Ileana Rodriguez
Ileana Rodriguez | |
|---|---|
Chef de Mission of the Refugee Paralympic Team at the 2020 Summer Paralympics |
Ileana Rodriguez (born June 12, 1995
Ileana Rodriguez is the CEO of Houston-based firm I Design Access LLC, which provides accessibility and inclusive design advice for major infrastructure projects.[3] In 2021, Rodriguez was recognized for her work as one of the Top 25 News Makers in 2020 by the American weekly magazine Engineering News-Record (ENR).[4] ENR recognizes construction industry leaders since 1964 who “tackle the most difficult challenges and make our world a better place.”[5] Ileana Rodriguez also serves as a Commissioner for the Houston Planning and Houston Airport Commissions.
Life
Rodriguez was born in Matanzas in Cuba, and she came to America with her mother, Ileana Laucirica, when she was fifteen. She experienced a spinal cord injury at age thirteen due to a congenital arteriovenous malformation.[6] Her parents wanted a second opinion on her condition, so Rodriguez and her mother left Cuba and came to Miami. They preferred the US, and they asked her father, Eloy Rodriguez, her brother, also Eloy, and her sister, Ana Maria, to leave Cuba and join them.[1] When she was 21, she found that the only place she was comfortable out of her wheelchair was in a swimming pool.[6] Rodriguez attended Florida International University to study architecture,[7] and she swam at the 2011 Parapan American Games. She then swam for the United States at the 2012 Summer Paralympics in London.[8] She came 7th in the 100m breaststroke.[1]
Rodriguez is the 200m breaststroke record holder.[1]
In 2015, she was elected as the athlete representative on the Americas Paralympic Committee. Rodriguez served for four years and stood again for re-election in 2019.[9]
In June 2021, Rodriguez, a former refugee who now lives in Miami, was chosen to lead the
Rodriguez was the Chef de Mission. She saw her role as one of communication between the
In 2022 Rodriguez was included in the 25 News Makers in infrastructure recognised by the US magazine Engineering News-Record.[13]
References
- ^ a b c d "Team USA about Ileana Rodriguez". Archived from the original on January 23, 2021.
- ^ "IPC to create and support Refugee Paralympic Team at Tokyo 2020".
- ^ "Home". idesignaccess.com.
- ^ "ENR's Top 25 Newsmakers 2020".
- ^ "ENR's Top 25 Newsmakers 2020".
- ^ a b "Ileana Rodriguez – Swimming | Paralympic Athlete Profile". International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved June 30, 2021.
- ^ a b c "Building the first Refugee Paralympic Team | sportanddev.org". www.sportanddev.org. Retrieved June 30, 2021.
- ^ a b c d Refugees, United Nations High Commissioner for. "IPC announces six athletes to compete for the Refugee Paralympic Team at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games". UNHCR. Retrieved June 30, 2021.
- ^ "Five Candidates Running For APC Athlete Representative". Team USA. May 31, 2019.
- ^ "Refugee Paralympic Team for Tokyo 2020 announced | NHK WORLD-JAPAN News". NHK WORLD. Archived from the original on July 10, 2021. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
- ^ "Refugee Paralympic Team: Meet the six athletes who will compete at the Games". Tokyo 2020. Archived from the original on July 9, 2021. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
- ^ "Issa and Karimi named Tokyo 2020 flagbearers for Refugee Paralympic Team". www.insidethegames.biz. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
- ^ "Ileana Rodriguez named Top 25 News Makers in infrastructure sector". International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved October 26, 2022.