DESCARREGA PUIGDEVALL Gerard

Classification
T11, F11 (IPC, 19 Mar 2021)

Type of Impairment
Vision impairment (as.com, 02 Dec 2019; Athlete, 06 Nov 2019)

Origin of Impairment
Congenital (Athlete, 06 Nov 2019)

Impairment Details
He has a genetic eye condition called retinitis pigmentosa. (as.com, 02 Dec 2019; Athlete, 06 Nov 2019)

Guide
Guillermo Rojo Gil (dxtadaptado.com, 27 Feb 2021)

General
GUIDE
He has formed a close bond with his guide Guillermo Rojo Gil. "There are a lot of hours a day together. If we didn't get along, it would be impossible. In sport there are good days and bad days, in which you have to work hard in the shadows and when you don't even want to be with yourself, let alone put up with someone next to you. But I don't have that option. Unfortunately it's a necessity and it's better if it's with some you get along with." (marca.com, 06 Nov 2019)

PSYCHOLOGY
He studied psychology at the Catholic University of Murcia [UCAM] in Spain. His father is a psychologist and his mother is a psychiatrist. "The mind plays a large part in what someone can achieve, whether it is in sports or any other job. It is very important in sports to have a clear mind and clear objectives. I calculate [success] is 50% psychological and 50% physical. Studying psychology is going to help me as an athlete and will allow me to help others in the future." (ucam.edu, 28 Jun 2019; Paralimpicos TV YouTube channel, 19 Dec 2018)

MOUNTAINEER
He has climbed Pico Aneto, the highest point in the Pyrenees, as well as the Allalinhorn in the Swiss Alps that stands at 4027 metres. One of his ambitions is to summit a mountain above 8000 metres. "I'd say no blind person has accomplished that. I'd like to be the first one to do it." (gerarddescarrega.com, 25 Oct 2018; diaridetarragona.com, 20 Sep 2017)