JHEYNER ANDRES DURANGO HURTADO
The 12-year-old athlete would have died of sudden death and not bronchial aspiration, according to his technician. He had already won medals in international tournaments.
Ángel Gabriel Delgado Villamizar, the boy who on more than one occasion got lost following falling asleep on buses following his arduous training routines, and who was forced to ask for help to get home, mourns gymnastics from Colombia.
When national coach Jairo Ruiz is asked regarding Ángel Gabriel, the coach who is known for his tough temperament and who has had the opportunity to polish great diamonds in this specialty, immediately reveals his sensitive side.
It is so much the pain that seizes him, as at this moment to the lovers of this sport, that he takes a breath to be able to talk regarding his student.
Ángel Gabriel moved the country’s gymnastics following passing away last Sunday at his residence, in El Zulia, a municipality from which he left to train every day, accompanied by an aunt, heading to Cúcuta, capital of Norte de Santander. In the followingnoons he returned alone.
According to preliminary information, Ángel aspirated when he was eating in a hammock, but his coach Ruiz clarified this Tuesday that the cause of his death, according to the pertinent authorities, was sudden death.
“He was a very humble child, not only personally but also socially, too poor. But he was always simple, submissive, quiet, respectful, he was never seen to say a bad word. He was never haughty. He lived 30 minutes from Cúcuta, and despite the difficult family conditions, his willingness and attitude to learn and improve in the sport were amazing”, commented Ruiz.
And he continues: “We believed that he had aspirated, because he was eating patacones with coffee, but the medical opinion showed sudden death,” said the counselor, who was surprised by the talent, progress and thoughts of the athlete who would turn 13 on February 23 year old.
Ruiz remembers that he looked very similar to Ángel Barajas (winner of seven gold medals at the South American Youth Games, in Argentina-2022). “His potential from him was unbelievable, but so was his pretensions. I was shocked by what he said to his father, he was very excited to help them get ahead. For the South American last October, in Ecuador, he made his father promise that if he became champion once more (he had already done so in Bolivia-2021), he would quit smoking. In the end, he won silver medals in parallel bars and bars, he wouldn’t stop crying, he was inconsolable. A month later, at the Pan American in Melgar, Ángel was the winner”.
Ángel Gabriel started practicing gymnastics from the age of 6. His love for this specialty was so great that until last year he studied virtually to have a better performance in the sport. He trained from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
“The boy spent more time in the gym than at home, he wanted to be a great champion, he was very disciplined, a good son and an example for his little sisters,” said Luis Alberto Delgado, married to Betsabé (a housewife), and Ángel’s father, Valentina, 9 years old, and Naomy, 7.
Luis, who dedicated himself to mining following having to close his bakery in 2020 due to the economic crisis brought on by the pandemic, always managed to keep his son steadfast for his goals in gymnastics, in which he already had with more than 100 medals achieved in different events. His level and his pleasant results were so surprising that in 2021 he was chosen Revelation Athlete by Acord Norte de Santander.
“My soul hurts, because Ángel was always a warrior who might not enjoy his childhood. He was studying, training all the time and he never had friends apart from gymnastics and school. This year we had decided that he would study in person and train in the followingnoon,” Luis Alberto told Ómar Romero Güiza, a journalist for the Cúcuta newspaper La Opinión.
The athlete, who was in eighth grade at the Marco Fidel Suárez school in El Zulia, wanted to buy a house for his parents so they would stop paying rent.
“One was scared with the plans he had,” said Ruiz, “but at the same time with the maturity he showed. He was going step by step, he was pushing himself to get into the government-supported athlete program. He was projected to be a great in this sport, the loss of him is painful ”
Angel Gabriel Delgado Villamizar, The boy who on more than one occasion got lost following falling asleep on the buses following his arduous training routines, and who was forced to ask for help to get home, mourns the Colombian gymnastics.
When the national team is asked Jairo Ruiz by Angel Gabriel, The trainer who is known for his tough temperament and who has had the opportunity to polish great diamonds in this specialty, immediately reveals his sensitive side.
It is so much the pain that seizes him, as at this moment to the lovers of this sport, that he takes a breath to be able to talk regarding his student.
Ángel Gabriel moved the country’s gymnastics following passing away last Sunday at his residence, in El Zulia, a municipality from which he left to train every day, accompanied by an aunt, heading to Cúcuta, capital of Norte de Santander. In the followingnoons he returned alone.
According to preliminary information, Ángel aspirated when he was eating in a hammock, but his coach Ruiz clarified this Tuesday that the cause of his death, according to the pertinent authorities, was sudden death.
“He was a very humble child, not only personally, but also socially, too poor. But he was always simple, submissive, quiet, respectful, he was never seen to say a bad word. He was never haughty. He lived 30 minutes from Cúcuta and despite the difficult family conditions, his willingness and attitude to learn and improve in the sport were amazing”, commented Ruiz.
And he continues: “We believed that he had aspirated, because he was eating patacones with coffee, but the medical opinion showed sudden death,” said the counselor, who was surprised by the talent, progress and thoughts of the athlete who would turn 13 on February 23 year old.
Ruiz remembers that he looked very similar to Ángel Barajas (winner of seven gold medals at the South American Youth Games, in Argentina-2022).
“His potential was incredible, but so were his claims. He impressed me what he said to his father, he was very excited to help them get ahead. For the South American last October, in Ecuador, she made her father promise that if he became champion once more (he had already done so in Bolivia-2021), he would quit smoking. In the end, he won silver medals in parallel bars and bars, he wouldn’t stop crying, he was inconsolable. A month later, at the Pan American in Melgar, Ángel was the winner”.
discipline and passion
Ángel Gabriel started practicing gymnastics from the age of 6. His love for this specialty was so great that until last year he studied virtually to have a better performance in the sport. He trained from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
“The boy spent more time in the gym than at home, he wanted to be a great champion, he was very disciplined, a good son and an example for his little sisters,” he said. Luis Alberto Delgadomarried to Betsabé (housewife), and father of Ángel, Valentina, 9 years old, and Naomy, 7.
Luis, who dedicated himself to mining following having to close his bakery in 2020 due to the economic crisis brought on by the pandemic, always managed to keep his son steadfast for his goals in gymnastics, in which he already had with more than 100 medals achieved in different events. His level and his pleasant results were so surprising that in 2021 he was chosen Revelation Athlete by Acord Norte de Santander.
“My soul hurts, because Ángel was always a warrior who might not enjoy his childhood. He was studying, training all the time and he never had friends apart from gymnastics and school. This year we had decided that he would study in person and train in the followingnoon,” Luis Alberto told Ómar Romero Güiza, a journalist for the Cúcuta newspaper La Opinión.
The athlete, who was in eighth grade at the Marco Fidel Suárez school in El Zulia, wanted to buy a house for his parents so they would stop paying rent.
“One was scared with the plans he had,” said Ruiz, “but at the same time with the maturity he showed. He was going step by step, he was pushing himself to get into the government-supported athlete program. He was projected to be a great in this sport, the loss of him is painful ”.
