Amaris Sofia Vazquez Collazo

Started: She took up the sport at age eight in 2012 in the United States of America. (wapa.tv, 25 Aug 2023; Athlete, 30 Aug 2024) Reason: She tried several sports growing up. She began focusing on swimming and athletics at age eight and combined both sports until 2022, when she decided to focus solely on Para athletics. "My parents never let my disability affect me, something I am incredibly grateful for. My parents never singled it out, telling me I couldn't do something. I did taekwondo, gymnastics, swimming, athletics, I did everything. My parents said that since they put the prosthetic leg on me, I literally wanted to jump out of the crib. I was walking, running around as soon as possible. I chose it [athletics] because I liked it more." (wapa.tv, 25 Aug 2023; paralympic.org, 11 Jul 2023) Ambition: To compete at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. Outside of sports she plans to go to law school. (paralympic.org, 11 Jul 2023; Athlete, 30 Aug 2024) Awards: She was Puerto Rico's flag bearer at the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. (medias.paris2024.org, 28 Aug 2024) Additional Info: FROM PUERTO RICO TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Born in Puerto Rico, she and her family relocated to the United States of America when she was age two. (paralympic.org, 11 Jul 2023)