Biography
Started: He took up Para cycling in 2016. (elespanol.com, 10 Aug 2019)
Reason: He used to ride bicycles before his accident. Three months after his amputations he was back on a bike that had been adapted by his father and his brother. "It was like tearing down a wall. I realised I could accomplish anything that I wanted, and also learnt to face challenges in a positive way." (marca.com, 16 Sep 2019; elespanol.com, 10 Aug 2019)
Ambition: To win gold at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. (marca.com, 22 Sep 2023)
Awards: He was named flag bearer for Spain at the opening ceremony of the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo along with Para swimmer Michelle Alonso. (dxtadaptado.com, 15 Jun 2021)
In 2019 he received the Gold Medal of the Royal Order of Merit from the Spanish government. He had been presented with the Silver Medal of the Royal Order of Merit in 2009. (ciclo21.com, 21 Nov 2019; ricardoten.net, 15 May 2019)
In 2019 he was named Best Para Cyclist in the C classification by the International Cycling Union [UCI]. (ciclo21.com, 22 Oct 2019)
In 2009 he received the City of Valencia Sports Merit Award in Spain. (ricardoten.net, 15 May 2019)
In 2008 he was named Para Athlete of the Year at the Nostresport Awards in Spain. (telefonicaabilityawards.com, 16 Aug 2012)
In 2002 a sports hall in Benimamet, Spain, was named after him. (ricardoten.net, 15 May 2019)
In 1997 he was named Para Athlete of the Year in Paterna, Spain. (ricardoten.net, 15 May 2019)
Additional Info: CHANGE OF SPORT
He competed in Para swimming at international level for more than 20 years, representing Spain at five editions of the Paralympic Games from 1996 to 2016. In 2017 he began pursuing Para alpine skiing and Para table tennis before deciding to focus on Para cycling. "I tried them only to have fun. I've always considered myself an agile and skilled person. Swimming taught me how to suffer in training. The bike was not unknown to me so it took less time [to adapt]." (elespanol.com, 10 Aug 2019; marca.com, 28 Dec 2017)
Frequently Asked Questions
Personal Details
GenderMale
Birth DateAugust 11, 1975
Place of ResidenceVALENCIA
OccupationAthlete
Languages SpokenSpanish
CoachEloy Izquierdo [personal]
Highlights
PARA CYCLING
| Rank | Event | Year | Location | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paralympic Games | ||||
| 10 | C1-3 Road Race | 2020 | Tokyo, JPN | |
| DNF | C1 Individual Time Trial | 2020 | Tokyo, JPN | |
| Road World Championships | ||||
| 1 | C1 Individual Time Trial | 2023 | Glasgow, GBR | |
| 1 | Men's C1 - Road Race | 2022 | Baie-Comeau, QC, CAN | |
| 1 | C1 Individual Time Trial | 2021 | Cascais, POR | |
| 1 | Men's C1 - Road Race | 2019 | Emmen, NED | |
| 2 | Men's C1 - Road Race | 2023 | Glasgow, GBR | |
| 2 | Men's C1 - Road Race | 2021 | Cascais, POR | |
| 2 | Men's C1 - Road Race | 2018 | Maniago, ITA | |
| 2 | Men's C1 - Road Race | 2017 | Pietermaritzburg, RSA | |
| 3 | C1 Individual Time Trial | 2022 | Baie-Comeau, QC, CAN | |
| 3 | C1 Individual Time Trial | 2018 | Maniago, ITA | |
| 4 | C1 Individual Time Trial | 2019 | Emmen, NED | |
| 6 | C1 Individual Time Trial | 2017 | Pietermaritzburg, RSA | |
| UCI Para-Cycling Track World Championships | ||||
| 1 | Men's C1 - Scratch Race | 2023 | Glasgow, GBR | |
| 1 | Men's C1 - Omnium | 2023 | Glasgow, GBR | |
| 1 | Men's C1 - Scratch Race | 2022 | Montigny-le-Bretonneux, FRA | |
| 1 | Men's C1 - Omnium | 2022 | Montigny-le-Bretonneux, FRA | |
| 1 | Men's C1 - Scratch Race | 2020 | Milton, ON, CAN | |
| 1 | Men's C1 - Omnium | 2020 | Milton, ON, CAN | |
| 1 | Men's C1 - Scratch Race | 2019 | Apeldoorn, NED | |
| 2 | Men's C1 - Scratch Race | 2024 | Rio de Janeiro, BRA | |
| 3 | Men's C1 - Omnium | 2024 | Rio de Janeiro, BRA | |
