Rudy Garcia-Tolson

Operation Paralympics

At the age of seven, Rudy Garcia-Tolson set a goal for himself: to compete in the 2004 Paralympics. Focused and determined, he reached his goal in a golden way, setting a world record on his way to winning Paralympic gold in Athens.

Now a two-time Paralympic Games gold medalist, Garcia-Tolson shares his inspirational story with businesses, schools, organizations and individuals across the country. With the motto that “a brave heart is a powerful weapon”, Garcia-Tolson encourages positive goal setting and follow through.

Born with multiple birth defects, including the rare Pterygium Syndrome, a clubfoot and a cleft lip, Garcia-Tolson spent the beginning of his life in and out of the hospital and isolated from typical youth activities. Having suffered through 15 operations by the age of five, Garcia-Tolson bravely told his parents he wanted to amputate both of his legs rather than continue on with the surgeries.

After the operation, Garcia-Tolson found new life, particularly in swimming, which marked his first participation in normal childhood activities. A superior athlete, Garcia-Tolson quickly began to excel and it was obvious he had become blind to any perceived limits that might result from his disability. Within a year, Garcia-Tolson was the top age-group swimmer, able-bodied or disabled, in every local meet and event. For Garcia-Tolson, the real disability is in one’s attitude, and this stance rings clearly throughout his motivational presentation.

In 2008, he competed in 5 events at the Beijing Paralympic Games, repeating his gold medal performance in the 200m IM and winning a bronze in the 100m breaststroke.

A Lifetime of Inspiration

A childhood prodigy, with five American swimming records, four national track records, six triathlons completed and a Paralympic gold medal by the age he was 16, Garcia-Tolson has been motivating Americans for over a decade. He has been featured on The Oprah Winfrey Show, The Disney Channel, CNN, USA Today, The New York Times, Sports Illustrated, Runners World and People Magazine. Despite his early success, his motivation and goal setting has not ceased. The world-class athlete now looks to take to the land, with the goal of finishing an IRONMAN Triathlon. He plans on splitting his time between land and water, training for both the IRONMAN and the 2012 Paralympic Games in London.

An ambassador for the Challenged Athletes Fund, Garcia-Tolson travels the country sharing his experiences and his motivational message. In 2002 he addressed tens 56,000 people at Rice Eccles Stadium as part of the opening ceremonies of the Salt Lake City Winter Games. Since then he speaks at schools across the country and motivates sales forces, including companies such as Wells Fargo, Powerbar and Boston Scientific, which has invited him out to their national sales meeting for 10 consecutive years.

Garcia-Tolson’s participation in the Challenged Athlete’s Fund has helped raise over six-million dollars for young athletes who find themselves in a similar situation to the Paralympic champion. One particular fundraiser Garcia-Tolson regularly competes in is the San Diego Triathlon Challenge, which is a relay race. Annually, Garica-Tolson will compete in the swimming leg alongside teammate and celebrity comedian Robin Williams, who cycles.