Susana Rodríguez Gacio

Susana Rodríguez Gacio (born 4 March 1988) is a Spanish doctor, paratriathlete and sprinter. She is a seven-time world champion in paratriathlon and twice Paralympic gold medalist in paratriathlon.

Background Rodríguez was born with albinism and a severe visual impairment that limits her vision to less than 5% in one eye and 8% in the other, which is considered legally blind.

Since childhood, she has combined her dedication to sports with a passion for medicine. Since 1998, Rodríguez has trained athletics with a teacher from the National Organization of the Spanish Blind (ONCE) at the Pontevedra Technification Center. She participated in athletics competitions until 2008, when she did not qualify for the Paralympic World Cup and decided to switch to triathlon.

Career In 2009, Rodríguez studied physiotherapy in Pontevedra in the Pontevedra Campus and in 2015 she graduated from the University of Santiago de Compostela with a degree in medicine, the year in which she began as a resident intern physician. She qualified to participate in the 2020 Summer Paralympics, being the first Spaniard to compete in two sports in the Paralympic Games: triathlon and athletics. She became the Paralympic triathlon champion in the PTVI class with her guide Sara Loehr. In addition, she became a candidate for the Athletes' Council of the International Paralympic Committee.

Rodríguez won a gold medal at Tokyo 2020 in the PTVI category. In addition, she obtained seven medals in the Adapted Triathlon World Championship between 2012 and 2019, and six medals in the Adapted Triathlon World Championship between 2013 and 2019. She retained her title as Paralympic champion in the 2024 Summer Paralympics.

Awards and honors In 2014, Rodríguez was recognized with the Premio Gallega del Año for February awarded by El Correo Gallego, Terras de Santiago, Correo TV and Radio Obradoiro.

On 15 November 2021, the plenary session of the Vigo City Council awarded Rodríguez the city's gold medal.