Athlete Bio#
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)