Sports Envoy
Sports Envoy Program

Sport: Swimming (para)

Ileana Rodriguez

Swimming (para)

Served as envoy

  • 2023  –  Virtual

Ileana Rodriguez is a Paralympic swimmer and former member of the USA Team for the London 2012 Games.

Ileana Rodriguez is the Principal at I Design Access, LLC, and an international architectural design consultant for major infrastructure projects focusing on inclusive design. Ileana’s experience comes from working for clients such as the International Paralympic Committee, national sports organizations, and various architecture firms. Ileana has been involved as a consultant to oversee different sizes of projects from Olympic/Paralympic Stadiums and airports to smaller sports facilities, hotels, and temporary infrastructure. The projects have taken place in Europe, Asia, and The Americas.

The work Ileana does in the field of accessibility has greatly helped to create a more inclusive built environment in the world of major sporting events. The ENR Magazine recognized Ileana as one of the top 25 Newsmakers in the industry due to her contributions to the field.
Ileana has served as the Americas Paralympic Committee Athlete Representative for the past two terms since 2015. Ileana’s commitment and belief in the importance that sport plays in communities has led her to be one of the 18th members of the LA28 Athlete Commission. Ileana has a special interest in serving in her community and the importance of accessibility and architecture as she served as a Commissioner for the Houston Planning and Houston Airport Commissions.

Julia Harbaugh

Swimming

Swimming (para)

Served as envoy

  • 2022  –  India
  • 2023  –  Vietnam

Julia Harbaugh is a lifelong swimmer, surfer, high tech saleswoman, and is avidly involved in philanthropy in San Francisco with frequent international trips focused on service and inclusion. Julia holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Global Politics from Washington and Lee University and studied developing economics at the University of Cape Town. Julia has completed various Alcatraz crossings and placed in triathlons since she was 14 years old. Locally in San Francisco she started the SF Achilles chapter which guides impaired athletes in mainstream athletic. She is a core surf coach volunteer for the MeWater Foundation. Julia currently resides in California and is an advocate for underserved communities in sport and technology.

Tucker Dupree

Swimming (para)

Served as envoy

  • 2021  –  Qatar

Four-Time Paralympic Medalist Three-Time Paralympian Hometown: Raleigh, North Carolina

Disability: Blind/ Leber Hereditary Optic Neuropathy

At 17, Tucker began to lose his vision and was diagnosed with a rare disease – Leber’s Hereditary Optic Neuropathy (LHON). In a short period of time, he lost 75% of his central vision in both eyes.

Tucker currently holds 9 American and Pan-American records.
At the 2016 Paralympic games in Rio, Tucker won a Bronze medal in the 100 meter backstroke.

At the 2012 London Paralympic Games, Tucker won a silver medal in the 100m backstroke and bronze medals in the 50m freestyle and 100m freestyle.

Tucker has been able to swim his way into over 10 world championship titles.

Tucker currently works for an energy company in Chicago and has a passion for accessibility, technology, plays piano, does yoga, and loves cooking.

Rudy Garcia Tolson

Paratriathalon

Swimming (para)

Served as envoy

  • 2020  –  Virtual
  • 2023  –  Virtual
  • 2023  –  Vietnam

Rudy Garcia-Tolson was born September 14th, 1988 in Bloomington, California. The youngest of 4 children. At age five, having already undergone 15 surgeries to correct a rare birth defect, Garcia-Tolson elected to amputate both legs above the knee. He opted for greater mobility and a full, active life with prosthetics. Undaunted, he began swimming, then running, and has been winning ever since! By age 15, he had won a Gold medal in the Paralympic Games breaking world records in swimming.

When he was eight years old, he stated that he would swim in the 2004 Paralympic Games. He was true to his word and won the gold medal in the 200 meter individual medley and broke the world record for his SM7 class.

In 2008 Beijing Paralympics, when he was 20, he again won the gold medal in the 200 meter Individual Medley event, breaking his own SM7 world record twice in the process. He also won bronze medal in 100m breaststroke SB7.

At the 2012 Paralympics in London, he broke the SM7 world record in 200 meter Individual Medley heat. In the final, both he and Yevheniy Bohodayko swam faster still. Bohodayko touched the wall first; Garcia-Tolson won silver.

As part of 2012 Paralympics, Rudy also qualified and competed on 100 meters and 200 meters track and field.

At the 2016 Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro, Garcia-Tolson broke his PR (personal record) and gain back the AR (American Record) in 100m breaststroke SB7. In the 200meter Individual Medley again he broke his PR and won silver.

Rudy has spoken across the country to groups ranging from Fortune 500 companies to inner city public schools.

His blend of energy and humor inspires organizations and individuals to adopt his swim motto, No Legs No Limits, A Brave Heart is a Powerful Weapon, as their new standard of excellence

Rudy shares stories about choosing to amputate his legs at a young age, swimming in the Paralympics, and playing jokes with his prothetic legs to give motivation for overcoming adversity and reaching peak performance.