Breaking the paradigm of parasport, the admirable mission of coach Roger Salas: ‘In my team everyone does everything’

When the coach from Ibagué When he thinks about the last four years of his life he can’t help but smile. The trajectory of Roger Steven Salas He had to go through a lot of twists and turns to be in charge of the regional Paralympic system today.

Now, he rubs shoulders with the best parathletes from Tolima and has the pleasure of supporting them in their professional physical training to compete later. His time with them has left him with immense learning and life lessons.

A close relationship has been created between him and his team, both sportingly and personally. “I tease them with affection and tell them ‘my broken ones’“, he says. This humorous expression is born from a deep understanding and respect for the disabled people with whom he works.

Despite having formed their group only since 2021, their process has been impressive and innovative. It was initially thought of as an initiative to bring more medals to the department, who was only 14 at the time for the para-swimming team.

Then, the first year that the members of Roger’s project competed in the National Games, they managed to win 32 medals in 2023. “I was a little scared, but I took 16 athletes and we were a hit,” he says. They were the ones who achieved the most podiums at the departmental level in that edition.

They are never in a bad mood. Life has already taken away from them what it had to take away and that is why they are not afraid of losing anything. It is fascinating to work with them.

His sporting commitment goes beyond the limitations of a disability and seeks to connect conventional sport and Paralympic sport: “The idea was Breaking the paradigm of conventional sport “These people can’t do that,” no longer. On my team, everyone does everything.”

When he tells it, it is clear that this detail makes the physical mentor immensely proud. “I like hard training” he says and that is what applies to his pupils. They begin their day from 6 in the morning and they travel several kilometers in their wheelchairs.

He recognizes the great effort his athletes make just to get to training. Their daily preparation is very different from people without any physical limitations. Sti
ll, his athletes are the most dedicated people he has had the pleasure of working with. “No matter if it rains or shines, they are here.”

From conventional athlete to coach of Olympic paraathletes

Roger had a love for sports since he was a child, beginning his journey as a young man swimmer at 8 years old on the Tiburones team, the Tolima selection. He became champion of the National Games in 2004, 2008, 2014 and 2015.

Later, he became involved in the world of triathlon, combining his passion for water and the other disciplines that this sport involves. For several years he was alone, training himself.

However, unexpectedly a serious difficulty came into his life. His mother He suffered an accident and due to a blow to the head developed Alzheimer’s of rapid degeneration. He had to witness the painful decline of the woman who once played with him, who accompanied him to his training sessions and encouraged him at every step.

He was determined to support her and decided to become her main companion. He had to do everything for her, from feeding her, bathing her, dressing her, to changing her when she went to the bathroom. This had consequences for Roger’s mental and physical health, as he developed caregiver syndrome.

Despite the challenges and limitations that the disease brought to both of them, he remained by his mother’s side. But there came a point when the deterioration and mobility of women were too advanced

Then, a dear friend of the triathlete, whom he had known since his years on the Tiburones team, invited him to take his mother to the swimming classes he taught for people with disabilities. Although the therapy would not lead to any improvement in her case, he assured her that it would be an enriching and enjoyable space.

This is how Roger had his first approach to parasport. She remembers this time with bittersweetness, because before her mother passed away she even got to know those who would be her future athletes.

After this complex and formative period, the coach needed to certify his experience through studies. He realized that he knew a lot about the Paralympic sport, but ironically his current title was as a business administrator.

Thanks to a scholarship from the University of Magdalena, she was able to pursue a degree in Training Professional. She also completed a specialization in training science for people with disabilities in Brazil.

Marathon runner at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games

Among all the adventures that Roger has lived there was one in particular that he remembers with great emotion: the marathon that he led Daniel Ignacio Guarnizo to classify in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

First, Daniel had to win the Armenian National Games the previous year. However, achieving this was a challenge that neither of them expected. Although they knew from the beginning that it would be difficult because the surface of the city is all uphill.

Climbs are the worst enemy of any exhausted marathoner, but for a paraathlete who has been sitting for hours, moving his body weight only with the arms and having to endure his wheelchair being lifted off the ground by physics itself is exhausting.

Still, the young man knew what he was capable of and confidently told his coach “I’m going to win.” Full of determination he started his journey. First lap!, with a solid pace. Second lap!, he increases the speed and positions himself in 4th place. Third lap!, he gets a flat tire and is stranded.

In the heat, fatigue and frustration, Daniel saw that the race was lost. Thinking about that moment always makes Roger’s skin crawl: “I was a kilometer away and they called me to tell me that Nobody there knew how to change the tire. So I brought out my athletic talent and ran.”

Without thinking twice, he rushed to his athlete to get him out of trouble as quickly as possible. He got the tire ready and said, “Go, daddy. God willing.” Then the para-athlete got back into the race. Lap four! Lap five! Lap six! first place by 400 meters.

“When that boy arrived, he could only cry and thank me, and I told him that’s what we’re here for.” That’s what gives the coach the most satisfaction, being able to see the fruits of exhausting effort and overcome challenges that seemed impossible.

Then, he remembers how the young athlete got to the state he is in: “He was the victim of a robbery during which he received a shot that ended up implanted in his spinal cord.” This event caused him to lose mobility in his legs “and that’s where a different story began, but Today, history is written by him.”

From that moment on, he paved his way to becoming one of the most famous para-athletes in the department of Tolima. He achieved this thanks to his tenacity and the guidance of his great coach.

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