Jefferson Perez

Jefferson Pérez is an example of a great person and improvement. You owe your honor to be one of the great marchers and considerate one of the best athletes in his discipline. He has behind him an important Olympic trajectory of awards that not many men have passed within his time.

He dedicates part of his life to sports and accumulates 11 medals in numerous international events. Jefferson Pérez shares with Robert Korzeniowzki the honor of being the best walkers in the world. Jefferson retired from his highly competitive sports activity in September 2008, after the final of the World Challenge held in Murcia. Later he dedicated himself to continue advancing in his studies.

The sports start of Jefferson Pérez

Jefferson is Ecuadorian and descends from Manuel Jesús Pérez and María Lucrecia Quezada. They are two parents admired for their humble and hardworking origins who knew give that special security in the trajectory of your child.

He was given the opportunity to start in sports thanks to his brother Fabián, that helped him train with his coach Luis Muñoz, in the modality in endurance race to be able to pass the gymnastics subject.

His own coach realized the great potential he had and encouraged him to continue training thanks to the great talent and great discipline he exercised in this category. This prompted him to take his first prize in 1990, with a bronze medal at the World Junior Athletics Championships in Plovdiv, Bulgaria.

Your first career path

In 1992 he obtained the youth world title in Seoul, Korea. This is one of his first and successful attempts to help him continue pursuing his sports career. From there they came support with large sponsorships for several years, something he had not found within his government.

His first Olympic medals

En 1996 Jefferson wins the Olympic gold medal in his modality. Ecuador had already bet years ago with other runners and they could not reach their marks. It is when Pérez Quezada reached the goal obtaining a time of 1 hour, 20 minutes and 7 seconds on a 20-kilometer route. An example of a disciplinary progress since he was able to reach his goal even with one of his broken shoes.

Other of his great trophies he reiterated in 2005 as world champion in Helsimki, Finland and in 2007 repeats his trophy in Osaka, Japan. Win another of the medals, this time silver, at the Olympic Games in Beijing, China, in 2008.

Other of his important awards

Collect countless awards throughout your career for your incredible bestsellers. It is commemorated more than a dozen times as the best Ecuadorian and Ibero-American athlete, according to the FDA, FEA, COE and the National Press of Ecuador, from 1990 to 2005.

Among other of his many accolades He is recognized for Sports Merit in 1995, recognition as National hero granted by the government of Arch. Sixto Durán-Ballén in 1996, the "First Class" Sports Merit Award in 1996, and Golden Athlete of the Year in 2001 by the South American Athletics Confederation.

His trajectory has not been easy

His decision to practice this sport has been part of his illusions and well-considered challenges. He did not have an easy life, as he comes from a humble family. Had to combine your studies with sports y manage your income as a vegetable seller.

He had a big setback in 2000 when in one of the competitions at the Sydney Olympic Games he was frustrated by the results obtained. He obtained fourth place in his modality and made him think about abandoning his sports career for a few years. During this time he was able to resume his studies as a commercial engineer and be able to complete them.

As an athlete and a human being too suffered serious injuries that could have taken him away from his sports career. In 1993 suffered a broken collarbone That made it impossible for a season. Another of his mishaps was in 1999 when they detected a herniated disc.

It did not separate him from his competition but he would run risks to suffer irreversible consequences if he did not take measures. Even with his dictated measures, he won the silver medal with all his responsibility and pain. Then he underwent his operation and kept him in a wheelchair for a few weeks.

How has your withdrawal been?

Pérez retired from his sports activity in 2008 and continued his studies. He has been able to exercise a master's degree in Latin American Government Studies at the University of Salamanca (Spain), in Business Administration and commercial engineer at the University of Azuay, a great master's degree.

Created the Jefferson Pérez Foundation to enact a just construction in society, where priority can be given to all children with low economic resources. This constitution will help the execution of programs and projects in solidarity for educational and health training.

Finally ran in 2019 as a candidate for mayor of Cuenca for the Reborn movement, but could not be elected.