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Biography
Impairment information
Type of Impairment
Limb deficiency
Origin of Impairment
Acquired
Classification
C1
Further personal information
Family
Wife Sonia, children Toni and Silvia
Residence
Valencia, ESP
Occupation
Athlete, Motivational Speaker
Languages
Spanish
Sport specific information
When and where did you begin this sport?
He took up Para cycling in 2016.
Why this sport?
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."
Club / Team
CD Aquatic Campanar: Valencia, ESP
Name of coach
Eloy Izquierdo [club]
General interest
Nicknames
Richard (Athlete, 11 Apr 2011)
Memorable sporting achievement
Winning gold medals in swimming at the Paralympic Games in 2000 and 2008. (marca.com, 08 Aug 2017)
Most influential person in career
His family and friends. (elespanol.com, 10 Aug 2019)
Hero / Idol
US motorcycle racer Kevin Schwantz. (Athlete, 11 Apr 2011)
Injuries
He dislocated his shoulder in February 2020 after he was involved in a crash while training in Sierra Nevada, Spain. He returned to training in March 2020. (efe.com, 02 Jun 2020; elconfidencial.com, 24 Mar 2020)
He damaged the cartilage in his hip joint in December 2015. He recovered fully from the injury in March 2017. (yosoynoticia.es, 04 Apr 2017)
He damaged the cartilage in his hip joint in December 2015. He recovered fully from the injury in March 2017. (yosoynoticia.es, 04 Apr 2017)
Sporting philosophy / motto
"The most important thing is our attitude when we face difficulties." (kurere.org, 02 Apr 2018)
Awards and honours
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 the Para Athlete of the Year at the Nostresport Awards in Spain. (telefonicaabilityawards.com, 16 Aug 2012)
A sports hall in Benimamet, Spain, was named after him in 2002. (ricardoten.net, 15 May 2019)
In 1997 he was named Para Athlete of the Year in Paterna, Spain. (ricardoten.net, 15 May 2019)
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 the Para Athlete of the Year at the Nostresport Awards in Spain. (telefonicaabilityawards.com, 16 Aug 2012)
A sports hall in Benimamet, Spain, was named after him in 2002. (ricardoten.net, 15 May 2019)
In 1997 he was named Para Athlete of the Year in Paterna, Spain. (ricardoten.net, 15 May 2019)
Other sports
He represented Spain in swimming at five editions of the Paralympic Games, claiming three gold medals. He has been crowned world champion in both Para road cycling and Para track cycling, and also competed in Para alpine skiing at the 2004 World Championships in Wildschonau, Austria. (SportsDeskOnline, 03 Jun 2020)
Ambitions
To win gold at the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo. (mundodeportivo.com, 03 Dec 2019)
Impairment
His arms and his left leg were amputated at age eight after he sustained burns to 75% of his body due to an accident with high-voltage power lines. (marca.com, 16 Sep 2019; kurere.org, 02 Apr 2018)
Other information
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)
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)
Results
| Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men's 50 m Butterfly S5 | Final Round | 4 | ||
| Men's 50 m Butterfly S5 | Heat 1 | 2 | ||
| Men's 50 m Backstroke S5 | Final Round | 4 | ||
| Men's 50 m Backstroke S5 | Heat 1 | 2 | ||
| Men's 4x50 m Medley 20pts | Final Round | 3 | ||
| Men's 4x50 m Medley 20pts | Heat 2 | 1 | ||
| Men's 200 m Individual Medley SM5 | Final Round | 4 | ||
| Men's 200 m Individual Medley SM5 | Heat 2 | 3 | ||
| Men's 100 m Breaststroke SB4 | Final Round | 2 |
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men's 50 m Butterfly S5 | Heat 1 | 6 | ||
| Men's 100 m Breaststroke SB4 | Heat 2 | 1 | ||
