View source for Rudy Garcia-Tolson

{{short description|American Paralympic athlete}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2016}}
{{Infobox sportsperson
| name             = Rudy Garcia-Tolson
| image            = 
| image_size       = 
| caption          = 
| fullname         = <!--if different-->
| nicknames        = 
| nationality      = American
| birth_date       = {{birth date and age|1988|09|14}}
| birth_place      = [[Riverside, California]], U.S.
| death_date       = 
| death_place      = 
| height           = 
| weight           = 
| sport            = Swimming, Athletics, Triathlon
| event            = {{ubl|100m Breaststroke|200m Individual Medley}}
| club             = 
| collegeteam      = 
| medaltemplates   = 
{{MedalSport | Men's [[paralympic swimming|swimming]] }}
{{MedalCountry | {{USA}} }}
{{MedalCompetition | [[Swimming at the Summer Paralympics|Paralympic Games]] }}
{{MedalGold | [[2004 Summer Paralympics|2004 Athens]] | [[Swimming at the 2004 Summer Paralympics|200m Individual Medley SM7]] }}
{{MedalGold | [[2008 Summer Paralympics|2008 Beijing]] | [[Swimming at the 2008 Summer Paralympics|200m Individual Medley SM7]]}}
{{MedalSilver | [[2012 Summer Paralympics|2012 London]] | [[Swimming at the 2012 Summer Paralympics|200m Individual Medley SM7]] }}
{{MedalSilver | [[2016 Summer Paralympics|2016 Rio De Janeiro]] | [[Swimming at the 2016 Summer Paralympics|200m Individual Medley SM7]] }}
{{MedalBronze | [[2008 Summer Paralympics|2008 Beijing]] | [[Swimming at the 2008 Summer Paralympics|100m Breaststroke SB7]] }}
{{MedalCompetition | [[IPC Swimming World Championships]] }}
{{MedalGold | 2006 Durban | 200m Individual Medley SM7 }}
{{MedalGold | 2010 Eindhoven | 200m Individual Medley SM7 }}
{{MedalBronze | [[2009 IPC Swimming World Championships 25 m|2009 Rio – SC]] | 200m Individual Medley SM7 }}
{{MedalBronze | [[2009 IPC Swimming World Championships 25 m|2009 Rio – SC]] | 4×50 m Freestyle Relay 20 pts }}
{{MedalBronze | 2010 Eindhoven | 100m Breaststroke SB7 }}
{{MedalSport | Men's [[paralympic athletics|athletics]] }}
{{MedalCompetition | [[Parapan American Games]] }}
{{MedalSilver | [[2011 Parapan American Games|2011 Guadalajara]] | [[Athletics at the 2011 Parapan American Games|100m T42]] }}
| show-medals      = yes
}}

'''Rudy Garcia-Tolson''' (born September 14, 1988)<ref name="Team USA bio" /> is a Paralympic swimmer, runner and triathlete from the USA.

He was born with [[popliteal pterygium syndrome]], resulting in a [[club foot]], webbed fingers on both hands, a [[cleft lip and palate]] and the inability to straighten his legs. As a 5 year old wheelchair user, after 15 operations, he decided he would rather be a double [[amputee]] and walk with prosthetics. He had both legs removed above the knee.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ironman.com/triathlon-news/articles/2009/10/rudy-garcia-tolson-athlete.aspx |title=Lee Gruenfeld profiles the amazing Rudy Garcia-Tolson |publisher=ironman.com |accessdate=January 25, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130629061030/http://www.ironman.com/triathlon-news/articles/2009/10/rudy-garcia-tolson-athlete.aspx |archive-date=June 29, 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://triathlon.competitor.com/2009/04/features/amputee-rudy-garcia-tolson-begins-kona-quest-at-2009-wildflower_410 |title=Amputee Rudy Garcia-Tolson begins Kona quest at Wildflower |publisher=Triathlete magazine |year=2009 |accessdate=January 25, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120419152721/http://triathlon.competitor.com/2009/04/features/amputee-rudy-garcia-tolson-begins-kona-quest-at-2009-wildflower_410 |archive-date=April 19, 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref>

