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Oz Sanchez

Sport: Cycling & Triathlon
Residence: San Diego, CA

Oz suffered damage to the L1 nerves in his lower back as the result of a motorcycle accident in 2001. After going through rehabilitation, he was introduced to handcycling and he quickly developed the urge to compete. Through local marathons, he met Paralympic athletes who educated him about the Paralympic Games.

Sanchez has made major improvements since November 2005, when he showed up at the USOC Paralympic Military Sports Camp in Chula Vista, CA. He quickly impressed the U.S. Cycling coaches earning him an invite to a national team training camp. Since then he has been a fixture at all the camps.

Sanchez grew up in Los Angeles and spent six years as a member of the U.S. Marine Corps. He recently earned his bachelor's degree in business from San Diego State University. He now trains full-time and he is a motivational speaker.

Career Highlights

  • 2010: Gold Medal, individual time trial; Gold Medal, individual road race- World Championships
  • 2009: Gold Medal, individual time trial- World Championships
  • 2008: Gold Medal, individual time trial HC C; bronze medal, individual road race- Paralympic Games, Beijing, China
  • 2008: Gold Medal, Accenture Physically Challenged Triathlon Championships, New York, NY
  • 2008: Gold Medal, road time trial - U.S. Paralympic Cycling National Championships, Morrison, Colo.
  • 2008: Gold Medal, criterium - National Criterium Championships, Rome, GA
  • 2008: First Place - National U.S. Handcycling Series
  • 2007: Fifth Place, road race; Sixth Place, time trial - IPC Cycling World Championships, Bordeaux, France
  • 2006: Seventh Place, time trial - IPC Cycling World Championships, Aigle, Switzerland
  • 2006: Fourth Place, road time trial - U.S. Paralympic Cycling National Championships, Seven Springs, PA

Oz works closely with The Hartford, Founding Partner of U.S. Paralympics®, a division of the U.S. Olympic Committee, helping to positively change public attitudes and perceptions about disability. To learn more about Oz, visit his website:
www.ozsanchez.com