Alberto Suárez Laso[1] (born 19 December 1977) is a T12 athlete from Spain who competes in long-distance events like the 5,000 meters, 10,000 meters, half marathon and marathon. He is a world record holder in the men's T12 marathon, winning gold in the event at the 2011 IPC Athletics World Championships and the 2012 Summer Paralympics.
Personal information | |
---|---|
Full name | Alberto Suárez Laso |
Nationality | Spanish |
Born | Riosa, Asturias, Spain | 19 December 1977
Sport | |
Country | Spain |
Sport | Track and field (T12) |
Medal record |
Personal
Suárez was born December 19, 1977, in Riosa, Asturias, Spain.[2][3] As of 2012[update], he resides in Oviedo, Asturias.[2] He has a vision impairment.[4]
At the 2011 Asturian Best Sportspersons awards organized by the Asturian Sports Press Association, Suárez won an award related to human values.[5] The following year, in 2012, he won the Asturian Sports Press Association award for best male athlete.[6] In 2013, he was awarded the gold Real Orden al Mérito Deportivo.[7]
Athletics
Suárez is a T12, visually impaired runner,[2][8] and often competes against runners without disabilities.[9] He is a member of the Laso Oviedo Athletics Club,[9][10] and, As of 2012[update], he is coached by Chus Castaño.[9] He is a world record in the marathon for his classification.[5]
Suárez participated in the 2011 Gran Fondo Siete Aguas Archived 27 October 2015 at the Wayback Machine International Trophy President of the Council of Valencia.[10] He competed in the 2011 Spanish Paralympic national athletics championships held in Gijón.[11] He competed in the 2011 IPC Athletics World Championships in Christchurch New Zealand where he was one of two Spanish competitors in the marathon. He finished the marathon with a gold medal and world record time of 2.28:10.[2][8][12] He also earned a bronze medal in the men's T12 10,000 meter race.[2][13]
Going into the 2012 athletics season, Suárez's goal for it was to win a gold medal at the 2012 London Paralympics in the marathon.[14] In 2012, he was a recipient of a Plan ADO €23,000 athlete scholarship with a €3,000 reserve and a €2,500 coaching scholarship.[15] He participated in the 2012 Riosa Sports Days.[16] Prior to the start of the London Games, he trained with several other visually impaired Spanish track and field athletes in Logroño.[17] In May 2012, he was on the shortlist of Spanish sportspeople from Asturias likely to compete at the London Paralympics.[18]
Competing in the European Championships in June 2012, he finished in first place in the T12 5,000 meters with a time of 15:23.60.[19]
He competed at the 2012 Summer Paralympics,[16][20] where he won a gold medal in the men's T12 marathon and finished sixth in the men's T12 5,000 meter event.[2] His gold medal was Spain's eighth gold of the Games.[3] He finished the marathon in a time of 2:24.50, which was a new Paralympic Games and World Record.[4][20]
Suárez finished 6th in the 2013 Barcelona half marathon while setting a personal best time in the distance and competing against able bodied athletes.[20] He competed in the 2013 Divina Pastora 8 km Orotava held in the Canary Islands. Prior to race day, he gave a presentation connected to the event about physical activity, sport and eating patterns for athletes.[12][20][21] In July 2013, he participated in the 2013 IPC Athletics World Championships.[22]