Nickname
Jossi (publimetro.co, 23 Aug 2022)
Occupation
Athlete, Coach
Education
Physical Education - University of Pamplona: Colombia
Family
Partner Johanna, daughter Valeria [2018]
Spoken languages
Spanish
Club
Norte de Santander Department: Colombia
Coach
Jairo Ruiz [national], COL
Sporting relatives
His cousin Carlos Calvo has represented Colombia in artistic gymnastics. He won four bronze medals at the 2018 Pacific Rim Championships in Medellin, Colombia. (SportsDeskOnline, 29 Aug 2018; elcolombiano.com, 03 Oct 2017)
Injuries
In March 2022 he underwent surgery in his left shoulder. He returned to competition in August 2022. (futbolred.com, 23 Aug 2022; laopinion.com.co, 22 Aug 2022; semana.com, 11 Mar 2022)
A positive COVID-19 test prevented him from competing in the individual all-around final at the 2021 World Championships in Kitakyushu, Japan. (thegymter.net, 21 Oct 2021; caracol.com.co, 20 Oct 2021)
In April 2019 he underwent surgery on his left shoulder and had to miss the 2019 Pan American Games in Lima, Peru. (laopinion.com.co, 14 Mar 2022; semana.com, 11 Mar 2022)
A virus prevented him from competing at the 2019 World Cup event in Melbourne, VIC, Australia. (antena2.com.co, 06 Feb 2019)
He competed with a torn ligament in his left ankle at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. He underwent surgery after the Games and resumed training four months later. (elcolombiano.com, 22 Mar 2018; lanacion.com.co, 26 Jul 2017; contraluzcucuta.co, 24 May 2017)
In 2005 he fractured the radial and ulna bones in his arm. (cucuta7dias.com, 28 Jul 2016)
Start sporting career
He took up gymnastics at age five.
Reason for taking up the sport
He was inspired by Belgian actor Jean Claude van Damme. "I was hyperactive and wanted to imitate his movements. Then a teacher spotted me and introduced me to coach Jairo Ruiz and I began training with him."
Milestones
He became the first artistic gymnast representing Colombia to claim a gold medal at the Pan American Games by winning the individual all-around event at the 2011 Games in Guadalajara, Mexico. (SportsDeskOnline, 29 Aug 2018; fig-gymnastics.com, 27 Oct 2011)
Most memorable sporting achievement
Competing at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. (laopinion.com.co, 08 May 2021)
Hero / Idol
Colombian gymnast Jorge Hugo Giraldo. (laopinion.com.co, 15 Jul 2016)
Most influential person in career
His mother, and his daughter. (laopinion.com.co, 08 May 2021)
Awards
He was named the 2015 Sportsperson of the Year by the Colombian Sports Writers Association. (laopinion.com.co, 25 Feb 2016)
An auditorium at the University of Pamplona in Villa del Rosario, Colombia, is named after him. (unipamplona.edu.co, 01 Sep 2022)
Additional information
EARLY CAREER
As a boy he lived with his mother in an unfinished house with a dirt floor and tin roof, and often had to walk to the training centre or borrow money to catch the bus. He also required the help of friends to pay bills until he was offered a house by the government following his gold medal at the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico. In addition, he had to undergo treatment with growth hormones after showing signs of malnutrition at age 14. "Doctors told me I had the bone structure of a 10-year-old boy." (cucuta7dias.com, 28 Jul 2016; eltiempo.com, 07 Apr 2015)
CLUB
In 2022 he opened a gymnastics club for children in Cucuta, Colombia. (publimetro.co, 23 Aug 2022)
Last update : 2024-07-22
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