The Granada table tennis player José Manuel Ruiz will become Paris in the athlete Spanish with more participations in Paralympic Gamessince the appointment in the French capital is its eighth consecutive presence from its debutwith just 18 years, An Atlanta 1996.
Ruizwho was born in Guadix (Granada) 46 years Without part of the right arm for congenital agenesis, he has in his record with Five medals Paralympics that are summarized in Three silver and two bronzes. Only Álvaro Valera has better historical results in Spanish table tennis in Games, since the Sevillian Palist has six metals.
The Andalusian Palist, who was the Spanish flag bearer at the opening ceremony of the Rio 2016 Gameshas also achieved more than 30 medals between world championships, Europe and Spain and occupies the seventh individual position of class 10 in the international ranking and the fifteenth in the classification of players competing standing. In addition, he is the only Spanish Paralympic Palist of the last three decades that has participated in the Superdivision, the main category for athletes without disabilities of national table tennis.
“The sensations are very good right now. The table and the ball is pretty good and fits my game characteristics,” the Andalusian athlete told Efe, for which he is “Historical appointment And beating the record of games participations in Spain means a lot. “
“This is not only mine, but of many people who started me in sport and then accompanied me in my life, which means that we have done things very well. Also my family and my wife, who perhaps has set aside many of the professional dreams I had to fulfill mine and ours. We met in 1999, before Sidney, and he carries with me seven games,” he said.
“Being able to fulfill my eighth games makes me very happy. I will try to enjoy every training, every time of leisure in the town with my colleagues, other sports as well, without decentralizing the competition. I don't go with the favorite poster to a possible medalbut that sometimes avoids a ballast, not enjoying as I deserved without allowing me to give up my real level, “he confesses.
“These games face them in that way, more relaxed, without fear of self -examination. With enthusiasm, desire and motivation I hope to face every game. Surely I will be able to give my best level and if I am able to give my better version I will have the opportunity in each game and I hope to take advantage of it,” he says.
Ruiz It has always been Vocational athletesince he has practiced football, basketball and even cycling and began playing table tennis in the Guadix pavilion (Granada), which now bears his name. In addition, it is Bachelor of Physical Activity and Sports Scienceshe has been a professor and currently collaborates with the Delegation of Education and Sports of the Junta de Andalucía in plans and programs related to healthy Olympism and Habits.
Although José Manuel Ruiz He is the only Spanish that reaches the eight Paralympic participations, there are eight other athletes that follow him closely, several of them still active.
Con seven Paralympic Games appear the athlete Puri santamartathe swimmer Xavi Torres and the shooter Francisco Ángel Soriano. In Paris 2024 They will reach that figure The now cyclist and before swimmer Ricardo Tenthe swimmers Teresa Perales y Miguel Luque And table tennis players Álvaro Valera y Jordi Morales.
Sarah Storey, for her ninth games with 28 medals
Beyond the Spanish delegation, the British cyclist Sarah Storey (Manchester, United Kingdom, 1976) He will play in Paris his ninth edition after debuting as a swimmer in Barcelona'92 with fourteen years and play all the subsequent editions until today, with a total of 28 medals in your record: sixteen in the pool and twelve, all of them gold, between the track and the road.
In ten Paralympic Games summer the Swedish shooter competed consecutively Jonas Jacobssonthat, Between 1980 and 2016he managed to accumulate 30 medals: 17 golds, four silver and nine bronzes
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