QAT | 10.93 |
| 3 | Men's Javelin Throw F33/34 | 2013 | Lyon, FRA | 38.80 |
| 4 | Men's Discus Throw F34 | 2017 | London, GBR | 34.03 |
| 4 | Men's Discus Throw F32/33/34 | 2013 | Lyon, FRA | 42.44 |
| 6 | Shot Put - F34 | 2013 | Lyon, FRA | 11.91 |
| 7 | Shot Put - F34 | 2024 | Kobe, JPN | 10.48 |
| ParaPan American Games | ||||
| 1 | Men's Shot Put F32/33/34 | 2023 | Santiago, CHI | 11.17 |
