Bolivia, which has been at the Olympic Games since 1936, for a total of fifteen participations, is the only South American country that has never won a medal. Héctor Garibay could make Olympic history with a charm around his neck. The 35-year-old long-distance runner has earned the right to participate in the Olympic marathon event.
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Héctor Garibay, born in the Andean department of Oruro (south of La Paz), is a former taxi driver and mechanic who has distinguished himself on several occasions at the international level. He earned his ticket in the Seville Marathon in 2023 with a time of 2 hours, seven minutes and 44 seconds.
The Bolivian long-distance runner and former footballer has distinguished himself in international competitions. He won the Buenos Aires marathon in October 2021 and the Mexico marathon in August 2023. In May 2024, he continued his preparation with a victory in the Rio de Janeiro half-marathon in Brazil. My goal is Paris one hundred percent. Since last year, I have set myself goals, I am training harder and harder for the Games. ” said the athlete who will run on August 11, the last day of the Paris Olympics 2024.
Record in Mexico
In Mexico, the Bolivian jumped for joy after setting a new record in the event: three minutes faster than the one he set in 2018, with a new mark of 2h08m22s in this event dominated by Kenyan athletes since 2018 – with the exception of 2021, when the Mexican Darío Castro won.
But Garibay’s rise to become one of the world’s best long-distance athletes has not been easy. The man who worked as a taxi driver to finance his career can now count on the government of Oruro. He also benefits from his racing winnings; in Mexico City, he pocketed $35,000 as the winner.
Garibay, who played football in the lower divisions, arrived in the world of athletics after an injury suffered on the field. During his recovery period, he had to do races and exercises on the track of the Jesús Bermúdez stadium in Oruro. It was there that he met his coach. Lacking financial support, he had to combine athletics and work in his taxi to be able to compete.
” Everything is possible, we are convinced that anything can happen. That is why every day we come to train with the aim of continuing to improve (…) We are going (in Paris) to fight with everyone “, Garibay told the Spanish news agency EFE. Garibay already knows France having finished second in Paris-Versailles in 2023.