López was introduced to athletics by his father, who was also a competitive race walker.[3] His uncle, Marcelino Pastrana, was a former Colombian national champion at the 800 m, and later became his coach.[3]
When he won the gold medal at the 2011 World Championships, it was the first athletics world championship medal to be won by a Colombian.[3] He was declared the silver medalist in a photo finish at the
2017 Pan American Race Walking Cup 50 kilometers race walk, walking the same time as winner
Claudio Villanueva, his personal best 3:51:35.[4]
López was introduced to athletics by his father, who was also a competitive race walker.[3] His uncle, Marcelino Pastrana, was a former Colombian national champion at the 800 m, and later became his coach.[3]
When he won the gold medal at the 2011 World Championships, it was the first athletics world championship medal to be won by a Colombian.[3] He was declared the silver medalist in a photo finish at the
2017 Pan American Race Walking Cup 50 kilometers race walk, walking the same time as winner
Claudio Villanueva, his personal best 3:51:35.[4]