Javier Reja Muñoz (born 20 July 1974) is a

Spanish Spanish might refer to: * Items from or related to Spain: **Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain **Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many countries in the Americas **Spanish cuisine **Spanish history **Spanish culture ...

Paralympic rower and former

paracanoe Paracanoe is canoeing for athletes with a range of physical disabilities. The Paralympic version of the sport is governed by the International Canoe Federation (ICF), and a va'a-specific variant is governed by the International Va'a Federation ( ...

ist. He competed in

paracanoe at the 2016 Summer Paralympics Paracanoeing at the 2016 Summer Paralympics, also simply referred to as canoeing, was held in Rio de Janeiro in September 2016, with a maximum of 60 athletes (30 men, 30 women) competing in six sprint style events. This was the first appearan ...

and rowing at the 2020 Summer Paralympics.

Accident

In 2006, Reja was riding his motorcycle to the Seville airport, he overtook a tractor and skidded along the gravel. He bounced off and got trapped between a tree and the motorbike's engine, his leg injuries were serious and had to undergo several operations along with two months in hospital to recover. After leaving hospital, he was medically advised to swim and he went on to win medals in the Spanish national swimming championships, as well as swimming, he tried out weightlifting, triathlon and cycling and he won several national cycling medals. Reja took a strong interest in canoeing when he went along the banks of

Guadalquivir The Guadalquivir (, also , , ) is the fifth-longest river in the Iberian Peninsula and the second-longest river with its entire length in Spain. The Guadalquivir is the only major navigable river in Spain. Currently it is navigable from Seville ...

in 2011, he joined a yacht club in Seville and he won his first international medal at the 2013 Canoe Sprint European Championships in Portugal within a year of training.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Reja, Javier 1974 births Living people Sportspeople from Seville Spanish male canoeists Spanish male rowers Paralympic canoeists for Spain Paralympic rowers for Spain Canoeists at the 2016 Summer Paralympics Rowers at the 2020 Summer Paralympics ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships medalists in paracanoe