David Miranda

Inspired by a cycling trophy won by his cousin, David Miranda took up the sport in the late 1950s, becoming one of the best cyclists in El Salvador. In 1961 Miranda won his first major race with victory in the two-day Central American Race in Guatemala, finishing more than 11 minutes ahead of the next rider. The following year he finished ninth in the road race at the Central American and Caribbean Games in Kingston, Jamaica.

Miranda then became noted for his climbing abilities, winning a stage of the Vuelta a Guatemala in 1965, in addition to contesting the mountain classification of the race. One year later he returned to the Central American and Caribbean Games, this time placing 14th in the road race in Puerto Rico. In 1968 Miranda was selected to represent El Salvador in the road race at the Mexico City Olympics. With no training or preparation, however, he struggled with the altitude and ultimately did not finish the race.

During his active career Miranda finished in the top three at the national championships every year from 1958 to 1968. After retiring from competitive cycling in 1971 he still remained active in veterans’ races, including winning a race in the 60+ age group in 2002. Away from cycling he was a keen triathlete, founding the Triathlon Federation in El Salvador in 1992, and serving as their first President. In the first half of the 1990s Miranda also ran five marathons in Los Angeles.