Alex Roca: The Runner with Cerebral Palsy Who Completed the Barcelona Marathon

According to the well-known brand Nike, completing a marathon, despite having 76% cerebral palsy, was a lifelong dream for Alex Roca.

The Catalan athlete, sponsored by Nike, contracted viral herpes encephalitis when he was just six months old, which left him with 76% cerebral palsy.

What makes his achievement even more extraordinary are the effects of his condition, which include altered movements and exaggerated reflexes, significantly limiting the mobility of various joints due to muscle stiffness.

He didn’t reach his goal easily—it took him six years of training to prepare for this exact moment.

In addition to his extensive training, he also ran seven half marathons before taking on the Barcelona Marathon.

Earlier this year, he successfully completed the Granollers Half Marathon with a time of 2:45:16, and a month later, on February 19, he finished the Barcelona Half Marathon, setting a new personal best of 2:38:28.

Before the race, Roca told Spanish media outlet El Mundo that he wanted to send a message to the world:

"The only limit is yourself, and if you want to reach a goal, no matter what difficulties you face, with attitude, willpower, perseverance, and resilience, you can achieve whatever you set your mind to. And if you don’t achieve it, you’ll have given it your all, and you should feel proud."

At the Barcelona Marathon, Roca was accompanied by his brother Victor and his interpreter, Valentí Sanjuán, who have been by his side for many years during his challenges and training.

Moreover, Sanjuán helped broadcast Roca’s entire race on his Twitch channel, allowing friends and fans around the world to follow every step of his journey.

“I made history.” Alex Roca Campillo shared a video of his final meters of the Barcelona Marathon, and it was met with widespread appreciation, giving people a chance to witness his incredible achievement!

A huge congratulations to Alex and his entire team!

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