Miguel Luque

Started: He began swimming at age six in Parets del Valles, Spain. (Athlete, 27 Aug 2024) Reason: He was inspired to take up the sport after watching the 1992 Paralympic Games in Barcelona. He also found swimming had therapeutic benefits. (Athlete, 15 Aug 2018; paralimpicos.sportec.es, 20 May 2010) Ambition: To compete at the Paralympic Games in 2024 and 2028. (dxtadaptado.com, 20 Feb 2023; epe.es, 31 Mar 2024) Awards: In 2013 he received the Silver Medal of the Royal Order of Sports Merit in Spain. (stjosep.com, 18 May 2018) The Miguel Luque Municipal Pool in Parets del Valles, Spain, was named in his honour. (cpnl.cat, 23 May 2013) In 2009 he was the recipient of the Bronze Medal of the Royal Order of Sports Merit in Spain. (casareal.es, 22 Apr 2009) Additional Info: CHALLENGES In June 2017 he completed an open water swim across the Strait of Gibraltar for charity. He has also completed a challenge to swim one metre for each inhabitant of the municipality of Parets del Valles, Spain, swimming 17,900 metres in under eight hours. (stjosep.com, 18 May 2018; lavanguardia.com, 06 Jun 2017) EYES ON PARIS He has set his sights on competing at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris, which will be his seventh Paralympic appearance since his debut at the 2000 Games in Sydney. "It's clear that each year gets harder to recover from training and injuries but I keep on trying to improve those little details every day to come back the next day with more motivation and strength. For me, being at the next Paralympic Games will be a big personal satisfaction and the result of a big teamwork." (dxtadaptado.com, 20 Feb 2023)