Víctor Castillo facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Víctor Castillo

Castillo at the 2011 Military World Games
Personal information
Full name	Víctor Manuel Castillo Petit
Born	(1981-06-08) June 8, 1981 (age 44) San Joaquín, Carabobo, Venezuela
Height	1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Weight	79 kg (174 lb)
Sport
Sport	Athletics
Club	NAU Lumberjacks (USA)
Medal record Representing  Venezuela Pan American Games Bronze 2003 Santo Domingo Long jump Disqualified 2011 Guadalajara Long jump Bolivarian Games Gold 2009 Sucre Long jump 8.25m Silver 2009 Sucre 4×100 m Military World Games Bronze 2011 Rio de Janeiro Long jump South American Championships Gold 2003 Barquisimeto Long jump CAC Junior Championships (U20) Bronze 2000 San Juan Long jump
Updated on 29 June 2013.

Víctor Manuel Castillo Petit (born 8 June 1981) is a talented Venezuelan track and field athlete. He is best known for his amazing skills in the long jump event. His personal best jump is 8.34 metres, which is a Venezuelan record! He achieved this incredible jump in May 2004.

Víctor has won many medals throughout his career. He was the South American Champion in 2003. He also earned a bronze medal at the 2003 Pan American Games. Later, he won a gold medal at the Bolivarian Games.

Víctor Castillo's Amazing Career

Víctor Castillo started his international journey in 1998 at the 1998 South American Junior Championships in Athletics. He finished sixth in the long jump. He also helped Venezuela win a silver medal in the 4×100 metres relay race.

Early Jumps and First Wins

In 2000, Víctor won a gold medal in the long jump at the South American Junior Championships. He beat a strong competitor from Brazil. At another big competition, the 2000 Central American and Caribbean Junior Championships in Athletics, he earned a bronze medal. Later that year, he competed at the 2000 World Junior Championships in Athletics, where he finished fourth, just missing a medal.

Víctor then went to Northern Arizona University in the USA. He broke the school record for the long jump there! In 2003, he achieved his first big success as a senior athlete for Venezuela. He won the long jump title at the 2003 South American Championships in Athletics in his home country. He also won a bronze medal at the Pan American Games with a jump of 7.98 m. He even competed at the 2003 World Championships in Athletics that year.

Reaching New Heights

In May 2004, Víctor made two jumps over eight metres. One of these was his personal best and a new Venezuelan national record of 8.34 m! He then competed in Europe at high-level events. He also won a silver medal at the 2004 Ibero-American Championships in Athletics.

Víctor represented Venezuela at the 2004 Athens Games. He jumped 7.98 m in his qualifying round. In 2005, while competing for the NAU Lumberjacks, he set two new national indoor records. He ran the 60 metres in 6.76 seconds and jumped 8.00 m in the long jump.

Coming Back to Compete

After a break from competition, Víctor returned in 2009. He won a gold medal at the 2009 Bolivarian Games with a jump of 8.25 m. He also helped Venezuela's 4×100 metres relay team win a silver medal.

In 2011, he competed in many events. He ran a personal best in the 200 metres and won the long jump title at the national championships. He earned a bronze medal at the 2011 Military World Games with a jump of 7.81 m. He also won a gold medal at the 2011 ALBA Games with a jump of 8.03 m.

His season highlight was at the 2011 Pan American Games. He jumped 8.05 m, which was his third best jump ever. This jump earned him a gold medal! He was only the second Venezuelan man to win an athletics gold at this competition. In 2016, at age 35, Víctor still showed his skill by jumping 7.52m during an indoor competition in Spain.

Personal Best Jumps

These are Víctor Castillo's best jumps and times in different events.

Outdoor Records

• 100 metres: 10.44 s (wind: -1.1 m/s) – Caracas, Venezuela, 9 October 2009
• 200 metres: 21.22 s (wind: +0.3 m/s) – Caracas, Venezuela, 7 May 2011
• Long jump: 8.34 m (wind: -1.2 m/s) – Cochabamba, Bolivia, 30 May 2004
• Triple jump: 15.66 m (wind: +0.2 m/s) – Tempe, Arizona, USA, 4 May 2003

Indoor Records

• 60 metres: 6.76 m – Flagstaff, Arizona, USA, 19 February 2005
• Long jump: 8.00 m – Flagstaff, Arizona, USA, 5 February 2005

Major Achievements

Year	Competition	Venue	Position	Event	Notes
Representing  Venezuela
1998	South American Junior Championships	Córdoba, Argentina	4th (h)	110 m hurdles	16.37 s (wind: +1.2 m/s)
			6th	Long jump	6.93 m
			2nd	4×100 m relay	41.41 s
2000	Central American and Caribbean Junior Championships (U-20)	San Juan, Puerto Rico	3rd	Long jump	7.77 m w (wind: +2.8 m/s)
	South American Junior Championships	São Leopoldo, Brazil	1st	Long jump	7.70 m
	World Junior Championships	Santiago, Chile	4th	Long jump	7.66 m (wind: +0.6 m/s)
2003	South American Championships	Barquisimeto, Venezuela	1st	Long jump	7.78 m (wind: +0.7 m/s)
	Central American and Caribbean Championships	St. George's, Grenada	4th	Long jump	7.60 m (wind: +0.4 m/s)
	Pan American Games	Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic	3rd	Long jump	7.98 m (wind: +1.1 m/s)
	World Championships	Saint-Denis, France	11th (q)	Long jump	7.71 m (wind: +0.3 m/s)
2004	Ibero-American Championships	Huelva, Spain	2nd	Long jump	7.95 m (wind: +1.4 m/s)
	Olympic Games	Athens, Greece	8th (qualifiers)	Long jump	7.98 m (wind: +0.6 m/s)
2009	Bolivarian Games	Sucre, Bolivia	1st	Long jump	8.25m GR A (wind: -0.6 m/s)
			2nd	4×100 m relay	39.73 A
2011	South American Championships	Buenos Aires, Argentina	4th	Long jump	7.72m
	World Military Track & Field Championships	Rio de Janeiro, Brazil	3rd	Long jump	7.81 m (wind: +1.3 m/s)
	ALBA Games	Barquisimeto, Venezuela	1st	Long jump	8.03 m (wind: +2.0 m/s)
	Pan American Games	Guadalajara, Mexico	1st (DQ)	Long jump

Images for kids

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  Castillo at the 2011 Military World Games