PEDROZA LUNA Francisco Alejandro

Classification
K44 (World Taekwondo, 03 Jun 2021)

Impairment Details
He has limited movement in his right arm due to complications at birth. "At birth I was tangled with the umbilical cord. I was suffocating, the doctor moved my arm which was damaged and remained without mobility." (gob.mx, 13 Jan 2021; pitlane.mx, 18 Oct 2017)

General
SWITCH FROM ABLE-BODIED TO PARA COMPETITION
He competed in able-bodied taekwondo at national level in Mexico before switching to Para taekwondo in 2013. He made his international debut in Para taekwondo at the 2013 World Championships in Lausanne, Switzerland, and says the switch from able-bodied to Para competition was challenging at first. "It was a drastic change for me. I used to compete in able-bodied taekwondo and I was not used to the scoring vests. That was the first time I wore them [at the 2013 World Championships], so it was complicated. Besides, I was also very used to kicks to the head and in Para taekwondo only kicks to the vest are valid. It took me quite some time to adapt. It was always my dream [to join the national team]. As an able-bodied taekwondoka I wanted to join the national team but it did not happen. I was very excited and began dreaming about going to the [Paralympic] Games. Para taekwondo really gave me another chance to achieve it. It was an opportunity that I didn't want to let it go and worked hard to fulfil this dream." (femextkdoficial.mx, 19 Apr 2020)

OTHER ACTIVITIES
In 2003 he established his own taekwondo school in Mexico where he coached able-bodied taekwondo. (femextkdoficial.mx, 19 Apr 2020)