Antonio Rebollo is the paralympic archer who lit the Olympic Cauldron by shooting an arrow, igniting it, during the Opening Ceremony of the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona. When he was eight months old he contracted Polio with both legs affected, the right one severely. He was quoted as saying "I simply wanted to do things that challenge me." He was one of 200 archers considered. There were sunrise practices, along with wind machines to simulate various weather conditions, and flaming arrows that would often singe fingers. He was among four finalists, and was chosen just two hours prior to the release of his arrow.
| “ | There were no fears. I was practically a robot. I focused on my positioning and reaching the target. My feelings were taken from the people who described to me how they saw it. What they felt, their emotions, their cries. This is what made me realize what the moment actually meant. | ” |
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—Antonio Rebollo, in a segment with NBC about the lighting of the cauldron during the Opening Ceremony of the 1992 Summer Olympics. |
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Rebollo represented Spain at the 1984, 1988, and 1992 Summer Paralympics. He won a silver in 1984, bronze in 1988, and a second silver in 1992.
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