Zapata then toured all over Colombia, performing at multiple shows and earning money for each of his presentations.
His stunts impressed many; he would use some of the first money he gained to travel to Spain, where he came in fifth place at biketrial's first world championship.
Later on, he went to Barcelona, where he entered the Guinness Book of Records by using his bike to climb the stairs of the tallest building of that city all the way to the top, without ever using his feet.
He also performed a stunt show during half-time of a Copa Libertadores football game between Colombia and Ecuador in 2003.
Javier Zapata lives in Medellín where he runs his own biketrial school and his own brand ZAPATABIKES which produces bikes and accessories.