==Swimming==

Garcia-Tolson started swimming at age 6.<ref name="Swimming World">{{cite web |url=http://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/lane9/news/21369.asp |title=Paralympic Spotlight: Rudy Garcia-Tolson |publisher=Swimming World Magazine |date=June 2009 |accessdate=January 25, 2013 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130301130539/http://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/lane9/news/21369.asp |archivedate=March 1, 2013 |df=mdy}}</ref> Within a year, the seven-year old was competing against children without disabilities and breaking records.<ref name="Pearson Education Canada">{{Cite book |title=Developmental reading assessment : grades 4-8 |date=2004 |publisher=Pearson Education Canada |others=Beaver, Joetta., Carter, Mark A., Sreenivasan, Jyotsna., León, Vicki., León, Vicki., Siburt, Ruth. |isbn=0131225979 |edition=Canadian |location=Don Mills, ON |oclc=156910269}}</ref>

When he was eight years old, he stated that he would swim in the [[2004 Paralympic Games]].<ref name="IMAZfinish">{{cite web |url=http://triathlon.competitor.com/2009/11/news/rudy-garcia-tolson-becomes-first-double-above-knee-amputee-to-complete-ironman_6080 |title=Rudy Garcia-Tolson Becomes First Double Above-Knee Amputee To Complete Ironman |publisher=Triathlete magazine |date=November 25, 2009 |accessdate=January 25, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120126020311/http://triathlon.competitor.com/2009/11/news/rudy-garcia-tolson-becomes-first-double-above-knee-amputee-to-complete-ironman_6080 |archive-date=January 26, 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=Bootcampers /> He was true to his word and won the gold medal in the 200 meter [[individual medley]] and broke the world record for his SM7 class.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.paralympic.org/ipc_results/results2pdf.php?sport=swimming&competition=2004PG&gender=m&discipline=&event=200+m+Individual+Medley&eclass=SM7 |title=ATHENS 2004 Paralympic Games-Swimming-Men's 200 m Individual Medley SM7 |accessdate=January 25, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303211914/http://www.paralympic.org/ipc_results/results2pdf.php?sport=swimming&competition=2004PG&gender=m&discipline=&event=200+m+Individual+Medley&eclass=SM7 |archive-date=March 3, 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In the 2008 [[2008 Summer Paralympics|Beijing Paralympics]], when he was 20, he again won the gold medal in the 200 meter individual medley event, breaking his own SM7 world record twice in the process.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.paralympic.org/ipc_results/results2pdf.php?sport=swimming&competition=2008PG&gender=m&discipline=&event=200+m+Individual+Medley&eclass=SM7 |title=Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games – Swimming – Men's 200 m Individual Medley SM7 |publisher=International Paralympic Committee |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303205414/http://www.paralympic.org/ipc_results/results2pdf.php?sport=swimming&competition=2008PG&gender=m&discipline=&event=200+m+Individual+Medley&eclass=SM7 |archivedate=March 3, 2016 |df=mdy}}</ref> He also won the bronze medal in 100m breaststroke SB7.

At the [[2012 Summer Paralympics|2012 Paralympics]] in London, he broke the SM7 world record in the 200 meter individual medley heat. In the final, both he and [[Yevheniy Bohodayko]] swam faster still. Bohodayko touched the wall first; Garcia-Tolson won silver.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.paralympic.org/ipc_results/results2pdf.php?sport=swimming&competition=2012PG&gender=m&discipline=&event=200+m+Individual+Medley&eclass=SM7 |title=London 2012 Paralympic Games – Swimming – Men's 200 m Individual Medley SM7 |publisher=International Paralympic Committee |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303210735/http://www.paralympic.org/ipc_results/results2pdf.php?sport=swimming&competition=2012PG&gender=m&discipline=&event=200+m+Individual+Medley&eclass=SM7 |archivedate=March 3, 2016 |df=mdy}}</ref> He is targeting the 2021 Paralympics in Tokyo.<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Futterman|first1=Matthew|last2=Newman|first2=Brittainy|date=2020-05-15|title=The Paralympics Got Postponed. A Retired Champion Got an Idea.|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/15/sports/olympics/rudy-garcia-tolson-paralympics.html|access-date=2020-08-17|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

