ORTEGA Mauricio

Colombia

Athletics

Date of Birth: 4 Aug 1994

Age: 27

Gender: Male

Place of birth: APARTADO

Birth Country:

Colombia

Place of residence : VIGO

Residence Country:

Spain

Events and Medals
Records
Schedule
Bio
General Interest
Milestones

Events and Medals

Discipline	Event	Rank	Medal
Athletics	Men's Discus Throw	7

Schedule

Change

Start Time	Location	Event	Status
	Olympic Stadium - Long Throws	Men's Discus Throw Qualification - Group A	Finished
	Olympic Stadium - Long Throws	Men's Discus Throw Final	Finished

Biographical Information

Highlights

Athlete:

Olympic Games

Year	Location	Discus Throw
2016	Rio de Janeiro, BRA	Qual. (61.62)

World Athletics Championships

Year	Location	Discus Throw
2019	Doha, QAT	Qual. (61.92)
2017	London, GBR	Qual. (62.97)
2015	Beijing, CHN	11th (62.01)

Pan American Games

Year	Location	Discus Throw
2019	Lima, PER	5th (61.15)

South American Championships

Year	Location	Discus Throw
2019	Lima, PER	1st (58.89)
2017	Luque, PAR	1st (63.82)

World Challenge - Ten best performances since 2020

Rank	Year	Event	Competition	Location	Result
8	2017	Discus Throw	World Challenge	Hengelo, NED	60.05

Legend
SF - Semifinal, QF - Quarterfinal, 1R - 1st Round, Qual. - Qualification, QR - Qualification Round, DNF - Did Not Finish, DNS - Did Not Start, DQ - Disqualified, NM - No Mark, [Relay athlete without time] - Did not run in final

Nickname:

Minga [because he looks like another thrower called John Fredy Zea, who is also known by this nickname]. (senalcolombia.tv, 04 Aug 2017; senaldeportes.tv, 24 Nov 2014)

Hobbies:

Listening to music. (senalcolombia.tv, 04 Aug 2017)

Occupation:

Athlete

Education:

Physical Education - Jaime Isaza Cadavid Colombian Polytechnic, Medellin, COL

Languages spoken:

Spanish

Coach:

Frank Casanas [personal], CUB

Sporting relatives:

Two of his uncles played football for Colombian teams Atletico Nacional and Envigado. (senalcolombia.tv, 04 Aug 2017; senaldeportes.tv, 24 Nov 2014)

Start:

He took up discus at age 12 in Apartado, Colombia. (elcolombiano.com, 10 Jan 2016; senaldeportes.tv, 24 Nov 2014)

Reason:

He used to play basketball and football but decided to give them up after his coach passed away. After getting involved in sports again, a weightlifting coach told him he had potential in throwing events because of his size and introduced him to athletics coach Ferney Romana. "What I liked the most about athletics was travelling. In football and basketball I did not have the chance to travel. However I was not into athletics that much. I only decided to focus on it when I started gaining some weight. I used to get involved in brawls with my friends and I decided to change. Coach Romana taught me everything. He motivated me." (senalcolombia.tv, 04 Aug 2017)

Training:

He trains in Vigo, Spain. (consudatle.org, 17 Dec 2020)

Influence:

Coach Ferney Romana. (senalcolombia.tv, 04 Aug 2017)

Ritual:

He prays before each throw. (senalcolombia.tv, 04 Aug 2017)

General Interest

General
EARLY DAYS
At age 16 he moved from Apartado to Medellin in Colombia to start training with the Antioquia regional team. He had been in trouble at school in his hometown, and he was bullied by older children when he got to Medellin. He decided he needed to increase his strength and began weight training, which later led to him taking up athletics and throwing events. "One day I faced another kid who was 17. I was only 13 at the time, but I beat him. Another day, a classmate hit me with the desk but I lifted him up like a weight. I became strong and they never bothered me again." (consudatle.org, 17 Dec 2020; elcolombiano.com, 10 Jan 2016; senaldeportes.tv, 24 Nov 2014)

Social Media

https://www.facebook.com/mauricio.giron3

Legend

:: Gold Medal Event
:: Silver Medal Event
:: Bronze Medal Event

Timing and scoring provided by OMEGA. Results powered by Atos