By
Nicole DeRouen
Editorial photography by
Katherine Kocian
Additional photography courtesy of
Ryan Medrano
When Ryan Medrano was young, he was just a regular kid.
He biked, hiked, wrestled, and – of course – got into some shenanigans.
No one knew that one day, he’d be one of the best track and field athletes in the world, overcoming the odds and winning silver at the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games.
Medrano was born with cerebral palsy, a developmental disorder that affects the brain, as well as, muscle movement. As a child, he went to physical therapy for four years and stayed active, which greatly helped his development. He loved sports, and by his senior year at Coronado High School, he was third in the state in wrestling.
His career as a Paralympian began in 2022, soon after he competed on the 43rd season of Survivor, where he met Paralympic athlete Noelle Lambert. Lambert told him that he would have a good chance of performing well in the Games, and he began training, despite having little previous experience in track.
Medrano started preparing for competitions in the summer of 2022, and by 2023, he was winning competitions at the international level. He made it to the 2023 ParaPan American Games in Santiago, Chile, where he took home gold in the Men’s 400m T38. He has also been the T38 USA Long Jump Champion twice.
His biggest accomplishment?
Becoming a silver medalist at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris.
He won second place in both the 100m T38 and the 400m T38, taking home not one, but two silver medals, and placing sixth in the long jump.
Medrano trains intensely, but he believes mindset is the most important when it comes to being successful.
He likes to think of a sort of “realistic optimism” – knowing his limits while also striving for more.
Some of the most important things he focuses on are being kind to himself and resting when he needs it.
“A lot of people don’t understand that balancing being an athlete isn’t just about training, just about competing. It’s about finding a balance between training, recovery, family life, social life, and work life. It’s hard. And with all that, you also have your vision, your internal dialogue,” he says.
He also emphasizes the importance of a strong support system and having people to lean on when things get tough.
“It’s not the easiest, but when you have a goal, you believe that you can complete that goal, and you have people to support you in your life and talk to, it makes it a lot easier.”
For Medrano, those people are his girlfriend and kids.
His seventeen-month-old son Atlas (who he affectionately refers to as “Little Dude”) and 11-year-old stepdaughter Aubrey keep him motivated to do the best he can.
At the same time, his girlfriend encourages him to push himself and go beyond his comfort zone.
Medrano is fully committed to his family and misses them more than anything when he’s competing, but says it is worth it because they are so proud of what he’s accomplished.
He has overcome a lot and still struggles day-to-day, due to his disability, but he hasn’t let that get in his way.
Because of his inspiring story and perseverance, Medrano would one day like to become a motivational speaker. He hopes his passion and hard work inspire others to pursue their goals.
“It’s that energy, that excitement, that I want to bring and let people in El Paso — but also around the world — know that the more of us that go out there and chase our dreams, the better the world will be.”
