MADRID, 27 Sep. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Royal Spanish Swimming Federation (RFEN) celebrated its successful year 2024 this Friday at its annual gala held at the headquarters of the Spanish Olympic Committee and where it recognized, among others, the women’s team, the most honored, and the men’s water polo team, the artistic swimming team, the diving team, swimmer Hugo González, referees and managers, and also welcomed their new members of the Hall of Fame.
Thus, the women’s water polo team, historic Olympic champion in Paris 2024, the swimmer Hugo González, world champion of the 200 meters backstroke in Doha, the former water polo player Blai Mallarach and the former swimmers Marina García were recognized with the Gold and Diamond insignia. and Lidón Muñoz for his sporting career.
“After so many years and so much effort we can say that we are champions of everything,” said Laura Ester, goalkeeper of the national team. “I feel very valued and rewarded with what this sport has given me. This medal has been the finishing touch and it was the best,” declared Maica García.
In addition, the RFEN awarded the Sports Merit Medal to the artistic swimming team, Olympic bronze in Paris 2024, to the men’s water polo team, European champion for the first time this year, to María de Valdés, world runner-up in 10 kilometers of open water, and Candela Sánchez, European bronze in 25 km, Nico García Boissier and Adrián Abadía, world bronze in the synchronized 3-meter springboard, and the artistic swimming and diving teams for their respective continental golds. Swimmer César Castro received the Sports Values Award.
Finally, the gala was also marked by the entry of the new members of the RFEN Hall of Fame, a distinction for the former water polo players Miki Oca, current women’s coach, Pedro García and Dani Ballart, the former open water swimmers Erika Villaécija and David Meca, and former jumper Javier Illana. And, as a final surprise, the women’s water polo team also made its entry official.
Water polo player Pilar Peña spoke on behalf of all the winners, recalling “the feelings and emotions experienced in recent times” and who wanted to “value everyone who has made women’s water polo grow.” “Especially to all the colleagues we have had, whom we want to share in our Olympic gold,” he remarked.
“It was clear what our objective was, but we also knew that we had to do something special to reach it and that is why we tried to change dynamics, not only in training but in things like thinking more about the teammate next to us than at other times and other aspects of day-to-day life,” said Peña.
The captain of the national team assured that they had “sacrificed each other and all for the team” and that in Paris they understood that “the focus was day to day.” “We learned to manage emotions by focusing on ourselves and you all know how hard it has been. We have worked a lot on commitment and confidence in ourselves,” she said.
“After 20 years being part of the national team, I can only say that I take away good things, it has been a challenge of constant improvement and I feel fully fulfilled. I want us to serve as an inspiration to future and present generations and I do not want to forget Miki (Oca) and the entire human group of the ‘staff’ who have known how to adapt and demand of us to get that gold that we have been waiting for for so long,” he said.
CARPENA: “LET’S FACE THE FUTURE TOGETHER AND SEAMLESSLY”
The president of the RFEN, Fernando Carpena, stressed his “privilege” and his “pride” for having lived “a successful year.” “Those of us who experience competitive sport know that this has no limits and Paris is a brilliant story, let us now face the future in a situation that we have to address together and without fissures, being clear about what the objective is,” he noted.
“This is the beginning of an Olympic cycle, I have four and aspire to five. Those who are not here and come behind are the ones who give us continuity for the future,” added the leader, who highlighted that they have “an ambitious project.” in reference to the candidacy to host the 2031 World Cup in Madrid.
Alejandro Blanco, president of the COE, was in charge of closing the gala, remembering that “no matter how much AI evolves and comes, sport always begins with a boy and a girl, a family, a club and a coach.”
“If instead of talking you were able to think for a second about who you are and who accompanies you, you would all say ‘Damn, how good we are’. You constitute a successful federation, which knows about daily work,” continued Blanco, who stressed that “the path that women’s water polo has taken is the path.”
For the leader, all RFEN athletes understand “what swimming represents for Spanish sport.” “Many things have been achieved, others remain to be achieved and you have the fundamentals. I am convinced that if we put what you have on the table, the successes will fall very short. We must make a national project and bring swimming to every corner of Spain and that it is part of everyone’s life, hand in hand with everyone, this project will be carried out,” stated Blanco.