Freddie De Los Santos

Alfredo "Freddie" De Los Santos was born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, and moved to the United States in 1986. Before his military service, he worked as a graphic designer at New York University. Following the September 11 attacks, Freddie made the life-changing decision to enlist in the U.S. Army.

On October 20, 2009, while serving in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, his vehicle was struck by rocket fire. He sustained life-threatening injuries and ultimately lost his right leg above the knee. During his rehabilitation, Freddie discovered handcycling as a way to rebuild his strength, and the sport soon became both a physical outlet and a lifelong passion.

Since then, De Los Santos has become one of the world's top para-cyclists, representing the United States at the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. At the Tokyo Paralympics, he earned a bronze medal in the mixed team relay. He has also competed at numerous UCI Para-cycling Road World Cups and World Championships, highlighted by a silver medal in the team relay at the 2017 UCI Para-cycling Road World Championships. He continues to compete at the highest level, including a fourth-place finish in the H5 Road Race at the 2023 UCI Para-cycling Road World Championships.

Handcycling has transformed De Los Santos' physical endurance, mental resilience, and social well-being, greatly enhancing his quality of life. Excelling at the highest level despite his injuries has been rewarding, and he is committed to sharing hope, inspiration, and the joy of achievement with others living with disabilities. Beyond cycling, Freddie is a dedicated artist whose abstract paintings reflect his psychological experiences from combat. Through both graphic design and painting, he channels his resilience and creativity into powerful visual stories.