Joaquim Delgado

August - September, 2015 - Lisbon

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Joaquim was getting ready for a triple somersault. Then, at 21, he was a gymnast and he was feeling that enthusiasm when someone finds out that he is good at something he really likes. On that day, the jump went wrong and he became quadriplegic. It has been 36 years since then: a part of his life has completely changed, another remained the same. Tanned skinned, bright green eyes, short hair, a fluid conversation, good humor and an attractive empathy, Joaquim still needs to be close to the sea every day. It is in Carcavelos beach (Lisbon) that he prefers to be and it is where he can have adapted surf classes. Gymnastics allowed him to get some movements back, he is autonomous in his daily life and now he faces disability from other perspective. Today is a physiotherapist and he keeps saying that with that jump he didn’t lose the most important: his life. “Despite the bad luck, I'm lucky."