Gianfranco Iannotta

{{Infobox sportsperson

| name = Gianfranco Iannotta

| image =

| alt =

| caption =

| birth_name =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1994|01|24}}

| birth_place = Jersey City, New Jersey, USA

| coach = Jimmy Cuevas

| team = New Jersey Navigators

| medaltemplates =

{{MedalCountry|{{USA}}}}

}}

Gianfranco Iannotta (born January 24, 1994) is an American track and field athlete.

Early life and education

Iannotta was born to parents Franco and Luz Iannotta on January 24, 1994.{{cite web |title=GIANFRANCO IANNOTTA |url=https://www.teamusa.org/para-track-and-field/athletes/Gianfranco-Iannotta |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150907224424/http://www.teamusa.org/para-track-and-field/athletes/Gianfranco-Iannotta |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 7, 2015 |website=teamusa.org |accessdate=December 12, 2019}} He was born with spina bifida and was paralyzed from the waist down upon birth.{{cite web |title=Stretching the Limits: Garfield's Iannotta takes Paralympics gold in Rio |url=https://www.northjersey.com/story/sports/columnists/bob-klapisch/2017/01/09/garfields-iannotta-takes-paralympics-gold-rio/96222334/ |website=northjersey.com |accessdate=December 12, 2019 |date=January 10, 2017}} Iannotta graduated from Garfield High School in 2012.{{cite web |title=Garfield honors its Paralympics hero at pep rally |url=https://www.northjersey.com/story/life/community/2016/09/28/garfield-honors-its-paralympics-hero-at-pep-rally/93028510/ |website=northjersey.com |accessdate=December 12, 2019 |date=September 28, 2016}}

Career

Iannotta made his national debut with Team USA at the 2011 Parapan American Games. As a result of his success, he was invited to the qualifying rounds for the 2012 Summer Paralympics but failed to qualify for the final roster to London.

After his high school graduation, Iannotta was selected to compete with Team USA at the 2013 IPC Athletics World Championships. He won a bronze medal in the 100 meter race,{{cite web |last1=Blanchard |first1=Jamie M. |title=Martin, McFadden win third world titles of 2013 |url=https://www.teamusa.org/US-Paralympics/Features/2013/July/23/Martin-McFadden-win-third-world-titles-of-2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130807054620/http://www.teamusa.org/US-Paralympics/Features/2013/July/23/Martin-McFadden-win-third-world-titles-of-2013 |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 7, 2013 |website=teamusa.org |accessdate=December 12, 2019 |date=July 23, 2013|quote=Gianfranco Iannotta (Garfield, N.J.) won the bronze medal}} and a silver medal in the 200m.{{cite web |title=Tatyana McFadden won her fourth and fifth world titles of 2013 |url=https://www.teamusa.org/US-Paralympics/Features/2013/July/25/Tatyana-McFadden-wins-two-world-titles-on-Day-6?p=1 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140106220901/http://www.teamusa.org/US-Paralympics/Features/2013/July/25/Tatyana-McFadden-wins-two-world-titles-on-Day-6?p=1 |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 6, 2014 |website=teamusa.org |accessdate=December 12, 2019 |date=July 25, 2013 |quote=Gianfranco Iannotta (Garfield, N.J.) finished second to Martin with a personal best 33.02}}

Three years later, Iannotta made his Paralympic Games debut during the 2016 Summer Paralympics. He earned Team USA's first 2016 Paralympic gold medal in track with a time of 17.17 seconds, beating the previous medalist Raymond Martin.{{cite web |last1=Tammaro |first1=Brianna |title=Gianfranco Iannotta Wins Team USA's First Paralympic Track Gold Medal Of Rio Games |url=https://www.teamusa.org/News/2016/September/10/Gianfranco-Iannotta-Wins-Team-USAs-First-Paralympic-Track-Gold-Medal-Of-Rio-Games |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160923101920/http://www.teamusa.org/News/2016/September/10/Gianfranco-Iannotta-Wins-Team-USAs-First-Paralympic-Track-Gold-Medal-Of-Rio-Games |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 23, 2016 |website=teamusa.org |accessdate=December 12, 2019 |date=September 10, 2016}} Iannotta ended the Games with a bronze medal in the 400-meter race.{{cite web |title=Gianfranco Iannotta of Garfield wins second medal in Rio paralympics |url=https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/2016/09/13/gianfranco-iannotta-of-garfield-wins-second-medal-in-rio-paralympics/93002024/ |website=northjersey.com |accessdate=December 12, 2019 |date=September 13, 2016}} The following year, he was named to Team USAs roster for the 2017 World Para Athletics Championships,{{cite web |last1=Tammaro |first1=Brianna |title=Team USA Named For 2017 World Para Athletics Championships In London |url=https://www.teamusa.org/US-Paralympics/Features/2017/June/08/Team-USA-Named-For-2017-World-Para-Athletics-Championships-In-London |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170611162451/http://www.teamusa.org/US-Paralympics/Features/2017/June/08/Team-USA-Named-For-2017-World-Para-Athletics-Championships-In-London |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 11, 2017 |website=teamusa.org |accessdate=December 12, 2019 |date=June 8, 2017}} where he won a bronze medal in the men's T52 100.{{cite web |last1=Tammaro |first1=Brianna |title=Team USA Packs The Podium On Most Successful Day In London |url=https://www.teamusa.org/US-Paralympics/Features/2017/July/22/Team-USA-Packs-The-Podium-On-Most-Successful-Day-In-London |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191211072539/https://www.teamusa.org/US-Paralympics/Features/2017/July/22/Team-USA-Packs-The-Podium-On-Most-Successful-Day-In-London |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 11, 2019 |website=teamusa.org |accessdate=December 12, 2019 |date=July 22, 2017}}

Iannotta later took home a gold medal in the men's 100m T52 wheelchair event at the 2019 World Para Athletics Grand Prix with a time of 17.19.{{cite web |last1=Morgan |first1=Liam |title=Brown leads American charge with 100m T11 victory at World Para Athletics Grand Prix |url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1079663/brown-leads-american-charge-with-100m-t11-victory-at-world-para-athletics-grand-prix |website=insidethegames.biz |date=May 24, 2019}} Due to his success, Iannotta was selected to compete with Team USA at the 2019 World Para Athletics Championships.{{cite web |last1=Tammaro |first1=Brianna |title=U.S. Selects Team For 2019 World Para Athletics Championships |url=https://www.teamusa.org/News/2019/September/24/US-Selects-Team-For-2019-World-Para-Athletics-Championships |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190925162628/https://www.teamusa.org/News/2019/September/24/US-Selects-Team-For-2019-World-Para-Athletics-Championships |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 25, 2019 |website=teamusa.org |accessdate=December 12, 2019 |date=September 24, 2019}} At these championships he won the silver medal in the men's 100 metres T52 event and he qualified to represent the United States at the 2020 Summer Paralympics.