Rudy Garcia-Tolson

 

Sport: 

Swimming, Track and Field

Biography:

A Three time Paralympic swimmer and track athlete, Rudy is also a motivational speaker championing the message that “A Brave Heart is a Powerful Weapon”.
Rudy believes his lack of legs is a gift.  After all, it is his circumstance that defines his drive and gives his determination direction.  Since learning to swim at age 6, an 8-year-old Rudy promised that he would swim in the 2004 Paralympic Games.

2004 saw a 16-year-old Rudy come home with a gold medal in the 200 meter individual medley, leaving only his name as the world record holder for his SM7 class.  Rudy would make equally impressive showings at the 2008 and 2012 Paralympics, consistently breaking his own records and adding another gold, silver, and bronze medal to his collection.

A spokesperson for Challenged Athletes Foundation, Rudy has helped countless adaptive athletes find themselves through sport and opened their door to greatness. Both Challenged Athletes Foundation and Rudy are honored to be in partnership with each other since Rudy was only 8-years-old.