When Luis and Diva Rodriguez gave birth to their third child in the first weeks of 1992, they knew his life would not be easy. Roberto Alcalde Rodriguez was born with spina bifida (myelomeningocele), a serious condition that would not allow him to walk like his older siblings.
Alcalde was nine months old when he first entered a swimming pool for physical therapy, an activity that would likely be part of his routine for the rest of his life. What Luis and Diva never imagined is that he’d become a two-time Parapan American gold medalist (2015/2019) in the 100m breaststroke SB5 class, their first child to find success in sports.