Most people following sports in the Dominican Republic had never heard of Jose Gonzalez. Now people are reminded he won silver in the 100 m race in the 2023 Central American and Caribbean Games and his national record is a respectable 10.04, which he did at the Stade L. Achille, Fort-de-France in France.
After he won the gold medal in the race in the Santiago de Chile Pan Am Games, the media is looking into who is this Jose Gonzalez who got off to a late start in the 100 m final and then came from behind to win the gold.
Diario Libre reports Gonzalez is yet to be a beneficiary of the leading sports sponsorship program, Creso, and the governmental Parni program. He does receive RD$25,000 as a member of the Air Force. He has lived very precariously. Diario Libre says he lived at the track, sleeping on the floor to accomplish his dreams. The gold medal he won in Santiago de Chile means a cash award of RD$350,000.
His coach since 2022 is Jose (Ludwig) Rubio, who also produced Luguelin Santos, winner of the gold medal in 200 m at the London Olympics in 2012. Previously, he trained with Jordanis Reynoso.
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2 November 2023