Colombian husband and wife combo aim for TO2015 athletics success

“Sharing this experience with her is just priceless. We are fulfilling one of our dreams."

Colombia’s Joe Gonzalez Betancur and Yesenia Restrepo Muñoz are husband and wife, who are both going for gold in track and field competition at the Toronto 2015 Parapan American Games.

Guadalajara 2011 shot put bronze medallist Muñoz married fellow athlete Betancur nine years’ ago, however Toronto 2015 is the first time the couple have competed together at a major international multi-sport event.

From Monday (10 August), both will compete in discus, javelin and shot put events during five days of track and field at the CIBC Pan Am/Parapan Am Athletics Stadium

“We first met in 2006, when I was studying systems engineering at University and he showed up to invite me and my classmates to practice sports,” Restrepo Muñoz said. “Everything was so fast. We met in February, we started dating in June and we got married in November, after he proposed to me in the Itagüí Park,” she added.

Toronto 2015 is going to be Gonzalez Betancur’s second Parapan American Games, having competed in wheelchair basketball at the second edition in Mar del Plata, Argentina, in 2003. This is the first time they have both competed together and man and wife.

“Sharing this experience with her is just priceless. We are fulfilling one of our dreams,” he assured. “Our lives are based on sport. We were united by sport and by our disabilities.”

The couple do not stop thinking about sports for a minute, not even when they are at home.

“We practice at home, where we can train shot put and improve our javelin and discus throw techniques,” Gonzalez Betancur said.

“I would love to see us both qualify for the Rio Paralympics,” Restrepo Muñoz said. “But now, I am focus on trying to step into the podium at Toronto 2015.

“I fell in love with Joe’s voice. It is definitely much easier to be with someone that shares your same dreams and passions.

“What I like the most from her is that she is such a persevering person. I love sharing this outstanding experience with her,” said Rodriguez Betancur.

“The sport is our way of life. It is what gives us peace, what feed us and what motivate us to get up every day,” he added.

To watch Toronto 2015 athletics live, please click here from 15:00 EDT.