2004 Paralympics - Athens Sep. 17 - 28

[BullNBear52]

A Paralympian with a mission to help others
Santiago Velazquez Duarte is 51 years old and comes from Mexico. Though he has a formidable history in wheelchair rugby, he decided to try a new sport two years ago. He now competes in Wheelchair racing (T-51 category). He wanted to try something that was completely based on individual challenge as a new experience in living.

He took part in the Pan American Games and the 2002 World Championships in Argentina. Throughout the year, he tells us, I will probably travel to 5 or 6 different countries to compete. The world is a great place and I try to go everywhere.” His times are equally impressive for the amount of time he is competing in this sport: 100m (21”); 200m (41”); 400 (1.28”).

Of course, Santiago was careful to inform us about the different classification sections in his sport and how just two days ago he was in T-52. “Such small changes mean a lot to athletes competing against different disabilities and different body muscle proportions,” he stressed. “But then again, for me, the sport is a way of life. There is something else more valuable to my life than sports.”

His ultimate pride is the International Organisation of Independent Living also known as Vida Independiente, of which he is the President. His goal with this small NGO is to assist quadriplegics in their every day life so that they are able to get out of their home and into the city in which they live; so that they can secure employment and even venture beyond their own limitations; and ultimately get more out of their hospital rehabilitation.

For Santiago, the “thank you” he receives from his patients and their family members is better than his own achievements in sport. Understanding that there is more to life than winning, we appreciated the comment but tried to get even a further smile from Santiago, who admitted that he is always smiling from inside when he helps quadriplegics, “but also when I win!”
Symeon Tsalicoglou