Biography
Started: He did his first triathlon in 2010 when he was a student at the Technical University of Valencia. He started competing in Para triathlon in 2014. (heraldo.es, 17 Aug 2021; hectorcatala.es, 23 Apr 2020)
Reason: He had swam when he was a child and also started running at university, where his swimming coach suggested he try triathlon. His vision continued to deteriorate and, in 2013, he had an accident on a bicycle when he did not see a concrete block and crashed into it. He then decided to join the Spanish National Organisation of the Blind [ONCE], where he was persuaded to try Para triathlon. (heraldo.es, 17 Aug 2021; lasprovincias.es, 17 May 2021; paralympic.org, 21 Sep 2020; hectorcatala.es, 23 Apr 2020)
Ambition: To win a gold medal at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. (yosoynoticia.es, 09 Jul 2023)
Awards: The Hector Catala Sports Centre in Serra, Spain, was named in his honour. (rocodromos.com, 14 Sep 2023)
Additional Info: PREVIOUS OCCUPATION
He worked as a process engineer before deciding to focus on his career as a Para triathlete in 2017. (heraldo.es, 17 Aug 2021; lasprovincias.es, 17 May 2021; LinkedIn profile, 15 May 2021)
Frequently Asked Questions
Personal Details
GenderMale
Birth DateJune 17, 1988
OccupationAthlete
EducationIndustrial Engineering - Technical University of Valencia, Spain
Languages SpokenSpanish
CoachCarles Fuentes
Highlights
PARA TRIATHLON
| Rank | Event | Year | Location | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paralympic Games | ||||
| 2 | PTVI | 2020 | Tokyo, JPN | 1:02:11 |
| World Championships | ||||
| 1 | PTVI | 2019 | Lausanne, SUI | 1:05:03 |
| 2 | PTVI | 2021 | Abu Dhabi, UAE | 59:47 |
| 3 | PTVI | 2018 | Gold Coast, QLD, AUS | 1:00:30 |
| 3 | Men's PT5 | 2016 | Rotterdam, NED | 1:08:02 |
| 4 | PTVI | 2022 | Abu Dhabi, UAE | 1:01:29 |
| 4 | PTVI | 2017 | Rotterdam, NED | 1:07:33 |
| 5 | PTVI | 2023 | Pontevedra, ESP | 59:25 |
| 7 | Men's PT5 | 2015 | Chicago, IL, USA | 1:10:02 |
| European Championships | ||||
| 3 | PTVI | 2021 | Valencia, ESP | 1:02:00 |
| 4 | PTVI | 2023 | Madrid, ESP | 56:04 |
| 8 | PTVI | 2022 | Olsztyn, POL | 50:10 |
PARA CYCLING
| Rank | Event | Year | Location | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Road World Championships | ||||
| 4 | B Individual Time Trial | 2022 | Baie-Comeau, QC, CAN | |
| 6 | B Road Race | 2022 | Baie-Comeau, QC, CAN | |
PARA CYCLING - TRACK
| Rank | Event | Year | Location | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UCI Para-Cycling Track World Championships | ||||
| 7 | B 4000m Individual Pursuit | 2022 | Montigny-le-Bretonneux, FRA | |
| 13 | B 1000m Time Trial | 2022 | Montigny-le-Bretonneux, FRA | |
