Gianfranco Iannotta

Iannotta was born to parents Franco and Luz Iannotta on January 24, 1994.^[1] He was born with spina bifida and was paralyzed from the waist down upon birth.^[2] Iannotta graduated from Garfield High School in 2012.^[3]

Iannotta made his national debut with Team USA at the 2011 Parapan American Games.^[1] As a result of his success, he was invited to the qualifying rounds for the 2012 Summer Paralympics but failed to qualify for the final roster to London.^[2]

After his high school graduation, Iannotta was selected to compete with Team USA at the 2013 IPC Athletics World Championships. He won a bronze medal in the 100 meter race,^[4] and a silver medal in the 200m.^[5]

Three years later, Iannotta made his Paralympic Games debut during the 2016 Summer Paralympics. He earned Team USA's first 2016 Paralympic gold medal in track with a time of 17.17 seconds, beating the previous medalist Raymond Martin.^[6] Iannotta ended the Games with a bronze medal in the 400-meter race.^[7] The following year, he was named to Team USAs roster for the 2017 World Para Athletics Championships,^[8] where he won a bronze medal in the men's T52 100.^[9]

Iannotta later took home a gold medal in the men's 100m T52 wheelchair event at the 2019 World Para Athletics Grand Prix with a time of 17.19.^[10] Due to his success, Iannotta was selected to compete with Team USA at the 2019 World Para Athletics Championships.^[11] At these championships he won the silver medal in the men's 100 metres T52 event and he qualified to represent the United States at the 2020 Summer Paralympics.