PARA CYCLING - TRACK
| Rank | Event | Year | Location | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UCI Para-Cycling Track World Championships | ||||
| 1 | C1 3000m Individual Pursuit | 2022 | Montigny-le-Bretonneux, FRA | |
| 1 | C1 3000m Individual Pursuit | 2019 | Apeldoorn, NED | |
| 1 | C1 3000m Individual Pursuit | 2018 | Rio de Janeiro, BRA | |
| 2 | C1 3000m Individual Pursuit | 2023 | Glasgow, GBR | |
| 2 | Men's C1 - 1000m Time Trial | 2022 | Montigny-le-Bretonneux, FRA | |
| 2 | C1 3000m Individual Pursuit | 2020 | Milton, ON, CAN | |
| DSQ | C1-5 750m Team Sprint | 2020 | Milton, ON, CAN | |
PARA SWIMMING
| Rank | Event | Year | Location | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paralympic Games | ||||
| 1 | 100m Breaststroke - SB4 | 2008 | Beijing, CHN | 1:36.61 |
| 1 | 100m Breaststroke - SB4 | 2000 | Sydney, NSW, AUS | 1:37.37 |
| 1 | 4x50m Medley Relay - 20 Points | 2000 | Sydney, NSW, AUS | 2:39.94 |
| 2 | 100m Breaststroke - SB4 | 1996 | Atlanta, GA, USA | 1:43.33 |
| 3 | 100m Breaststroke - SB4 | 2012 | London, GBR | 1:37.23 |
| 3 | 4x50m Medley Relay - 20 Points | 2008 | Beijing, CHN | 2:40.38 |
| 3 | Men's 4 x 50m Medley Relay S1-6 | 1996 | Atlanta, GA, USA | 2:50.27 |
| 4 | 50m Butterfly - S5 | 2000 | Sydney, NSW, AUS | 42.61 |
| 5 | 100m Breaststroke - SB4 | 2016 | Rio de Janeiro, BRA | 1:38.07 |
| 5 | 50m Backstroke - S5 | 1996 | Atlanta, GA, USA | 43.97 |
| 6 | 50m Backstroke - S5 | 2008 | Beijing, CHN | 45.28 |
| 6 | 50m Butterfly - S5 | 1996 | Atlanta, GA, USA | 46.68 |
| 7 | 50m Backstroke - S5 | 2000 | Sydney, NSW, AUS | 44.45 |
| 8 | 50m Butterfly - S5 | 2012 | London, GBR | 43.65 |
| 8 | Men's 200m Medley SM5 | 2000 | Sydney, NSW, AUS | DSQ |
| 9 | 50m Backstroke - S5 | 2012 | London, GBR | 43.07 |
| 11 | 50m Butterfly - S5 | 2008 | Beijing, CHN | 46.24 |
| 11 | 50m Freestyle - S5 | 2000 | Sydney, NSW, AUS | 41.33 |
| World Championships | ||||
| 1 | 100m Breaststroke - SB4 | 2006 | Durban, RSA | 1:41.40 |
| 1 | 100m Breaststroke - SB4 | 2002 | Mar del Plata, ARG | 1:37.24 |
| 1 | 100m Breaststroke - SB4 | 1998 | Christchurch, NZL | 1:39.83 |
| 1 | Men's 4 x 50m Freestyle Relay open | 1998 | Christchurch, NZL | 2:41.89 |
| 2 | 100m Breaststroke - SB4 | 2013 | Montreal, QC, CAN | 1:37.47 |
| 2 | 4x50m Medley Relay - 20 Points | 2013 | Montreal, QC, CAN | 2:42.60 |
| 2 | 100m Breaststroke - SB4 | 2010 | Eindhoven, NED | 1:37.53 |
| 2 | 4x50m Medley Relay - 20 Points | 2006 | Durban, RSA | 2:41.83 |
| 3 | 100m Breaststroke - SB4 | 2015 | Glasgow, GBR | 1:39.90 |
| 3 | 4x50m Medley Relay - 20 Points | 2010 | Eindhoven, NED | 2:40.43 |
| 3 | Men's 4 x 50m Medley Relay open | 1998 | Christchurch, NZL | 2:49.96 |
| 3 | 50m Backstroke - S5 | 1998 | Christchurch, NZL | 43.49 |
| 3 | 50m Butterfly - S5 | 1998 | Christchurch, NZL | 45.37 |
| 4 | 4x50m Freestyle Relay - 20 Points | 2013 | Montreal, QC, CAN | 2:57.44 |
| 4 | 200m Individual Medley - SM5 | 2010 | Eindhoven, NED | 3:32.47 |
| 4 | 50m Backstroke - S5 | 2010 | Eindhoven, NED | 44.80 |
| 4 | 50m Butterfly - S5 | 2010 | Eindhoven, NED | 42.98 |
| 4 | 200m Individual Medley - SM5 | 2002 | Mar del Plata, ARG | 3:35.22 |
| 5 | 50m Backstroke - S5 | 2013 | Montreal, QC, CAN | 44.13 |
| 5 | 50m Butterfly - S5 | 2002 | Mar del Plata, ARG | 45.71 |
| 6 | 50m Backstroke - S5 | 2006 | Durban, RSA | 47.63 |
| 7 | 200m Individual Medley - SM5 | 2013 | Montreal, QC, CAN | 3:39.35 |
| 8 | 50m Butterfly - S5 | 2013 | Montreal, QC, CAN | 45.75 |
| 9 | 50m Butterfly - S5 | 2006 | Durban, RSA | 45.70 |
| 9 | 50m Backstroke - S5 | 2002 | Mar del Plata, ARG | 46.19 |
| 10 | 50m Butterfly - S5 | 2015 | Glasgow, GBR | 45.67 |
| 11 | 50m Freestyle - S5 | 2006 | Durban, RSA | 42.96 |
| 17 | 50m Backstroke - S5 | 2015 | Glasgow, GBR | 1:00.33 |
