Carlos Martinez Fernandez

Started: He took up the sport in 2004 in Pozuelo, Spain, through the city council's Adapted Aquatic Activity Service. (blog.wellrespect.es, 25 Jun 2021; Athlete, 03 Dec 2017) Reason: Doctors encouraged him to start swimming following his traffic accident. "Swimming really wasn't my favourite sport, and I started as part of my post-accident rehab. That was an opportunity to learn about competitive swimming and I joined the club in Pozuelo. When I started to stand out, I found that I loved winning and that I excelled at swimming, which definitely hooked me." (blog.wellrespect.es, 25 Jun 2021; Athlete, 03 Dec 2017) Ambition: To win a medal at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. (Athlete, 26 Aug 2024) Awards: In 2022 the El Torreon swimming pool in Pozuelo, Spain, was renamed in his honour. (pozuelodealarcon.org, 24 Feb 2022; diariodepozuelo.es, 14 Mar 2023) In 2019 he was named Best Male Athlete in Pozuelo, Spain. He was also named Sports Promise of the Year in Pozuelo in 2016, and Best Para Athlete in 2015. (pozueloin.es, 16 Dec 2019; pozuelodealarcon.org, 30 Apr 2016; pozuelodealarcon.org, 29 Jul 2015) In 2018 he was named Most Promising Para Athlete in Madrid, Spain. (pozueloin.es, 16 Dec 2019)