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The Governing Council of the Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV) approved in its latest meeting on 7 March to award the distinction of Honorary Sportsman of the Academic Institution in 2024 to the wheelchair paddle player player Cristopher Triviño Molina (València, 1988), also known as "Topher" Triviño. The Rector of the UPV, Prof. José E. Capilla, will present him with the accreditation on 20th June.

According to the proposal presented by Capilla, on the initiative of the Vice-Rectorate / Director Delegate for Social Dialogue, Prevention, Conciliation and Sport, Cristopher Triviño "inspires motivation by overcoming the additional difficulties that the practice of sport entails for people with disabilities. In addition, he is a transmitter of the human values that the University wishes to instil in its students".

Triviño started playing adapted paddle ten years ago, and since 2017 he has regularly participated in competitions. In 2023, he was part of the Spanish team that won the title in the 1st World Wheelchair Paddle Championships, held in Madrid. He has also been Spanish champion for five successive years (from 2019 to 2023), teaming up with Edorta de Anta, and has been representing the UPV in national competitions for the last year. He is currently third in the national ranking of the Spanish Sports Federation for People with Physical Disabilities.

"Very important for wheelchair paddle".

On hearing the news, Triviño said he was "very proud that such a great institution as the UPV has recognised my career". At the same time, he was pleased with what this decision meant for wheelchair padel: "This recognition from the UPV is very appreciated and very important because our sport is a minority one, nowadays".

"On the court, paddle doesn't make me feel like I'm in a wheelchair. In fact, I often play with my family, with my friends or with different partners. This shows its inclusiveness," he explained.

In addition to padel, Triviño plays other inclusive sports, such as wheelchair tennis (he is runner-up in the Valencian league of the Valencian Federation of Adapted Sports), skiing and A Ball, a new sport promoted by the Royal Spanish Football Federation.

Award ceremony on 20 June

On 20 June, during the UPV Sports Gala, Prof. José E. Capilla will present Treviño with the trophy and diploma accrediting him as an Honorary Sportsman of the UPV.

In this way, his name will be added to the list of honorary athletes of the Universitat Politècnica de València. The aim is to recognise the work of people, organisations, public institutions and private entities that have made a notable contribution to the promotion of sport and the humanistic merits it entails.

Currently, and according to the year in which they were awarded, this list is made up of:

• 2006: Abel Antón
• 2007: Javier Gómez Noya
• 2008: Marc Coma
• 2009: Isabel Fernández
• 2010: Juan Mata
• 2011: Víctor Claver
• 2012: Sugoi Uriarte
• 2013: Jesús Calleja
• 2014: David Casinos
• 2015: Amaya Valdemoro
• 2016: Laura Gómez
• 2017: València Basket Club
• 2019: David Ferrer
• 2022: Hugo Guillamón
• 2023: Julia Miñana Delhom

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