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Biography
Impairment information
Type of Impairment
Vision impairment
Origin of Impairment
Congenital
Classification
T12, F12
Further personal information
Family
Wife Paloma, son Alvaro
Residence
Oviedo, ESP
Occupation
Athlete
Languages
Spanish
Sport specific information
When and where did you begin this sport?
He took up the sport at age 30 in Oviedo, Spain.
Why this sport?
He was unable to continue playing football and wanted to stay active so he got involved in athletics.
Club / Team
Club Maraton Oviedo: Spain
Name of coach
Jesus Alvarez Castano [personal], ESP, from 2008
International debut
Year
2009
Competing for
Spain
Location
Rhodes, GRE
General interest
Hobbies
Listening to music. (Athlete, 06 Nov 2019)
Memorable sporting achievement
Winning gold in the T12 marathon at the 2012 Paralympic Games in London. (SportsDeskOnline, 13 Apr 2021; Athlete, 06 Nov 2019; Cafeteria Positano YouTube channel, 19 Mar 2019)
Most influential person in career
Coach Jesus Alvarez Castano. (Athlete, 06 Nov 2019)
Hero / Idol
Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal. (Athlete, 06 Nov 2019)
Injuries
In December 2015 he had an inflammation of the pubis that required surgery. He could not resume training until February 2016, which limited his preparation for the T12 marathon ahead of the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, where he competed and won a silver medal. (SportsDeskOnline, 13 Apr 2021; marca.com, 18 Sep 2016)
Sporting philosophy / motto
"Do not give up. Many obstacles in life can be overcome with effort." (lne.es, 22 Nov 2016; spend-in.com, 28 Apr 2014)
Awards and honours
In 2019 the name of the San Lazaro athletic track in Oviedo was changed to Alberto Suarez Laso in his honour. (lavozdeasturias.es, 05 Mar 2019)
In 2017 he received the Ibero-American Sport Award from the Ibero-American Association of Communication [ASICOM] and the University of Oviedo in Spain. He also received the 2017 Sport Award from the Almeria Federation of Associations of People with an Impairment [FAAM] in Almeria, Spain. (ideal.es, 28 Nov 2017; uniovi.es, 06 Oct 2017)
In 2016 and 2012 he was named Athlete of the Year in Asturias, Spain. (lne.es, 02 Mar 2017; lne.es, 14 Feb 2013)
He was presented with the Gold Medal of the Royal Order of Sports Merit of Spain in 2013. (regiondigital.com, 29 Oct 2013)
In 2017 he received the Ibero-American Sport Award from the Ibero-American Association of Communication [ASICOM] and the University of Oviedo in Spain. He also received the 2017 Sport Award from the Almeria Federation of Associations of People with an Impairment [FAAM] in Almeria, Spain. (ideal.es, 28 Nov 2017; uniovi.es, 06 Oct 2017)
In 2016 and 2012 he was named Athlete of the Year in Asturias, Spain. (lne.es, 02 Mar 2017; lne.es, 14 Feb 2013)
He was presented with the Gold Medal of the Royal Order of Sports Merit of Spain in 2013. (regiondigital.com, 29 Oct 2013)
Ambitions
To compete at the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo. (rtpa.es, 03 Sep 2020)
Impairment
He was diagnosed with macular degeneration, which affects the middle part of vision, in 2008. (20minutos.es, 07 Sep 2016; spend-in.com, 28 Apr 2014)
Other information
OTHER ACTIVITIES
He has co-organised the Oviedo Half Marathon in Spain, and served as president of Club Maraton Oviedo. He has also given lectures about Ibero-American culture and sport at the University of Oviedo. (uniovi.es, 05 Oct 2017; ayrehoteles.com, 11 Apr 2016; lavozdeltrubia.es, 21 Jan 2016)
He has co-organised the Oviedo Half Marathon in Spain, and served as president of Club Maraton Oviedo. He has also given lectures about Ibero-American culture and sport at the University of Oviedo. (uniovi.es, 05 Oct 2017; ayrehoteles.com, 11 Apr 2016; lavozdeltrubia.es, 21 Jan 2016)
Results
| Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men's 10000 m T12 | Final | 2011-01-23 | 3 | |
| Men's Marathon T12 | Final | 2011-01-30 | 1 |
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men's 5000 m T12 | Final Round | 2012-09-03 | 6 | |
| Men's Marathon T12 | Final Round | 2012-09-09 | 1 |
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men's Marathon T12 | Final 1 | 2013-07-28 | 9999 |
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men's 5000 m T13 | Final 1 | 2015-10-29 | 2 |
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men's Marathon T12 | Final Round | 2016-09-18 | 2 |