Roger Tapia is a Filipino para-athlete who competed in the 2012 Summer Paralympics in London.[1]
Early life and education
Born with a speech impairment caused by a cleft lip and without his left arm.[2] Tapia began running at age 5[2] due to his brother being a runner.[1] He attended the José Rizal University and was part of the school's athletics team.[1] He is a native of Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte.[3]
Career
Tapia competed in local tournaments for Ilocos Norte winning in events against abled-bodied athletes. This includes the 2008 Palarong Pambansa, the national student-athlete games.[4][3]
Tapia represented the Philippines at the 2011 ASEAN Para Games where he bagged a gold in the 400m event and two silvers in the 100m and 200m events.[2]
He qualified for the 2012 Summer Paralympics in London through the April 2012 Malaysia Open where he clocked 23.56 seconds in the 200m race. He competed in the T46 classification.[5]
References
