Daniela Eugenia Velasco Maldonado (born August 24, 1995) is a Mexican Paralympic athlete who was part of the Mexican delegation at the 2016 Summer Paralympics.[1] She was a bronze medalist in the 400 meters dash of the T12 category at the 2012 Summer Paralympics.[2][3][4] She was close to being a medalist in the 1500 meters of Rio 2016 but was then disqualified.[5]

Daniela Velasco
Personal information
Full nameDaniela Eugenia Velasco Maldonado
Nationality Mexico
Born (1995-08-24) 24 August 1995 (age 29)
Mexico City
EducationUniversidad Nacional Autónoma de México
Sport
Disability classT12
Event1500 meters & 400 meters
ClubAldebaran Track and Field México
Coached byFabricio Chamor
Medal record
Paralympic athletics
Representing  Mexico
Paralympic Games
Bronze medal – third place 2012 London 400m T12
Parapan American Games
Gold medal – first place 2015 Toronto 800m T12
Silver medal – second place 2011 Guadalajara 400m T12
Silver medal – second place 2015 Toronto 400m T12
Silver medal – second place 2023 Santiago 1500m T13
Bronze medal – third place 2011 Guadalajara 100m T12
Bronze medal – third place 2011 Guadalajara 200m T12

Personal life

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As a child she suffered the loss of an eye and rehabilitated at the National Institute for Rehabilitation of Blind and Visually Impaired Children of Mexico. Her start in athletics was motivated by Ana Gabriela Guevara, whom she watched competing in the 2004 Summer Olympics, so she looked for opportunities to practice adaptive sports in the Mexican Paralympic Center.

She is a student of the National Preparatory School of the National Autonomous University of Mexico. Her coach is Fabricio Chamor and her guide is Gabriel Urbina.

Sports career

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Velasco won two bronze medals and one silver medal at the 2011 Parapan American Games, in the 100, 200 and 400-meters dash, respectively.[3] At the 2012 Summer Paralympics, she competed in the 400 meters dash in the T12 category, with her guide Jose Fuentes, obtaining the bronze medal with a time of 58.51.[2] In the 2015 Parapan American Games, she achieved the gold medal in the 800 meters T12 category with a 2:16.89 run time, which represented an American record.

References

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  1. ^ "Mexico announce 66-strong delegation for Rio 2016". www.paralympic.org. Retrieved 2016-08-15.
  2. ^ a b "Daniela Velasco da novena medalla paralímpica para México". Retrieved 2016-08-15.
  3. ^ a b "Atreverse es el principio: Daniela Velasco". www.dgcs.unam.mx. Retrieved 2016-08-15.
  4. ^ "Daniela Velasco se llevó el bronce en 400 metros" (in Mexican Spanish). 9 April 2012. Retrieved 2016-08-15.
  5. ^ "A 3 centésimas del bronce…Luego descalificada". sportspedia.com.mx. Sportspedia México. Archived from the original on 20 September 2016. Retrieved 12 September 2016.