| Men's 100 m Breaststroke SB4 | Final Round | 1 | ||
| Men's 50 m Backstroke S5 | Heat 2 | 4 | ||
| Men's 4x50 m Medley 20 pts | Final Round | 3 | ||
| Men's 4x50 m Medley 20 pts | Heat 1 | 2 | ||
| Men's 50 m Backstroke S5 | Final Round | 6 |
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men's 100 m Breaststroke SB4 | Final Round | 1 | ||
| Men's 4x50 m Medley 20 pts | Final Round | 2 | ||
| Men's 50 m Backstroke S5 | Heats | 6 | ||
| Men's 50 m Backstroke S5 | Final Round | 6 | ||
| Men's 50 m Butterfly S5 | Heats | 9 | ||
| Men's 50 m Freestyle S5 | Heats | 11 |
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men's 200 m Individual Medley SM5 | Final Round | 4 | ||
| Men's 50 m Butterfly S5 | Final Round | 5 | ||
| Men's 50 m Butterfly S5 | Heats | 6 | ||
| Men's 100 m Breaststroke SB4 | Final Round | 1 | ||
| Men's 100 m Breaststroke SB4 | Heats | 1 | ||
| Men's 50 m Backstroke S5 | Heats | 9 |
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men's 50 m Backstroke S5 | Heats | 4 | ||
| Men's 4x50 m Medley S1-6 | Final Round | 3 | ||
| Men's 50 m Butterfly S5 | Final Round | 6 | ||
| Men's 50 m Butterfly S5 | Heats | 4 | ||
| Men's 100 m Breaststroke SB4 | Final Round | 2 | ||
| Men's 100 m Breaststroke SB4 | Heats | 1 | ||
| Men's 50 m Backstroke S5 | Final Round | 5 |
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men's 50 m Butterfly S5 | Final Round | 3 | ||
| Men's 50 m Butterfly S5 | Heats | 2 | ||
| Men's 100 m Breaststroke SB4 | Final Round | 1 | ||
| Men's 100 m Breaststroke SB4 | Heats | 2 | ||
| Men's 200 m Individual Medley SM5 | Final Round | 9999 | ||
| Men's 4x50 m Freestyle Open | Final Round | 1 | ||
| Men's 50 m Backstroke S5 | Heats | 6 | ||
| Men's 50 m Backstroke S5 | Final Round | 3 | ||
| Men's 4x50 m Medley Open | Final Round | 3 |
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men's 4x50 m Medley 20 pts | Final Round | 1 | ||
| Men's 4x50 m Medley 20 pts | Heat 1 | 1 | ||
| Men's 200 m Medley SM5 | Final Round | 9999 | ||
| Men's 200 m Medley SM5 | Heat 2 | 4 | ||
| Men's 50 m Butterfly S5 | Final Round | 4 | ||
| Men's 50 m Butterfly S5 | Heat 1 | 2 | ||
| Men's 100 m Breaststroke SB4 | Final Round | 1 | ||
| Men's 100 m Breaststroke SB4 | Heat 2 | 1 | ||
| Men's 50 m Backstroke S5 | Final Round | 7 | ||
| Men's 50 m Backstroke S5 | Heat 2 | 2 | ||
| Men's 50 m Freestyle S5 | Heat 1 | 3 |
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men's 100 m Breaststroke SB4 | Heat 1 | 2012-09-04 | 1 | |
| Men's 100 m Breaststroke SB4 | Final Round | 2012-09-04 | 3 | |
| Men's 50 m Backstroke S5 | Heat 2 | 2012-09-06 | 4 | |
| Men's 50 m Butterfly S5 | Heat 1 | 2012-09-07 | 3 | |
| Men's 50 m Butterfly S5 | Final Round | 2012-09-07 | 8 |
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men's 50 m Butterfly S5 | Heat 1 | 2013-08-12 | 7 | |
| Men's 50 m Butterfly S5 | Final 1 | 2013-08-12 | 8 | |
| Men's 100 m Breaststroke SB4 | Final 1 | 2013-08-13 | 2 | |
| Men's 50 m Backstroke S5 | Final 1 | 2013-08-14 | 5 | |
| Men's 50 m Backstroke S5 | Heat 2 | 2013-08-14 | 5 | |
| Men's 4x50 m Freestyle 20pts | Final 1 | 2013-08-14 | 4 | |
| Men's 200 m Individual Medley SM5 | Heat 2 | 2013-08-15 | 8 | |
| Men's 200 m Individual Medley SM5 | Final 1 | 2013-08-15 | 7 | |
| Men's 4x50 m Medley 20pts | Final 1 | 2013-08-16 | 2 |
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men's 50 m Backstroke S5 | Heat 1 | 2015-07-13 | 17 | |
| Men's 50 m Butterfly S5 | Heat 1 | 2015-07-16 | 10 | |
| Men's 100 m Breaststroke SB4 | Heat 1 | 2015-07-18 | 4 | |
| Men's 100 m Breaststroke SB4 | Final 1 | 2015-07-18 | 3 |
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men's 100 m Breaststroke SB4 | Final Round | 2016-09-11 | 5 |