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Goose’s Story

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Augusto ?Goose? Perez was born in Madrid, Spain and moved to the United States in 1991 before his senior year in high school. His plan was to move back to Spain but he was offered a scholarship to play soccer at Paul Smith?s College so he decided to give it a shot. Growing up, he was always the smallest player on any team he played on, but what he lacked in size, he made up for with heart. He would train harder and longer because he felt he had to prove he was good enough to play despite his small stature.

When he was diagnosed with cancer for the first time in 2000, his natural competitiveness kept him strong. He battled cancer three different times but lost his leg in 2003. After losing his leg he took some time off from competing and spent time with his wife, who was expecting twins. After the twins were born he decided to put his efforts into adaptive sports. In October, 2005 he picked up wheelchair curling and later that year he was selected to be apart of the U.S Paralympic Wheelchair Curling National Team.

Since then, he has represented his country in two Paralympic Games, been selected to the U.S National Team 6 straight years, won gold at two U.S Open events, won a sportsmanship award and was even named the U.S Curling Male athlete of the year in 2008. He also participates in Adaptive Outrigger Canoe events at the international level. He has a World Championship gold medal in 500 meter canoe sprints, a silver medal from OC 12 500 World Championships and was inducted into the International Canoe Hall of Fame in 2009. He likes to compare representing his country in the Paralympic Games to falling in love with his wife. He says he has a permanent smile on his face and the butterflies never go away.

Not only is he a world-class athlete but he also gives back to the community whenever he can. He is the ambassador for the Hartford Paralympic Athete Program, which enables paralympic athletes around the country to be able to train at the highest possible level. Goose also works with the U.S Anti-Doping Agency and believes true competition only exists when everyone competes fairly. He is also involved with the U.S Olympic Committee?s ?Team For Tomorrow Humanitarian Fund?. He travels around the country visiting pediatric centers to bring hope to all of the children. He says making the kids feel better, even if it?s just for a moment, is worth more than all of his medals.

What motivates Goose? He says the fact that he was told so many times that it couldn?t be done, that he was too small, and too weak keeps him going every day. He wants to show everyone that cancer may slow you down but it can?t stop you completely. He believes limits are only in your mind and disability is what your brain wants to believe. He says there is not a worse disability than the lack of seeing ability in people. He always cheers for the underdog because he has always been one himself.