Javier Zapata
Encyclopedia
Javier Humberto Zapata Cuartas (born January 15, 1973 in Medellín
, Antioquia) is a Colombia
n biketrial rider who performs the sport of biketrial, a sport that is little known internationally but very popular in Colombia. Zapata is arguably the sport's most visible performer. He was a professional road cyclist from 1993 to 2000.
Zapata was the first person to get a biketrial bike in Colombia, which was specially manufactured for him by the GT
manufacturing company there. Having been an expert BMX
racer, Zapata, who placed 5th at the BMX world championships once and ran at BMX tournaments for eight years, quickly became used to the new type of bike he was riding, and decided to dedicate himself to promote his new sport in Colombia.
Zapata then toured all over Colombia, performing at multiple shows and earning money for each of his presentations. His stunts impressed many; he would use some of the first money he used to travel to Spain
, where he came in fifth place at biketrial's first world championship. Later on, he went to Barcelona, where he entered the Guinness Book of Records by using his bike to climb the stairs of the tallest building of that city all the way to the top, without ever using his feet. Zapata later on travelled to Japan
, where he once again climbed the stairs of some buildings with his bike, without using his feet.
In 2001, he returned to Barcelona, once again to participate at the world championships. Back in Colombia, he formed the Zapata Biketrial company, which sells products for biketrial championships. Zapata hopes to organize a national biketrial association in Colombia.
Zapata created a biketrial school in Medellín
. He also performed a stunt show during half-time of a Copa Libertadores football game between Colombia and Ecuador
in 2003.
Javier Zapata is a professional biketrial rider. He
was born in Medellín, Colombia and he is the only
Colombian athlete that has achieved four Guinness
World Records. His latest Guinness World Record was
achieved in Mexico City in 2003. He climbed up in his
bike the 1318 stairs of Torre Mayor, the tallest
building in Latin America. His other Guinness World
Records were obtained in Caracas (Venezuela), Bogota
and Medellin (Colombia). In 2006 he obtained a new
National Record jumping on his bike over the largest
number of persons (23 persons).
He began his sport career at age nine. Back then he
was a BMX rider and he won numerous national and
international championships. In 1995 he began his
career as a biketrial rider and he has promoted this
sport throughout Colombia.
Javier Zapata lives in Medellin where he runs his own
biketrial school and his own brand ZAPATABIKES which
produces bikes and accessories. He rides a Monty 221
Ti Full disc 2007 Hope Monotrial, Zapatabikes MTB
Medellín
Medellín , officially the Municipio de Medellín or Municipality of Medellín, is the second largest city in Colombia. It is in the Aburrá Valley, one of the more northerly of the Andes in South America. It has a population of 2.3 million...
, Antioquia) is a Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
n biketrial rider who performs the sport of biketrial, a sport that is little known internationally but very popular in Colombia. Zapata is arguably the sport's most visible performer. He was a professional road cyclist from 1993 to 2000.
Zapata was the first person to get a biketrial bike in Colombia, which was specially manufactured for him by the GT
GT Bicycles
GT Bicycles is a large American manufacturer of road, mountain, and bmxbicycles. The company was founded in 1979 by Gary Turner, a welding engineer and Richard Long, a bike shop owner. The company merged with Schwinn in 1998, but the conglomerate went bankrupt in 2001, and was acquired by Pacific...
manufacturing company there. Having been an expert BMX
BMX
Bicycle motocross or BMX refers to the sport in which the main goal is extreme racing on bicycles in motocross style on tracks with inline start and expressive obstacles, and it is also the term that refers to the bicycle itself that is designed for dirt and motocross cycling.- History :BMX started...
racer, Zapata, who placed 5th at the BMX world championships once and ran at BMX tournaments for eight years, quickly became used to the new type of bike he was riding, and decided to dedicate himself to promote his new sport in Colombia.
Zapata then toured all over Colombia, performing at multiple shows and earning money for each of his presentations. His stunts impressed many; he would use some of the first money he used to travel to Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, where he came in fifth place at biketrial's first world championship. Later on, he went to Barcelona, where he entered the Guinness Book of Records by using his bike to climb the stairs of the tallest building of that city all the way to the top, without ever using his feet. Zapata later on travelled to Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, where he once again climbed the stairs of some buildings with his bike, without using his feet.
In 2001, he returned to Barcelona, once again to participate at the world championships. Back in Colombia, he formed the Zapata Biketrial company, which sells products for biketrial championships. Zapata hopes to organize a national biketrial association in Colombia.
Zapata created a biketrial school in Medellín
Medellín
Medellín , officially the Municipio de Medellín or Municipality of Medellín, is the second largest city in Colombia. It is in the Aburrá Valley, one of the more northerly of the Andes in South America. It has a population of 2.3 million...
. He also performed a stunt show during half-time of a Copa Libertadores football game between Colombia and Ecuador
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
in 2003.
Javier Zapata is a professional biketrial rider. He
was born in Medellín, Colombia and he is the only
Colombian athlete that has achieved four Guinness
World Records. His latest Guinness World Record was
achieved in Mexico City in 2003. He climbed up in his
bike the 1318 stairs of Torre Mayor, the tallest
building in Latin America. His other Guinness World
Records were obtained in Caracas (Venezuela), Bogota
and Medellin (Colombia). In 2006 he obtained a new
National Record jumping on his bike over the largest
number of persons (23 persons).
He began his sport career at age nine. Back then he
was a BMX rider and he won numerous national and
international championships. In 1995 he began his
career as a biketrial rider and he has promoted this
sport throughout Colombia.
Javier Zapata lives in Medellin where he runs his own
biketrial school and his own brand ZAPATABIKES which
produces bikes and accessories. He rides a Monty 221
Ti Full disc 2007 Hope Monotrial, Zapatabikes MTB