Adriana Ruano Transitions From Gymnastics To Shooting, Wins Guatemala's First Ever Gold Medal

August 1, 2024

A spinal injury dashed Adriana Ruano's dreams of competing in the Olympics as a gymnast, but she found a new path to glory in shooting, winning Guatemala's first-ever gold medal on Wednesday.

Adriana Ruano / Telemundo Deportes

Ruano was preparing for the 2011 World Championships in gymnastics, a crucial qualifier for the London Olympics, when she began experiencing severe back pain. Scans revealed six damaged vertebrae, an injury that ended her gymnastics career at just 16. She spent a year recovering, wearing a back brace.

To stay involved in sports without worsening her injury, her doctor suggested she try shooting.

“When I had my injury, I didn’t have anything. I started to get desperate and frustrated. Then the door opened for me with this sport,” Ruano said.

More than a decade after transitioning from gymnastics to shooting, Ruano's perseverance paid off. On Wednesday, she won the women's trap event with an Olympic-record score of 45 out of 50.

Ruano clinched her victory with a deep breath and a precise shot to hit her 43rd target, ensuring that Italian silver medalist Silvana Stanco couldn't surpass her.

Adriana Ruano makes history for Guatemala! 🇬🇹🥇 The shooter is the first gold medallist and the first female medallist for her country.

Her journey to Paris 2024 glory is an incredible one, including a completely different sport and an eye-opening experience as a volunteer at… pic.twitter.com/BfIJg6mgH8

— The Olympic Games (@Olympics) August 1, 2024

Ruano's journey back to elite sports began with a volunteer stint at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

“I said to myself, ‘If I can’t be there as an athlete, maybe I can be there as a volunteer,’ so I applied,” she explained. “They assigned me to shooting, and I was able to watch my teammates. Seeing the competition inspired me to think, ‘OK, maybe if not in gymnastics, I can do it in shooting.’”

Watch her Olympic victory in the video below.