1. Early Life and Introduction to Race Walking
Érick Barrondo was born in Aldea Chiyuc, a community within the municipality of San Cristóbal Verapaz in the Alta Verapaz Department, Guatemala. His parents were involved in long-distance running, and Barrondo initially followed their path, competing in similar events. However, a significant injury forced him to change his athletic focus. He was introduced to racewalking as a rehabilitative measure during his recovery. This led him to abandon running and concentrate fully on racewalking. His early training in the discipline was guided by Cuban coach Rigoberto Medina, who was notable for having coached Cristina López, the 2003 Pan American champion in racewalking. Later, he was also coached by Chan Mata and Diego Cabrera. Barrondo stands at 5.6 ft (1.72 m) tall and weighs 132 lb (60 kg).
2. Athletic Career
Érick Barrondo's athletic career is distinguished by a consistent progression in racewalking, culminating in a historic Olympic medal and numerous successes in international competitions. His journey involved rigorous training and participation in various high-profile events across different distances.
2.1. Early International Competitions and Pan American Success
Érick Barrondo made his international debut at the 2011 Pan American Race Walking Cup in Envigado, Colombia, where he secured the silver medal in the 20 km event with a time of 1:25:56 hours. Later that year, he participated in the 2011 IAAF World Race Walking Challenge tour. He finished 13th at the Sesto San Giovanni race and significantly improved his personal best by over four minutes at the Dublin Race Walking Grand Prix, where he placed fourth with a time of 1:20:58 hours. This impressive performance earned him a spot to represent Guatemala at the 2011 World Championships in Athletics in Daegu, South Korea, as one of only two Guatemalan entrants, alongside fellow racewalker Jamy Franco. In the 20 km race at the World Championships, Barrondo finished tenth with a time of 1:22:08 hours, making him the second-best performer from the Americas, just behind Colombia's Luis Fernando López, who secured third place.
In October 2011, at the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico, Barrondo achieved a notable victory. He won the gold medal in the 20 km walk with a time of 1:21:51 hours, fending off competition from World Championships medalist López. This achievement contributed to a Guatemalan double victory in the men's and women's 20 km walks, alongside Jamy Franco. His strong form continued into 2012, where he set a new personal best in the 20 km race at the Memorial Mario Albisetti, finishing third with a time of 1:18:25 hours.
2.2. Olympic Participation
Érick Barrondo's most significant achievement came at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, where he secured Guatemala's first-ever Olympic medal. He won the silver medal in the men's 20 km racewalk event with a time of 1:18:57 hours, finishing just eleven seconds behind China's Chen Ding, who established a new Olympic record. In the same Games, Barrondo also competed in the 50 km racewalk but was disqualified by the judges during the race. Following his historic debut, Barrondo continued to represent Guatemala at subsequent Olympic Games, participating in both the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro and the 2020 Summer Olympics (held in 2021) in Tokyo.
2.3. Other Major Competitions and Achievements
Érick Barrondo has competed in numerous other major international events, securing several medals and notable placements throughout his career.
| Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Event | Time/Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Central American Junior Championships | Panama City, Panama | Gold medal | 10,000 m track walk | 48:16.69 |
| Central American Championships | Guatemala City, Guatemala | 4th | 20,000 m track walk | 1:34:35.14 | |
| 2011 | Central American Race Walking Cup | San Salvador, El Salvador | Gold medal | 20 km | 1:24:34 |
| Pan American Race Walking Cup | Envigado, Colombia | Silver medal | 20 km | 1:25:56 | |
| World Championships | Daegu, South Korea | 10th | 20 km | 1:22:08 | |
| Pan American Games | Guadalajara, Mexico | Gold medal | 20 km | 1:21:51 | |
| 2012 | World Race Walking Cup | Saransk, Russia | Disqualified | 20 km | - |
| Olympic Games | London, United Kingdom | Silver medal | 20 km | 1:18:57 | |
| Disqualified | 50 km | - | |||
| 2013 | Dudinska Patdesiatka | Dudince, Slovakia | Gold medal | 50 km | 3:41:09 |
| World Championships | Moscow, Russia | Disqualified | 20 km | - | |
| Bolivarian Games | Trujillo, Peru | Gold medal | 20 km | 1:23:25 | |
| 2014 | South American Race Walking Championships | Cochabamba, Bolivia | 2nd | 20 km | 1:26:42 |
| World Race Walking Cup | Taicang, China | Disqualified | 20 km | - | |
| Central American and Caribbean Games | Xalapa, Mexico | Disqualified | 20 km | - | |
| Gold medal | 50 km | 3:49:40 | |||
| 2015 | Pan American Race Walking Cup | Arica, Chile | Gold medal | 20 km | 1:21:25 |
| Bronze medal | Team (20 km) | 32 pts | |||
| Pan American Games | Toronto, Canada | Disqualified | 20 km | - | |
| Silver medal | 50 km | 3:55:57 | |||
| World Championships | Beijing, China | Disqualified | 50 km | - |
2.4. Personal Bests
Érick Barrondo's personal bests in various racewalking distances are as follows:
| Event | Result | Venue | Date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Road walk | ||||
| 10 km | 39:52 min | Borský Mikuláš, Slovakia | 1 June 2019 | |
| 20 km | 1:18:25 hrs | Lugano, Switzerland | 18 March 2012 | |
| 50 km | 3:41:09 hrs | Dudince, Slovakia | 23 March 2013 | (Area Record, National Record) |
| Track walk | ||||
| 10,000 m | 40:10.73 min | Guatemala City, Guatemala | 25 October 2013 | |
| 20,000 m | 1:34:35.14 hrs | Guatemala City, Guatemala | 18 September 2010 | |
3. Personal Life and Background
Beyond his athletic achievements, Érick Barrondo's personal life is characterized by his family connections in racewalking and his prominent indigenous heritage, which has, at times, drawn public attention.
3.1. Family and Indigenous Heritage
Érick Barrondo is married to fellow Guatemalan national racewalker Mirna Ortiz. They married in August 2013, following the World Championships held in Moscow. His family also has deep roots in racewalking; his brother, Bernardo Barrondo, and his cousin, José Barrondo, are both national racewalkers representing Guatemala. Érick Barrondo is of indigenous descent, a significant aspect of his personal identity and public profile.
3.2. Social Commentary and Controversies
In April 2015, Érick Barrondo's indigenous heritage became the subject of public discussion when radio commentator Julio Reyes made racist comments online about it. These remarks led to widespread public criticism and condemnation. This incident underscored broader social issues regarding indigenous identity in Guatemala and highlighted the challenges faced by public figures from such backgrounds.
4. Legacy and Impact
Érick Barrondo's silver medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics holds immense significance as it marked Guatemala's first-ever Olympic medal, elevating him to a national hero. His achievement not only brought unprecedented international recognition to Guatemalan athletics but also served as a powerful source of inspiration for athletes and the wider public across the nation. As a figure of national pride, Barrondo was chosen as the flag bearer for Guatemala at the opening ceremony of the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. His legacy extends beyond sports, as he represents the potential and resilience of indigenous communities within Guatemala. The public discourse surrounding his indigenous heritage, particularly the racist comments he faced in 2015, also highlighted the ongoing social challenges and the importance of advocating for human rights and social progress. Following his flag-bearing role in 2016, the flag was carried by Juan Ignacio Maegli and Isabella Maegli in subsequent ceremonies.