Carlos Moleda was born in Brazil, immigrated to the United States at 18, earned his citizenship, joined the Navy and became a Navy SEAL – one of only 11 in his class who finished the grueling course.
Speaking Topics by Carlos Moleda
- I am able.
- Winning!
- Stand up!
A few years later, he found himself in the middle of an intense firefight in Panama’s “Operation Just Cause”. Nine of the 10 men in his unit were wounded – four fatally. Carlos was hit near his spine and leg, and lost feeling in his lower body forever.
Competitive sports proved to be the best way to recover from this traumatic injury.
He is a 5-time Hawaii IronMan Triathlon World Champion in the Handcycle Division, a 6-time National Handcycling Champion and winner of the 1999 Midnight Sun 365-mile, nine-day stage race in Alaska. He is USA Triathlon Hall of Fame Inductee and has summited Mount Kilimanjaro. Today, Carlos Moleda serves as spokesperson for the Challenged Athletes Foundation and uses his expertise in adaptive sports and motivational skills to teach younger kids and military veterans with disabilities how to ride racing wheelchairs and handcycles.
Carlos Moleda is married to Sarah Preston Moleda and has a son, Spencer.