Colombian athlete who had his teeth modified to resemble FANGS wins shot put gold in Paris… as he insists that ‘Paralympic sport’ has to be a show
- A Paralympic athlete whose teeth were modified to resemble canines has won gold
- Colombia’s Mauricio Valencia celebrated his shot put victory
A Paralympic athlete whose canines were modified to look like tusks has won gold in Paris.
Colombia’s Mauricio Valencia was overjoyed after winning the men’s F34 shot put final.
The 36-year-old previously said he had his teeth replaced because Paralympic sport “should be a show”.
He said: ‘I didn’t want to have the same smile as the rest of the world. I’ve always said that Paralympic sport should be a show.
“That means you’re outside the stereotype of being in a wheelchair. It’s an attitude thing in life, and while I’m competing.”
Paralympic athlete who had his canine teeth altered to look like fangs has won gold
Colombia’s Mauricio Valencia took victory in the F34 men’s shot put final in Paris
Valencia previously said he had his teeth replaced because Paralympic sport ‘has to be a show’
Valencia told Paranoid: ‘I didn’t want to have the same smile as the rest of the world. I’ve always said that Paralympic sport should be a show. That means you have to be outside the stereotype of being in a wheelchair. It’s an attitude in life, and while I’m competing.’
Valencia has an extensive medal haul, having also won gold in the javelin F34 in Rio de Janeiro in 2016. This summer he also won silver in the javelin, a feat he also achieved at the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo.
He also won bronze in the shot put in 2016. Valencia has also won a large number of medals at world championships, including gold in the javelin throw in London in 2017 and Dubai in 2019.