Santiago Giraldo: from tennis player to environmental activist



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Santiago Giraldo, one of the most recognized athletes in the country, surprised the world of sport a few days ago with the announcement of his retirement as a tennis player, after playing professionally since he was 15.

The 32-year-old from Pereira, who came to occupy the 28th box of the ATP world ranking in 2014, this being his best figure in his entire sports career, he stepped aside, signaling that it was time to close the loop and seek change.

A change that would be directly related to environmental protection. He said that while he will continue to be tied to tennis, he will now have more time to do other activities that will also fill him with life.

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“I will be very focused on the environment, as an ecologist, with the aim of preserving, caring, to replicate the good use of the land and something so important that we have in Colombia: with water care, “said Giraldo, who has recorded 168 wins and 204 losses in his professional life and was also a finalist for the ATP 500 in Barcelona (2014), as well as the ATP 250 in Viña del Mar (2011). He also reached the quarter-finals of the Masters 1000 in Madrid (2014) and the third round of Wimbledon (2014 and 2015) and Roland Garros ( 2012).


For Santiago Giraldo it is essential to take care of the water and the soil, starting with the promotion of sustainable projects. Photo: Carder.

In this new aspect, Giraldo has decided to unite to kick off the initiative carried out by the Regional Autonomous Society of Risaralda (Carder) to plant 2,500,000 in that department during this four-year period.

“I am very grateful to Carder for giving me the opportunity to share the ideas we have, work together on pilot project initiatives in all senses; they have all my disposition, there is an ally in me to reach the goal of planting those 2.5 million trees “Giraldo said.

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To seal this commitment, Giraldo and the director of the company, Julio César Gómez Salazar, planted several trees. There were two guayacanas, an oak, two white yarums, and two fruit trees.


Santiago Giraldo sealed his commitment to Carder by planting seven trees together with the director of that company, Julio César Gómez Salazar. Photo: Carder.

“It is a vote of confidence that one of the glories of Colombian tennis has made the decision to help the environmental authority of Risaralda in a national purpose; Helping the President and all of humanity to plant 180 million trees is an inevitable and unshakable purpose and commitment, ”Gómez Salazar said.

It may interest you: Colombia, the seventh country with the largest loss of virgin forest in the world

The official explained that as they advance with this map, He will continue to call in new actors to join and work hard on his proposal for 2021 to be declared Colombia’s year against the climate crisis.

In this way, Santiago Giraldo begins his journey through the wonderful, but sometimes thankless, world of natural conservation.

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