On April 14, 2022, he was named to the roster to represent the United States at the [[2022 World Para Swimming Championships]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.teamusa.org/USParaSwimming/Features/2022/April/14/US-Paralympics-Swimming-Nominates-25-athletes-to-World-Championship-Roster |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220516011227/https://www.teamusa.org/USParaSwimming/Features/2022/April/14/US-Paralympics-Swimming-Nominates-25-athletes-to-World-Championship-Roster |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 16, 2022 |title=U.S. Paralympics Swimming Nominates 25 athletes to World Championship Roster |website=teamusa.org |first=Kristen |last=Gowdy |date=April 14, 2022 |access-date=April 14, 2022}}</ref>

==Other sports==

===Athletics===

Garcia-Tolson started running at age 7.<ref name="swimnews">{{cite web |url=http://swimnews.com/News/view/1805 |title=Rudy Garcia-Tolson Receives Second-Annual Casey Martin Award |publisher=swimnews.com |date=October 31, 2002 |accessdate=January 25, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131014173751/http://swimnews.com/News/view/1805 |archive-date=October 14, 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref> By the age of 13, he held [[T42 (classification)|T42]] American Records in all distances from 400 metres to the half marathon.<ref name="Brave Heart">{{cite web |url=http://www.daveboon.com/newsletters/Rudy_Garcia-Tolson.pdf |title=Rudy Garcia-Tolson: A brave heart is a powerful weapon |publisher=Uncommon Friends |year=2001 |accessdate=January 25, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131014172433/http://www.daveboon.com/newsletters/Rudy_Garcia-Tolson.pdf |archive-date=October 14, 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref>

At the [[2011 Parapan American Games]], he won a silver medal in the T42 100 metre event.<ref name="pe">{{cite web |url=http://blog.pe.com/gregg-patton/2012/06/09/column-garcia-tolson-makes-push-for-third-paralympics/ |title=Garcia-Tolson makes push for third Paralympics |publisher=The Press-Enterprise |date=June 9, 2013 |accessdate=January 25, 2013 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130216152934/http://blog.pe.com/gregg-patton/2012/06/09/column-garcia-tolson-makes-push-for-third-paralympics/ |archive-date=February 16, 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref> At the [[2012 Summer Paralympics]], he competed on the track as well as in the pool. He ran personal best times in his T42 100 metre and 200 metre events, but did not qualify for finals.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.london2012.com/paralympics/athlete/garcia-tolson-rudy-5510604/ |title=Rudy Garcia-Tolson |publisher=London 2012 Paralympics |accessdate=January 25, 2013 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130516091602/http://www.london2012.com/paralympics/athlete/garcia-tolson-rudy-5510604/ |archivedate=May 16, 2013 |df=mdy-all}}</ref>

===Triathlon===

Garcia-Tolson competed in first his triathlon at age 8, as the swimmer in a winning relay team.<ref name="Bootcampers">{{cite web |url=http://www.bootcampers.com/newspaper/rudy.html |title=Rudy Garcia-Tolson |publisher=Bootcampers (including extract from Triathlete magazine, 1999) |accessdate=January 25, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131014172214/http://www.bootcampers.com/newspaper/rudy.html |archive-date=October 14, 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref> He raced with celebrities including [[Robin Williams]] as part of Team Braveheart.<ref name="Bootcampers" /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/2005-12-19-athletes-special-bonds_x.htm |title=Team Braveheart inspires each other |publisher=USA Today |date=December 19, 2005 |accessdate=January 25, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131015004008/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/2005-12-19-athletes-special-bonds_x.htm |archive-date=October 15, 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref>

At age 10, he completed the first of many individual triathlons.<ref name="Swimming World" /><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHQ_Wg3h_sg |title=The start of it all: Rudy Garcia-Tolson. Edited footage of triathlons from 1997–2009 |date=May 3, 2011 |publisher=Rudy Garcia-Tolson's youtube |accessdate=January 25, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140125204308/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHQ_Wg3h_sg |archive-date=January 25, 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2006, he completed the Ford Ironman World Championship 70.3 in Clearwater, Florida. He attempted the 2009 [[Ironman World Championship]] in Kona but missed the bike cut by 8 minutes. Six weeks later, at Ironman Arizona, he became the first double above-knee amputee to complete a full [[Ironman Triathlon]].<ref name="IMAZfinish" />

[[Paratriathlon]] has been included in the program for the [[2016 Summer Paralympics|2016 Paralympics]]. Although he has previously described triathlon as "cross training for swimming", Garcia-Tolson has indicated some interest in competing.<ref name="pe" />

'''Other Sports'''

