Javier Otxoa facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Javier Otxoa

Otxoa in 2009
Personal information
Born	(1974-08-30)30 August 1974 Barakaldo, Basque Country, Spain
Died	24 August 2018(2018-08-24) (aged 43) Alhaurín de la Torre, Spain
Team information
Discipline	Road & Track
Role	Rider
Major wins
Grand Tours Tour de France 1 stage (2000)

Javier Otxoa Palacios (born August 30, 1974 – died August 24, 2018) was a talented Spanish cyclist. He was part of the Kelme cycling team. Javier was known for his strong riding, especially in mountain stages.

His career had two main parts. First, he was a professional road cyclist. Later, after a serious accident, he became a very successful Paralympic cyclist. He won several medals at the Paralympic Games.

Javier's Road Cycling Career

Javier Otxoa was a professional road cyclist from 1997 to 2001. He was known for his climbing skills.

Winning a Tour de France Stage

In the year 2000, Javier achieved a big win. He won a mountain stage in the Tour de France. This stage ended at the top of a tough climb called Hautacam. The weather was cold and rainy that day.

Javier broke away from the main group early in the race. He rode alone for a long time. Even though he was tired from his efforts, he held on to his lead. He finished the stage just 42 seconds ahead of Lance Armstrong. This was a huge victory for him.

A Life-Changing Accident

In February 2001, Javier and his twin brother, Ricardo, were training. They were hit by a car. Sadly, Ricardo died in the accident.

Javier survived the crash, but he was very badly hurt. He was in a coma for a whole month. The accident left him with serious disabilities. However, Javier did not give up on cycling. He showed amazing courage and determination.

Paralympic Cycling Success

After his accident, Javier Otxoa continued his cycling journey. He switched to Paralympic cycling. This is a sport for athletes with disabilities. He proved to be an incredible athlete in this new field.

Medals at the Paralympics

Javier competed in the 2004 Summer Paralympics in Athens, Greece. He won a gold medal in the road race/time trial event. He also earned a silver medal in the individual pursuit.

He continued his success at the 2008 Summer Paralympics in Beijing, China. There, he won another gold medal in the time trial event. He also claimed a silver medal in the road race. Javier Otxoa's achievements in the Paralympics showed his incredible spirit.

At the time of his death in 2018, Javier Otxoa lived in Alhaurín de la Torre, Spain.

Major Achievements

See also

In Spanish: Javier Otxoa para niños