Juan José Florián

Florián is from Puerto Berrío, Antioquia, Colombia, and grew up in Lejanías, Meta.[1] At the age of 16, Florián was conscripted into the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), after his brother had joined the Colombian Government forces.[2] He was one of an estimated 6,000 child soldiers enlisted by FARC.[3] He fled FARC a year later, and joined the Colombian government army in 2000,[2] when he was of legal age to enlist.[3] After leaving the army, his brother developed schizophrenia.[2]

In 2011, Florián was injured by an explosive device left by FARC on his doorstep, disguised as a package. He lost both arms and part of his right leg.[4] He was in a coma for 12 days,[2][4] and now uses a prosthesic limb.[5]

In 2016, Florián started studying psychology[2] at Sergio Arboleda University. After three semesters, he postponed his course to focus on his sports career.[6] He is nicknamed "Mochoman".[4][7] Florián is a member of the Fundación Colombianitos, which tackles child and youth poverty.[8]

Florián started competing in para swimming in Bogotá.[2] He competed in the S5 swimming events, and was national record holder in multiple events.[2] In 2013, he won a medal in an event at the University of Minnesota in the US, and his last swimming medal was at the 2015 Colombian Championships.[2] In total, he won 12 gold medals at events.[1] He gave up swimming when he began studying.[2]

In 2017, Florián started cycling on a specially adapted bike. He competes in C1 classification events,[2] which is for riders with the most severe impairments.[4] He uses his undamaged left leg to pedal the bike.[5] Florián trains with Francisco Rodríguez Maldonado, who came third at the 1985 Vuelta a España.[1]

Florián's first international cycling event was in Emmen, Netherlands in July 2017. He came 14th in the time trial event, and 13th in the road race.[9] In 2018, he competed in multiple Cycling World Cup events.[2] In 2019, Florián was sponsored by Movistar Colombia.[2] He was the second paracyclist to be sponsored by the company.[6] In 2021, he funded his own travel to a World Cup event in Portugal.[10]

Florián was not selected for the delayed 2020 Summer Paralympics.[2] In November 2021, he won the Colombian National Championships road race and time trial events.[2] He won both events by almost two minutes.[7] In August 2022, Florián cycled 482 kilometres (300 mi) over two days during the Siempre Santander Challenge.[11]