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Lorenzo Perez Escalona

Lorenzo Perez Escalona

Swimming
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Lorenzo Perez Escalona burst onto the swimming international scene in 2011, when he achieved a hat-trick of Parapan American titles in Guadalajara, Mexico.

The following year, the Cuban made his Paralympic debut in London, Great Britain, claiming silver in the men’s 50m freestyle S6 and bronze in the 100m freestyle S6.

Perez Escalona did not stop improving until he set a world record in the 100m freestyle S6 with a time of 1:04.60 on his way to gold at the Toronto 2015 Parapan American Games. He went on to seal one more title and one silver.

He reached his peak at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, where he won Cuba’s first swimming Paralympic gold after finishing first in the 100m freestyle S6 with a Paralympic record time of 1:04.70. Perez Escalona also added a bronze to his haul in the 400m freestyle S6.

He is hoping to win his maiden world title in 2017, as he competes at the World Championships in Mexico City, from 30 September-7 October.

Biography

Impairment information

Origin of Impairment
Acquired
Classification
S6, SB5, SM6

Further personal information

Family
Son Jonathan [2005], daughter Rut
Languages
Spanish

Sport specific information

When and where did you begin this sport?
He took up the sport in 2006 in Granma, Cuba.
Club / Team
Baragua: Cuba
Name of coach
Ernesto Garrido [national], CUB

International debut

Year
2011
Competing for
Cuba
Tournament
Parapan American Games
Location
Guadalajara, MEX

General interest

Memorable sporting achievement
Winning a gold medal in the S6 100m freestyle at the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. (Athlete, 05 Dec 2017)
Most influential person in career
His son. (Athlete, 05 Dec 2017)
Injuries
He contracted dengue fever ahead of the 2019 Parapan American Games. He was still able to compete at the tournament in Lima, Peru. (cnctv.icrt.cu, 25 Aug 2019)
Sporting philosophy / motto
"The level of success in an athlete depends on the commitment he has in training." (Athlete, 05 Dec 2017)
Awards and honours
In 2019 he was named Best Male Para Athlete in Cuba. (tribuna.cu, 27 Dec 2019)

In 2018 he was named Best Para Athlete in Granma, Cuba. (lademajagua.cu, 12 Dec 2018)

In 2018 he was named Most Outstanding Para Athlete in Cuba. (trabajadores.cu, 03 Dec 2018)

In 2014 and 2017 he was named a Top 10 Para Athlete by the National Institute of Sports, Physical Education and Recreation [INDER] and Sports Writers' Circle in Cuba. (playoffmagazine.com, 11 Dec 2017; cubahora.cu, 12 Dec 2014)
Milestones
In 2016 he became the first athlete representing Cuba to win a gold medal in swimming at the Paralympic Games when he was victorious in the S6 100m freestyle in Rio de Janeiro. (SportsDeskOnline, 21 Mar 2019; paralympic.org, 03 Nov 2016)
Ambitions
To win a gold medal at the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo. (paralympic.org, 03 Nov 2016)
Impairment
In 2005 he was involved in an accident during Hurricane Dennis that resulted in paraplegia. (Athlete, 05 Dec 2017; lademajagua.cu, 17 Sep 2016)

Results

Unit Date Rank
London 2012 Paralympic Games (London, Great Britain)
Event Medal Unit Date Rank
Men's 400 m Freestyle S6 Heat 2 2012-09-01 5
Men's 50 m Freestyle S6 Final Round 2012-09-04 2
Men's 50 m Freestyle S6 Heat 2 2012-09-04 1
Men's 100 m Freestyle S6 Final Round 2012-09-08 3
Men's 100 m Freestyle S6 Heat 1 2012-09-08 1
Rio 2016 Paralympic Games (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)
Event Medal Unit Date Rank
Men's 50 m Freestyle S6 Heat 2 2016-09-10 1
Men's 50 m Freestyle S6 Final Round 2016-09-10 4
Men's 400 m Freestyle S6 Final Round 2016-09-13 3
Men's 400 m Freestyle S6 Heat 2 2016-09-13 3
Men's 100 m Freestyle S6 Final Round 2016-09-17 1
Men's 100 m Freestyle S6 Heat 3 2016-09-17 1
Mexico City 2017 World Para Swimming Championships (Mexico City, Mexico)
Event Medal Unit Date Rank
Men's 400 m Freestyle S6 Heat 1 2017-12-02 4
Men's 400 m Freestyle S6 Final 1 2017-12-02 4
Men's 100 m Freestyle S6 Heat 2 2017-12-04 3
Men's 100 m Freestyle S6 Final 1 2017-12-04 1
Men's 50 m Freestyle S6 Heat 1 2017-12-07 2
Men's 50 m Freestyle S6 Final 1 2017-12-07 2