GOMEZ Joel

United States of America

Athletics

Date of Birth: 29 Jul 2003

Age: 18

Gender: Male

Sport Class: T13

Place of birth: SAN DIEGO, CA

Birth Country:

United States of America

Events and Medals
Records
Schedule
Bio
General Interest
Milestones

Events and Medals

Discipline	Event	Rank	Medal
Athletics	Men's 400m - T13
	Men's 1500m - T13	10

Schedule

Change

Start Time	Location	Event	Status
	Olympic Stadium - Track	Men's 1500m - T13 Final	Finished
	Olympic Stadium - Track	Men's 400m - T13 Round 1 - Heat 1	Finished

Biographical Information

Highlights

Athlete:

Rank	Event	Year	Location	Result
World Championships
11	1500m - T13	2019	Dubai, UAE	4:07.12

Hobbies:

Flying drones, cinematography, playing music, singing, video blogging. (teamusa.org, 04 Aug 2019; Athlete, 06 Nov 2019)

Languages spoken:

English, Spanish

Debut:

2019 for United States, Parapan American Games in Lima, Peru (Athlete, 06 Nov 2019)

Start:

He took up athletics with the Speed to Burn Track Club in California, United States of America at age nine. He began Para athletics at age 14. (teamusa.org, 31 Dec 2019)

Reason:

"I started running when soccer became too difficult for my vision. Many people commented on my speed and endurance when I played soccer so my parents suggested that I try track and field. I found this sport to be a great fit for me because I can see the contrast between the lanes of the track as I run. Track has also put me into a position where teamwork is necessary in workouts, and I have formed a group of great friends that I will have for a lifetime. I was never one to sit and play video games, especially because I couldn't see them. I don't like to do nothing, I'm more comfortable doing something." (thecoastnews.com, 29 May 2018; visionofchildren.org, 11 May 2016; Athlete, 06 Nov 2019)

Ambition:

To compete at the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo, and to compete as an able-bodied athlete at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. (timesofsandiego.com, 11 Dec 2018; Athlete, 06 Nov 2019)

Training:

He runs 90 kilometres a week in training. (timesofsandiego.com, 11 Dec 2018)

Memorable:

Winning silver in the T13 1500m at the 2019 Parapan American Games in Lima, Peru. (Athlete, 06 Nov 2019; lima2019.pe, 27 Aug 2019)

Hero:

Kenyan athlete Eliud Kipchoge, US athlete Matthew Centrowitz, Brazilian athlete and coach Joaquim Cruz. (Athlete, 06 Nov 2019)

Influence:

Coach Joaquim Cruz. (Athlete, 06 Nov 2019)

Ritual:

He always wears white socks. (Athlete, 06 Nov 2019)

Philosophy:

"No limits." (Athlete, 06 Nov 2019)

Award:

He was named the 2019 Male Junior Para Athlete of the Year by USA Track & Field. (timesofsandiego.com, 28 Feb 2020)

General Interest

Classification
T13, F13 (IPC, 06 Mar 2021)

Type of Impairment
Vision impairment (Athlete, 06 Nov 2019)

Origin of Impairment
Congenital (Athlete, 06 Nov 2019)

Impairment Details
He was born with blue cone monochromacy, a genetic eye condition that causes low vision, colour blindness and photophobia. "Many people have experienced what it is like to walk out of a dark theatre into the bright daylight. That day blindness is how my eyes are affected in even moderately bright light. I can't distinguish red from black, orange from green and blue from pink." (timesofsandiego.com, 11 Dec 2018; thecoastnews.com, 29 May 2018; Athlete, 06 Nov 2019)

General
AMBASSADOR
He is an ambassador for the San Diego-based Vision of Children [VOC] Foundation in California, United States of America. "My mission in life is to inspire others, so that they too can overcome their challenges. What seemed like science fiction not long ago is now becoming reality in finding a cure for these diseases. I perform and help to support many of their fundraising events to raise funds to help find a cure for genetically caused blindness. VOC is like family to me, so it is fun to participate with them at various charity events." (timesofsandiego.com, 11 Dec 2018; thecoastnews.com, 29 May 2018; Athlete, 06 Nov 2019)

MUSICIAN
He plays the ukulele, violin, piano, guitar and writes his own songs. He has a YouTube channel where he releases his music. He also teaches ukulele at a public library. "Music. It feels just right to me. I just love it so much. It's something that since I can't play sports with a ball or anything like that, it's kind of the other thing that I do. When I grow up I want to be a touring musician and I want to be a recording musician and if that doesn't work out then music will still always be in my life." (timesofsandiego.com, 11 Dec 2018; visionofchildren.org, 11 May 2016; teamusa.org, 31 Dec 2019)

Social Media

Legend

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

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