Occupation
Athlete, Business Owner, Coach
Education
Physical Education - University of Pamplona, Colombia
Spoken languages
Spanish
Club
Norte de Santander Department [COL] / Cypress Academy [USA] [Colombia]
Coach
Jairo Ruiz Casas [national], COL; Tom Meadows [personal], USA
Sporting relatives
His sister Marcela represented Colombia in artistic gymnastics at the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto, ON, Canada. (SportsDeskOnline, 13 Oct 2018; laopinion.com.co, 02 Jul 2016)
Injuries
In 2016 he sustained a shoulder injury and tore a tendon in his biceps. He required surgery and was unable to compete for two years. (laopinion.com, 30 May 2018, 10 Mar 2018; Fisiogym Facebook page, 28 Nov 2017)
Start sporting career
He took up the sport at age seven in Bucaramanga, Colombia. (contraluzcucuta.co, 05 Aug 2018; laopinion.com.co, 02 Jul 2016)
Reason for taking up the sport
His parents wanted him to stay busy by getting involved in sport, music, or singing. "[I like gymnastics because of] the adrenaline, and the fact I can do things with my body that no one else is capable of doing. I like to feel strong and agile." (contraluzcucuta.co, 05 Aug 2018)
Ambitions
To compete at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. (laopinion.com.co, 09 Jul 2021)
Most memorable sporting achievement
Winning three individual medals at the 2021 Pan American Championships in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (laopinion.com.co, 09 Jul 2021)
Most influential person in career
His parents, and coach Jairo Ruiz Casas. (contraluzcucuta.co, 05 Aug 2018)
Rituals
He prays before and after every competition. (contraluzcucuta.co, 05 Aug 2018)
Additional information
General
EARLY DAYS
His father relocated the family from Bucaramanga to Cucuta in Colombia so that Javier and his sister Marcela would have the chance to pursue a career in gymnastics. "My father wanted me and my sister to become members of the Colombian national team. He wanted us to have a different future. He sold the house he had in Bucaramanga and he paid for our gymnastics lessons." (contraluzcucuta.co, 05 Aug 2018; laopinion.com.co, 02 Jul 2016)
MOVE TO THE UNITED STATES
In 2018 he relocated to the United States of America to start training alongside coach Tom Meadows at the Cypress Academy in Texas. (sandovalgymnastics.com, 01 Sep 2021)
GYMNASTICS SCHOOLS
He and his sister Marcela opened a gymnastics school in Cucuta, Colombia. In 2021 he launched a training camp project named 'Sandoval Gymnastics' in Deer Park, TX, United States of America. (Instagram profile, 03 Sep 2021; sandovalgymnastics.com, 01 Sep 2021; laopinion.com.co, 09 Jul 2021)
FURTHER EDUCATION
He has a degree in sports coaching from the Technological Units Santander University in Bucaramanga, Colombia. (Facebook profile, 15 Sep 2021)
Last update : 2021-09-30
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