Head Shot
Para Track and Field

Mike

Gallardo

Paralympian 2020

Mike Gallardo

Athlete Bio#

Mike Gallardo reaches back before launching a javelin

Height

6'0"

Age

40

Hometown

Los Angeles, CA

Education

Montebello High School (Montebello, Calif.) ‘03

classification: F64

Quick Facts
  • Born and raised by a single mother in Los Angeles, Mike Gallardo faced a difficult childhood with the death of his mother, Debbie, at 10 years old to cancer
  • Raised by his aunt, Gallardo turned down a college baseball scholarship to enlist in the U.S. Army after the September 11th terrorist attacks
  • Also his birthday, September 11 took on a new meaning as he took it as a sign that he was meant to do something bigger than baseball
  • After enlisting in the U.S. Army, he was on his first combat tour in Iraq in January 2007 when he sustained a severe injury to his right leg at the Achilles tendon after two IEDs simultaneously detonated beneath his truck
  • After nine months of unsuccessful limb salvage, he decided to amputate his leg below the knee so he could continue to lead an active lifestyle
  • He returned home to Texas and received the Purple Heart for his service
  • After retiring from the Army, he completed the renowned Kona IRONMAN in 15 hours and 36 minutes nine months after his amputation
  • In 2016, Gallardo applied to a graphic design internship with the MLB Network Veterans Apprenticeship Program where within a year, he had won a Best Visual Emmy for his work on the intro MLB Tonight
  • He continues to stay involved in sports, including softball, Crossfit and track and field.
Career Highlights
  • 2019 Bydgoszcz Grand Prix, gold (javelin)
  • 2019 Arizona Grand Prix, silver (javelin)
Paralympic Experience
  • 1-time Paralympian;
    • Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020, 7th (Javelin Throw F64 - Men)

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