Garcia-Tolson's other activities include karate, skateboarding, as well as kayaking and mountain biking.<ref name="Pearson Education Canada"/>

==Recognition and awards==

In 2003, Garcia-Tolson was named one of Teen People Magazine's "20 Teens Who Will Change the World". He was the subject of The Final Sprint's December 2006 "Success Story"; a monthly column that aims to highlight remarkable and factual accounts of runners who have overcome major obstacles and/or changed their lives via running.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thefinalsprint.com/2007/01/tfs-podcast-3-interview-with-paralympic-gold-medalist-rudy-garcia-tolson/ |title=Podcast 3: Interview with Paralympic gold medalist Rudy Garcia-Tolson |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080704205806/http://www.thefinalsprint.com/2007/01/tfs-podcast-3-interview-with-paralympic-gold-medalist-rudy-garcia-tolson/ |archivedate=July 4, 2008}}</ref> He has won several awards, including the Arete Courage in Sports Award and the Casey Martin Award from [[Nike, Inc.|Nike]].<ref name="swimnews" /> Following his success at Ironman Arizona, he was nominated for an [[ESPY Award]] in 2010.

==Personal life==

Garcia-Tolson has been a spokesperson for the [[Challenged Athletes Foundation]] since 1999.<ref name="Brave Heart" />

He is a student at [[Southwestern College (California)|Southwestern College]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://twitter.com/RudyGTcaf/status/291328313035747328 |title=Photo: First Day of College! |publisher=Rudy Garcia-Tolson, Twitter |date=January 16, 2013 |accessdate=January 25, 2013}}</ref> likes hip hop music and skateboarding,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://voices.yahoo.com/rudy-garcia-tolson-iron-man-swimmer-skateboarder-and-8714649.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130217032848/http://voices.yahoo.com/rudy-garcia-tolson-iron-man-swimmer-skateboarder-and-8714649.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 17, 2013 |title=Rudy Garcia Tolson; Iron-man, Swimmer, Skateboarder and Paraplegic |publisher=Yahoo Voices |accessdate=January 25, 2013}}</ref> and has one brother and three sisters.<ref name="Team USA bio">{{cite web |url=http://www.teamusa.org/Athletes/GA/Rudy-GarciaTolson.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425105916/http://www.teamusa.org/Athletes/GA/Rudy-GarciaTolson.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 25, 2012 |title=Rudy Garcia-Tolson |publisher=Team USA |accessdate=January 25, 2013}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist|45em}}

==External links==
* [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6323697A062DDC64 Swimmer Rudy Garcia-Tolson] – 24 short video clips about Rudy by BP Team USA
* {{Team USA|new_id=rudy-garcia-tolson|old_id=GA/Rudy-GarciaTolson|archive=20230515172543}}
* {{IPC athlete|rudy-garcia-tolson|Rudy Garcia-Tolson}}
* {{IPC athlete|rudy-garcia|Rudy Garcia|old_id=681664}}

{{Footer USA Swimming 2016 Summer Paralympics}}
{{Footer USA Swimming 2020 Summer Paralympics}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Garcia-Tolson, Rudy}}
[[Category:1988 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American male medley swimmers]]
[[Category:Paralympic swimmers for the United States]]
[[Category:Swimmers at the 2004 Summer Paralympics]]
[[Category:Paralympic gold medalists for the United States]]
[[Category:World record holders in paralympic swimming]]
[[Category:American amputees]]
[[Category:American disabled sportspeople]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Riverside, California]]
[[Category:Swimmers at the 2008 Summer Paralympics]]
[[Category:Swimmers at the 2012 Summer Paralympics]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2012 Summer Paralympics]]
[[Category:Paratriathletes]]
[[Category:American male triathletes]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 2004 Summer Paralympics]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 2008 Summer Paralympics]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 2012 Summer Paralympics]]
[[Category:Sportspeople with club feet]]
[[Category:Paralympic silver medalists for the United States]]
[[Category:Paralympic bronze medalists for the United States]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 2016 Summer Paralympics]]
[[Category:Medalists at the World Para Swimming Championships]]
[[Category:Paralympic medalists in swimming]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 2011 Parapan American Games]]
[[Category:Swimmers at the 2020 Summer Paralympics]]
[[Category:S7-classified para swimmers]]
[[Category:21st-century American sportsmen]]