Rigivan GANESHAMOORTHY

He made his debut in the world of paralympic sport. Initially, “Riggi”, as he is nicknamed, focused on wheelchair basketball and fencing.

He discovered athletics, soon specialising in throwing events. He won the silver medal in the shot put at Jesolo in September competing in the Italian Paralympic Championships, with a distance of 7.73 metres.

The first gold medals arrived. He became the Italian champion in shot put and discus throwing in the F55 category, which he achieved while still competing in fencing, winning a gold in the sabre event.

His breakout year. After setting the world record at the Italian Championships for the javelin throw and coming within 1 centimetre of the world shot put record, he made his first appearance for the Italian team at the Paralympic Games in Paris. It was here that “Riggi” took home a gold medal in the discus throw, improving on the world record three times in a row.