Arly Aristides Velásquez Peñaloza[a] (born August 17, 1988) is a Paralympian who represented Mexico at the 2010 Winter Paralympics, along with teammate Armando Ruiz. Velasquez broke his back in a mountain biking accident in 2001. After trying many wheelchair sports, such as shot put, wheelchair basketball and tennis, he discovered the sport of mono-skiing. Mono-skiing is similar to skiing for able-bodied however, athletes sit on a single ski with crutch-like ski poles using their hips to make turns.[1] Velásquez also represented Mexico at the 2014, 2018 and 2022 Winter Paralympics.
Biography
editAt 13 years of age, Velásquez suffered an accident that left him with broken vertebrae and an irreversible spinal cord injury. He was informed he would never walk again and would be bedridden for the rest of his life. Despite his accident, at age 15 he attempted several wheelchair sports, such as shot put, wheelchair basketball, wheel chair javelin and swimming, before discovering the sport of mono-skiing.[2]
Velásquez pursued film studies in Argentina.[2]
Notes
edit- ^ In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Velásquez and the second or maternal family name is Peñaloza.
References
edit- ^ Wolfe, Felicity (28 August 2009). "Winter Games: Chair part of the challenge for skier". Otago Daily Times. Retrieved 16 September 2011.
- ^ a b "Arly Velásquez, la perla mexicana que competirá en Paralímpicos de Invierno". La Afición | Milenio. 2018-09-03. Retrieved 2024-05-30.
External links
edit
- Arly Velasquez Penaloza at the official website of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games
- Arly Aristides Velasquez Penaloza at the International Paralympic Committee
- Arly Aristides Velasquez Penaloza at IPC.InfostradaSports.com (archived)
 | This biographical article relating to alpine skiing in Mexico is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
.svg){kind=logo} | This Paralympics-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |