23-Year-Old Puerto Rican Athlete With Down Syndrome Completes Ironman

David Torres Rivera, 23, this Sunday became the first Puerto Rican with Down syndrome to complete the Ironman 70.3 in Puerto Rico, a test involving 1,300 athletes from 45 countries.

“I dreamed of it, I worked on it and I achieved it. I made history. GOAL REACHED IRONMAN 70.3 Puerto Rico. SI SE PUEDE (sic),” said Torres himself, known as “El Delfin Boricua,” in his Facebook account along with a photo on the step of the competition medals.

Torres finished in 52nd place among all participants and 38th among the men.

The triathlete also thanked the Ironman 70.3 organization for highlighting his achievement, everyone who worked there and his teammates from the MFS-Manda Fuego System (TDR team) for believing in him and his coaches.

In this way, Torres joins American Chris Nikic as the only two athletes with Down syndrome to complete an Ironman.

Nikkic took the test in 2020 at the age of 21.

Torres, meanwhile, started competing in the Special Olympics at the age of 8.

He won the gold medal in the 200-meter freestyle at the Central American Games of the Special Olympics in Panama 2012.

The 2022 edition of the Ironman 70.3 in Puerto Rico was won by American Breno Melo and Canadian Deborah Eckhouse in the men’s and women’s respectively.

Melo completed the swim, bike and half marathon competition in 4:14:08, while Eckhouse completed the test in 4:49:47, the event organizers said in a press release.

Second place in the men’s race went to Oliver Noglotte from Guadeloupe with a time of 4:17:47, followed by Anthony Didion from the United States with a time of 4:24:13.

In the women’s race, Brenda Schaupp of the Dominican Republic took second place with a time of 4:53:53, followed by Melissa Ríos La Luz of Puerto Rico with a time of 4:55:25.

The 2023 edition of Ironman 70.3 Puerto Rico will take place on Sunday, March 19 of next year.

Source: El heraldo

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