Ryan Medrano

Ryan Medrano (born August 26, 1997) is an American Paralympian track and field athlete. He represented the United States at the 2024 Summer Paralympics where he won two silver medals. Additionally he is a Parapan American Games gold medalist and a World Para Athletics Championships silver medalist. He competed on the 43rd season of Survivor.

Early life Medrano was born three months early, which resulted in fluid in the cerebellum of his brain. Additionally he was born with cerebral palsy.

Survivor In fall of 2022 Medrano appeared on the 43rd season of Survivor. He was voted off on day 17 and was the third member of the jury. While competing on the show he met 2020 Paralympic athlete Noelle Lambert, who informed him that cerebral palsy was a recognized disability sport classification and he could compete internationally as a para-athlete.

Para athletic career Medrano began para athletic training in December 2022. In November he competed at the 2023 Parapan American Games. While there he won gold in the 100 metres and 400 metres.

Medrano competed at the 2024 World Para Athletics Championships in Kobe, Japan, where he won silver in the 400 metres behind fellow American Jaydin Blackwell. He qualified to compete at the 2024 Paralympic Games. He ended up winning silver in 100 metres and 400 metres, once again behind Blackwell in both.

At the 2025 World Championships held in New Delhi, Medrano won silver in the 100 metres, once again behind Blackwell, placed fourth in the 400 metres, and fifth in the long jump.