José Martínez Morote facts for kids
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Spanish |
| Born | 5 February 1984 Hellín, Albacete, Spain |
| Sport | |
| Country |  Spain |
| Sport | Track and field (T20) |
José Martínez Morote, born on February 5, 1984, in Hellín, Spain, is a talented Paralympic athlete. He competes in Track and field events, mainly in the T20 category. This means he has an intellectual disability. José went to school at Cruz de Mayo and now helps younger athletes in his area learn about track and field.
He first played football (soccer), but a teacher noticed how fast he was with the ball. This led him to switch to athletics when he was 16 years old. Since then, he has competed in many big events, including the 2007 World Games, the 2011 IPC World Athletics Championships, and the 2012 Summer Paralympics. José has also received scholarships to help him continue his journey in sports.
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About José Martínez
José Martínez was born on February 5, 1984, in Albacete, Spain. He has an intellectual disability. He still lives in Albacete, the city where he was born. José attended school in Cruz de Mayo. He enjoys mentoring younger athletes in his community.
In 2008, José was recognized by the Federation of Employers of Albacete (FEDA). They mentioned him at their yearly awards for Culture and Sport.
José's Athletics Journey
José started competing in athletics when he was 16 years old. Before that, he played football. But a teacher saw how fast he was and suggested he try track and field. This turned out to be a great idea!
He has competed in many international events. These include competitions in Tunisia, Hungary, Sweden, Australia, France, Prague, Brazil, and China. Locally, he learned a lot from coaches like Camilo and Maxi. José is a member of the Club Paralímpico de la Región athletic club in Castilla-La Mancha. He is the only male athlete from his club.
When he was 19, José competed in his first Spanish national championships. He won first place in both the 5,000 and 10,000 meter races.
Early Achievements
In 2005, José received an athletics scholarship. This scholarship came from the Foundation for Culture and Sports of Castilla-La Mancha. The next year, at the 2006 Spanish national championships, he won gold medals. He was first in both the 400 and 800 meters.
At the 2007 World Games, José won two medals. He earned a silver medal in the 800 meters. He also took home a bronze medal in the 1,500 meters.
More Victories
In 2008, José continued his success at the Spanish National Athletics Championship. He finished first in the 800 and 1,500 meters. That winter, he also won the Spanish national winter cross country race.
The next year, in 2009, he competed in many events. These included the 400, 800, 1,500, long jump, and 4 × 100 meter events. He won again in the same races as 2008. He also competed in the 2008 World Intellectual Disability Indoor Athletics Championships in Estonia. There, he placed second in the 400 meters and third in the 4 × 400 meter relay.
At the 2008 European Championships, José won first place in the 400 meters. In 2009, he won the one-mile Paralympic class race at the Subida al Castillo de Chiva. His time was 4 minutes and 45 seconds. He also competed in the 2009 World Games in the Czech Republic. He won the 2009 Spanish national cross country championships. The next year, he finished third in that race.
International Competitions
José competed in the 2010 World Indoor Championships for athletes with intellectual disabilities. He also took part in the 2010 INAS European Athletics Championship. In 2011, he ran the Subida al Castillo de Chiva one-mile race again.
At the 2011 IPC World Athletics Championships in Christchurch, New Zealand, José finished fourth. This was in the T20 1,500 meter race. He also won a silver medal in the 4x100 relay at the 2011 World Games. He was part of the team that won a gold medal in the 4 × 400 relay.
Road to the Paralympics
In 2012, José received another athletics scholarship. This one was from the Fundación Cultura y Deportes and the Spanish company Lafarge. He also got a €2,500 coaching scholarship from the Plan ADO program. Plus, he had a scholarship from the Castilla-La Mancha Olímpica (CLAMO) program.
In 2012, he competed in the World Intellectual Disability Indoor Athletics Championships. He represented the Federation of Castilla la Mancha. There, he won a bronze medal in the 4 × 400 meter relay. He also finished sixth in the 1,500 meters.
José Martínez competed in the 2012 Summer Paralympics in London, England. He finished 8th in the T20 1,500 meter race. He was one of three athletes from the Castilla-Mancha region who competed in London. The others were Francisco Javier Sánchez and Ricardo de Pedraza.
