No último dia de 6 de outubro, Dia Mundial da Conscientização sobre Paralisia Cerebral, Justin Gallegos, um corredor de 20 anos que frequenta a Universidade de Oregon, se tornou o primeiro atleta com paralisia cerebral a assinar um contrato com a Nike.

Ao término de sua primeira meia-maratona, o jovem corredor foi surpreendido por John Douglas, o diretor de insights da Nike. Ele estava esperando Gallegos na linha de chegada para entregar o contrato pessoalmente. Justin terminou a corrida em impressionantes 2h03min49s. 

Em entrevista, Brett Gallegos, pai de Justin, revelou que “quando Justin começou a correr, ele caía muito e vivia com o joelho ensanguentado por conta das quedas. Passava 90% do tempo tentando se levantar”.

Em suas mídias sociais, Justin Gallegos não conteve sua empolgação e publicou: “Hoje, no Dia Mundial da Conscientização sobre Paralisia Cerebral, alcancei um marco importante em minha jornada na corrida! Hoje fiz história na Nike e me tornei o primeiro atleta com paralisia cerebral a assinar um contrato com a Nike!”

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Today on world Cerebral Palsy Awareness Day, I reached a milestone in my running journey! Today I made Nike history and became the very first athlete with Cerebral Palsy to sign a contract with Nike! You don’t realize how realistic and emotional your dreams are until they play out before your very eyes! Signing this contract was a huge success for me and I would not have made it without my friends and family and teammates! This was perhaps the most emotional moment in my seven years of running! Growing up with a disability, the thought of becoming a professional athlete is as I have said before like the thought of climbing Mt. Everest! It is definitely possible, but the odds are most definitely not in your favor! Hard work pays off! Hundreds of miles, blood, sweat, and tears has lead me here along with a few permanent scars! But the journey is damn sure not over!!! Looking back, I would guess there is only a few select people who would see me were I am today! I have gone through just about everything in the book to be where I am today! I was once a kid in leg braces who could barely put on foot in front of the other! Now I have signed a contract with Nike Running! Trust the process! And most of all trust in God! God is good! Thank you to all my friends, family, and teammates on running club, and now a brand new atmosphere on teammates with Nike! This moment will live forever! Thank you everyone for helping show the world that there is No Such Thing As A Disability! #ProfessionalAthlete #SWOOSH #Nike72 #NikeTrackandField #NikeXC #ThereIsNoFinishLine #StrongerEveryMile #NoSuchThingAsADisability #NikeRunning #Limitless #Breaking2 Video Credits: @elevation0m

A post shared by 🚀Justin "Magic" Gallegos🚀 (@zoommagic) on Oct 6, 2018 at 5:33pm PDT

Dias depois, Gallegos publicou um agradecimento a todos que o apoiaram: “Eu ainda estou sem palavras! Obrigado a todos pelo amor e pelo apoio não só dos últimos dois dias, mas dos últimos sete anos da minha vida! Além de abençoado para representar oficialmente a Nike! Ainda não acredito que fiz a história na Nike! Muito animado! Grandes coisas ainda estão por vir! Confie no processo!”

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I’m still at loss for words! Thank to everyone for the love and the support not only the past couple days but the last seven years of my life! Beyond blessed to officially represent the swoosh! Still can’t believe I made Nike history! Very excited! Big things are yet to come! Trust in the process! And trust in God! All glory to the most high! God is truly good! #NikeRunning #NIKE #SWOOSH #SwooshFamily #Beaverton #Nike72 #JustDoIt #ThereIsNoFinishLine #StrongerEveryMile #NoSuchThingAsADisability #Limitless #Breaking2

A post shared by 🚀Justin "Magic" Gallegos🚀 (@zoommagic) on Oct 8, 2018 at 12:08pm PDT