Ryan Medrano (born August 26, 1997) is an American Paralympian track and field athlete. He represented the United States at the 2024 Summer Paralympics where he won two silver medals. Additionally he is a Parapan American Games gold medalist and a World Para Athletics Championships silver medalist. He competed on the 43rd season of Survivor.
 Medrano at the 2024 Paralympic Games | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Nationality |  United States | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | August 26, 1997 Savannah, Georgia, U.S. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Para-athletics | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Disability class | T38 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Event(s) | 100 metres 400 metres Long jump | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Early life
editMedrano was born three months early, which resulted in fluid in the cerebellum of his brain. Additionally he was born with cerebral palsy.[1]
Survivor
editIn fall of 2022 Medrano appeared on the 43rd season of Survivor. He was voted off on day 17 and was the third member of the jury.[2] While competing on the show he met 2020 Paralympic athlete Noelle Lambert, who informed him that cerebral palsy was a recognized disability sport classification and he could compete internationally as a para-athlete.[3][4]
Para athletic career
editMedrano began para athletic training in December of 2022.[4] In July of 2023 Medrano competed at his first World Championships, finishing fifth in the 400 metres and seventh in the long jump.[5] In November he competed at the 2023 Parapan American Games. While there he won gold in the 100 metres and 400 metres.[6]
Medrano competed at the 2024 World Para Athletics Championships in Kobe, Japan. While there he won silver in the 400 metres behind fellow American Jaydin Blackwell.[7] He qualified to compete at the 2024 Paralympic Games.[8] While there he won silver in 100 metres and 400 metres, once again behind Blackwell in both.[9]
References
edit- ^ Coria, Sarah (July 22, 2023). "Local runner competes for Team USA in the International Paralympics". KVIA-TV. Retrieved September 1, 2024.
- ^ Ross, Dalton (November 17, 2022). "Ryan Medrano reveals the reason he was always fishing on Survivor". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved September 1, 2024.
- ^ Simpson, Kaitlin (July 22, 2024). "'Survivor 43' Alums Noelle Lambert and Ryan Medrano Make the 2024 U.S. Paralympics Team". Us Weekly. Retrieved September 1, 2024.
- ^ a b Roberts, Jeff (January 25, 2024). "Former Savannah resident Ryan Medrano overcoming physical obstacles, living life to the fullest". WTOC-TV. Retrieved September 1, 2024.
- ^ "Men's 400m T38" (PDF). paralympic.org. International Paralympic Committee. July 13, 2023. Retrieved July 13, 2023.
- ^ "Para-athletics: United States and Cuba win gold in 400 meters T38/47". Santiago 2023. November 21, 2023.
- ^ "Kobe 2024: Double delight for Blackwell, Ekler, Jong and Xiaoyan". International Paralympic Committee. May 21, 2024.
- ^ Ross, Dalton (July 22, 2024). "2 'Survivor' players qualify for 2024 Paralympics in Paris". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved September 1, 2024.
- ^ "Survivor alum Ryan Medrano wins silver medal at 2024 Paralympics". Entertainment Weekly. August 31, 2024.