Ray Zapata, a hyperactive child who used to jump on the sofa at home, is now an unparalleled and imaginative gymnast. At 30 years old, the Olympic silver medalist in floor exercises is attending the Olympic event in Paris this summer «more relaxed and seasoned than ever.»

Growing up in Santo Domingo, 30-year-old Dominican gymnast Ray Zapata was an energetic child who found an outlet for his energy in gymnastics, much to his mother’s relief. A successor and student of two-time Olympic champion Gervasio Deferr, Zapata won a silver medal in the floor exercise at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, a win that established him as a national gymnastics icon and changed his life. He proudly recalls that his daughter Olympia was born only a few months before the Olympics, and his win ensured her future security. Zapata now looks forward to the upcoming summer in Paris, confident that he has grown as a gymnast since Tokyo. He is renowned for two complex jumps named after him, the Zapata I and II, which he believes no one else has yet managed to replicate. Zapata emphasizes that talent is an innate ability that requires sacrifice and effort, and that mental and physical strength must be in sync for success.