Lorenzo Perez Escalona

Lorenzo Perez Escalona burst onto the swimming international scene in 2011, when he achieved a hat-trick of Parapan American titles in Guadalajara, Mexico.

The following year, the Cuban made his Paralympic debut in London, Great Britain, claiming silver in the men’s 50m freestyle S6 and bronze in the 100m freestyle S6.

Perez Escalona did not stop improving until he set a world record in the 100m freestyle S6 with a time of 1:04.60 on his way to gold at the Toronto 2015 Parapan American Games. He went on to seal one more title and one silver.

He reached his peak at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, where he won Cuba’s first swimming Paralympic gold after finishing first in the 100m freestyle S6 with a Paralympic record time of 1:04.70. Perez Escalona also added a bronze to his haul in the 400m freestyle S6.

He is hoping to win his maiden world title in 2017, as he competes at the World Championships in Mexico City, from 30 September-7 October.