35
Guayama, PR
University of Texas at Arlington
Classification: 2.5
Alex Pabon was born in Guayama, Puerto Rico, with Grebes Salgado Syndrome, a rare form of Acromesomelic dysplasia. He moved to Delaware to attend high school, where he was a member of the chess club and strategy club. In 2007, Pabon had an amputation that removed part of both his feet, intended to help improve his mobility and posture. After the amputation, he was first introduced to wheelchair basketball and wheelchair rugby at Shriners Hospital in Philadelphia. He played wheelchair basketball at UT Arlington, where he was part of the team that won the 2017 national title.
The following year, Pabon represented the U.S. at the 2018 wheelchair rugby world championships, winning a bronze medal. Pabon became a standout player for the Texas Stampede, his local wheelchair rugby team. Known as a defensive leader for the Stampede, he was named Best in Class (2.5) at the 2026 USWRA National Championships. His coach, James Gumbert, described him as “One of the most passionate players I’ve ever had the chance to coach, and that shows up every time he hits the floor.”
Off the court, Pabon graduated from UT Arlington and works for Per4Max, a company founded by Paralympian William Hernandez, whose team consists of daily wheelchair users who custom design, build and test wheelchairs for para athletes.
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