Main sport goals of Santi

The begining:

Santiago began his athletic life at the Spring of 1993 rolling on a normal wheelchair.

In 1995 he bought a sport wheelchair and he started train with Jose María Torres (At present is the second coach of the professional cycling team Kelme). This year Santiago run in so much events around Alicante´s and Murcia´s Province with the Albatera´s running club although until 1996 he wouldn´t Know Paco Hidalo (racing chair athlete deceased in 1997). Paco ushered Santi in track and field and one year later Santi bought a racing chair and began training with Veronica Segura athletic coach and Graduate in Sports Sciencies by Valencia´s University. Santiago improved so much his personal bests and did the limit in 1500m for 1998 World Championships celebrated in England, but he didn´t go for bureaucratic problems, in spite of has done the world best time of the year in 1500m (3´57´´53) at Alicante´s Stadium.

In 1999 Santiago did his personal bests in 800m (2´05´´51), 1500m (3´51´´05) and 5000m (13´07´´). 1999 was the previous year of Santiago´s Interntional debut.

First interesting times:

In 1999 Santiago did his personal bests in 800m (2´05´´51), 1500m (3´51´´05) and 5000m (13´07´´). 1999 was the previous year of Santiago´s Interntional debut.

In 2000 Santiago attended to Paralimpyc Games and got a Silver Medal in 5000m and a Bronze Medal in 800m planing back to International competitions in 2001 Spring.

In 2001 Santiago began training with his coach at present Jose Manuel Fernandez Graduate in Sports Sciencies by Granada´s University.

Santiago won athletics Mitin in Toront, Blanckemberg (Berlin) where he did the the world best time of the year in 5000m (13´10´´). He won 1500m In Swiss Championships ...

Santiago won three gold medals in European Championships celebrated in Luzern (Switzerland).  

In 2002 Santiago hurted his right wrist on January and didn´t train for four months and began a suffering process for comeback to International level. He got a Silver medal in 1500m and a Bronze medal in 5000 in the World Championships celebrated in Lille (France).

This year Santiago was proclaimed best handicap sport man of the year in Alicante´s Province and was finalist in the best Dress Sport of the Valencian Comunity.

2003: European Championships.

He went to the American Series celebrated in the East Coast of the United States and he  did some second and third positions in some events.

In season 2003/2004 Santi has beaten all his personal bests: 800m 2´02´´65 (Fifth best ever result and national record), 1500 3´49´´25(National Record) , 2000 5´06´´86, 3000 7´51´´19, 5000 13´06´´96 (Second best ever result and National Record).

In his second participation in the American Series (Toronto-New York-Cedartown-Atlanta), finished in twelve position and won 5000m in Atlanta Track Meet. Finished third in New York (Nick Katsiounis Memorial) and second in Toronto Rampage, Peachtree 10Km and Cedartown 5Km.

Season 2005 has been best ever season for Santi improving his nationals recods in 800m (2´01´´43) and 1500m (3´39´´63) been first T-52 athlete in get under 3´40´´ barrier.

Santi did new race records in Oz Day, Lilac Bloomsday, Cedartown and Peachtree.

Peachtree 2005

Santi was recongnized like best province athlete and perceived the gold sport merit medal of the Valencian Comunity.

Gold medal to the sport merit - 2005

During  season (2005-2006) he  jump to the top of athletics with the victory in the World Series and four tittles in the World Championships from 800m til Marathon.

Seoul Half Marathon - 2006

Santi  improved all his personal bests except the one of the 1500m, emphasizing the World Record in 800m and 5000m.

During last season (2006-2007) Santi has followed growing as a top racer and is important to detach the triple middle distance crown (world record in the 800m, 1500m and 5000m) and also the double world champion tittle in the 5 and 10Km road World Champs, celebrated in Georgia (USA).

Santi set also world records in 5Km and 10Km road and also i half marathon and didn´t set a new world record in marathon by just only a second.

Santi followed unbeat in road race events and since July 2005 (Saskatoon, Canada) hasn´t lost any road event in his class. He won the last event of the season (Oita International wheelchair marathon) and beat there to Olympic champion Tosihiro Takada by ninenteen seconds.

He got victories in cities like Sydney, Lisbon Toronto, Seoul, Spokane, Atlanta,...

Once again he got the award of best alicante´s athlete and also was named by Spanish Paralympic Comittee as best athlete of 2006 and by the triathlete Olympic champion Kate Allen best athlete of 2006.

World Champs 5Km podium

Oita Marathon