Para-athlete Carmelo Pérez received the "Sports Achievements of the Canary Islands" award.
In the Canary Islands, para-athlete Carmelo Pérez was awarded the "Sports Achievements" prize for the second time for his outstanding achievements in adaptive sports.
The Canary Islands hosted the "Sports Achievements" award ceremony for the second time. This time, Carmelo Pérez, who was born in the town of Villa de Moya, was honored. He is an outstanding athlete in adaptive sports (sports for people with disabilities). This award is very important for our region, as it shows how diligently, devotedly, and successfully Carmelo glorifies the Canary Islands at international paraduathlon competitions.
Carmelo Pérez competes in the PTS4 category and has many awards both in Spain and abroad. From 2021 to 2025, he became the Spanish champion in the middle distance five times in a row. He also won the sprint in 2022 and 2024. In addition, in 2023, Carmelo won the Canary Islands Paralympic Triathlon Championship, and in 2024 he won gold at the European Paraduathlon Championship in Coimbra, Portugal.
The greatest achievement in his career was winning the Paraduathlon World Championship in the sprint distance, which took place in 2025 in the Galician city of Pontevedra. He ran 5 kilometers, cycled 20 kilometers, and ran 2.5 kilometers again. Carmelo showed such determination and skill that he overtook all his rivals.
Poli Suárez, the Councilor for Education, Sports, and Vocational Training in the Canary Islands, said that Carmelo is an example for everyone: "He shows us how important it is to be sacrificial, persistent, and dedicated to your work. His story inspires everyone, whether a person has a disability or not."
Carmelo and other adaptive athletes not only compete but also help people better understand that everyone should have equal opportunities. More information about adaptive sports can be found at the Higher Sports Council.
Carmelo himself was very happy to receive the award: "I never thought I would receive this award. For me, this is support for my efforts, and most importantly, recognition of adaptive sports and all athletes and their families who work on themselves every day."
He thanked his family, coach, and team for their support, because without them he would not have achieved such success.
Carmelo Pérez is 42 years old and continues to show a high level of professionalism. He plans to participate in the European Paraduathlon Championship, which will be held in Banyoles (Catalonia) in July 2026, as well as in national championships, where he wants to compete at the highest level.
The "Sports Achievements of the Canary Islands" award was established by the government of our region to support inclusive sports and local talents. These awards help promote adaptive sports and tell stories about people who do not give up and achieve success.