As Fernando Rufino recounts the numerous mishaps and injuries that have defined his life, one may start to question if they have entered an alternate reality.
Known as ‘Iron Cowboy’, Rufino is a prominent Paralympian in Brazil, particularly in canoeing. His nickname refers to his past as a rodeo rider and the metal plates that reinforce his spinal cord, which he injured at 21 when he fell from a moving bus, resulting in his body being crushed by the wheels.
But that’s just the beginning of his story.
He has been trampled by an 800kg bull, dragged by a galloping horse, and involved in various car, motorbike, and horse riding accidents over the years.
Rufino humorously recollects a plethora of incidents, including broken bones, severed fingers, and even being struck by lightning on his front doorstep.
His adventurous spirit and resilience have earned him the title of a warrior who triumphs in life, exemplified by his gold medal victory at the Paralympics.
Today, the reigning Va’a 200m VL2 Paralympic champion will compete to defend his title on the water.
Rufino grew up on a traditional farm in central-west Brazil, where he still resides with his parents amidst horses and bulls. The earnings from his canoeing success are reinvested into the family property, preserving the ancestral way of life.
After his spinal cord injury ended his rodeo riding dreams, Rufino discovered para canoeing as a new way to traverse the world. The sport, which allows him to forget his disability on the water, became his path to liberation.
Despite missing the 2016 Rio Paralympics due to health issues, Rufino made a powerful statement at the delayed Tokyo 2020 Games, clinching Brazil’s first gold medal.
Fernando Rufino had his big breakthrough in Tokyo (Yasuyoshi Chiba/AFP via Getty Images)
Supported by his family back home, Rufino faces his friend and compatriot Igor Tofalini in the upcoming competition. Despite being rivals on the water, they share a bond off it, living, eating, and training together at the national canoeing hub.
Ready for the challenges ahead, Rufino is determined to add another gold to his collection, confident in his abilities to secure a second Paralympic title.
Looking towards the future, Rufino sees the Los Angeles 2028 Games as potentially his last Paralympics. Regardless, his ultimate goal is to be remembered as the ‘true Iron Cowboy’.
As he prepares for his next chapter, Rufino reflects on his adventurous life with a sense of humor and gratitude for the remarkable stories it has provided him.
(Top photo: Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)