Álex Roca (Barcelona, ??1991) has once again shown that he has no limits. His name has already been recorded in the history of world sport, after he yesterday became the first athlete in the world to complete a marathon with a 76% disability. He did it with a time of 5:50:51 in the 44th edition of La Zurich Marató de Barcelona.
Roca starred in an exciting image when he crossed the finish line with his group of friends, his wife, Mari Carmen Maza, as well as the athlete and communicator Valentí Sanjuan, who has accompanied him in other of his challenges.
After the race, the athlete himself shared a video through his Twitter account announcing the feat he had just accomplished, and thanking all those who had encouraged him during the 42.195 km journey.
But getting here has not been easy for him. With only six months of life he suffered a herpetic viral encephalitis that caused him cerebral palsy. Then they told him that he could not live, and later that he could not walk. However, Álex Roca has left all expectations behind, and has overcome all the challenges that he has set for himself.
At the age of 32, he has completed five triathlons, one aquatlon, six half marathons (Barcelona 2019, 2022 and 2023, Granollers 2023, New York and Miami 2022), the Titan Desert in 2019 and the Pilgrim Race in 2018. In addition, he has accumulated 70 races five and 10 kilometers.
A few days ago, the Barcelonan shared a video on his Tik Tok account where he explained the reasons that led him to run a marathon. “Any person who has a goal, no matter how many difficulties and fears accompany him, with sacrifice, attitude and teamwork, he can achieve it,” he said through sign language and helped by his wife, who is the that gives voice to his words.
“I decided to run the Barcelona marathon so that people who feel afraid or do not see themselves as capable of achieving this goal will see me cross the finish line of a marathon and say to themselves: I can too,” he recalled.
After reaching the finish line, he declared that he felt “immense satisfaction” for what he had just achieved. “This marathon has been the greatest experience of my life. It is a dream come true, but behind this triumph there are many months of sacrifice, effort and training. It has been very hard and I have pushed myself to the limit, but it has been worth it. The satisfaction is immense”, he affirmed.
Roca, who is an ambassador for the Futbol Club Barcelona Foundation, is currently the only Nike athlete with cerebral palsy in the world. In addition, he is an idol of the masses on social networks, where he shares his sports challenges and moments of his day to day.
Thanks to a team made up of a coach, a physical trainer and a psychologist, Álex Roca has completed one of his greatest challenges as an athlete, once again proving that he has no limits.
