José Arnulfo Castorena Vélez (born 27 May 1978) is a Mexican Paralympic swimmer who competes in international elite events. He is a three-time Paralympic champion, five-time Parapan American Games champion and a seven-time World champion.^[1][2]

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José Arnulfo Castorena

Personal information
Full name	José Arnulfo Castorena Vélez
Born	(1978-05-27) 27 May 1978 (age 45) Guadalajara, Mexico
Height	1.28 m (4 ft 2 in)
Sport
Country	Mexico
Sport	Paralympic swimming
Disability	Phocomelia
Disability class	S4, SB2, SM3
Medal record Paralympic swimming Representing  Mexico Paralympic Games 2000 Sydney 50m breaststroke SB2 2004 Athens 50m breaststroke SB2 2020 Tokyo 50m breaststroke SB2 2004 Athens 150m individual medley SM3 2012 London 50m breaststroke SB2 2004 Athens 50m butterfly S4 World Championships 2002 Mar del Plata 50m breaststroke SB2 2006 Durban 50m breaststroke SB2 2006 Durban 150m individual medley SM3 2010 Eindhoven 50m breaststroke SB2 2019 London 50m breaststroke SB2 2022 Madeira 50m breaststroke SB2 2023 Manchester 50m breaststroke SB2 1998 Christchurch 150m individual medley SM3 2002 Mar del Plata 50m butterfly S4 2002 Mar del Plata 150m individual medley SM3 2006 Durban 4x50m freestyle relay 2013 Montreal 50m breaststroke SB2 2015 Glasgow 50m breaststroke SB2 2017 Mexico City 50m breaststroke SB2 2017 Mexico City 150m individual medley SM3 2006 Durban 50m butterfly S4 2010 Eindhoven 150m individual medley SM3 2013 Montreal 150m individual medley SM3 2015 Glasgow 150m individual medley SM3 Parapan American Games 2003 Mar del Plata 50m breaststroke SB2 2003 Mar del Plata 150m individual medley SM3 2011 Guadalajara 50m breaststroke SB2 2011 Guadalajara 150m individual medley SM3 2019 Lima 50m breaststroke SB3 2003 Mar del Plata 50m butterfly S4 2011 Guadalajara 4x50m freestyle relay 2019 Lima 150m individual medley SM3 2003 Mar del Plata 50m freestyle S4 2003 Mar del Plata 100m freestyle S4 2003 Mar del Plata 200m freestyle S4 2019 Lima 100m freestyle S4

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Castorena was born with underdeveloped legs and a missing left arm. He had a difficult upbringing when his mother died after giving birth to him, his father abandoned him and his grandmother looked after him until she died when Castorena was of a young age.^[3]