The Asturian Asuncion Lorente (Castropol, 1972) is an international referee and since 2018 is the president of the Spanish Rowing Federation (FER). She was re-elected to office in June 2021, with 54 votes in favor, 9 abstentions and one invalid vote, although she was the only candidate in the vote after the withdrawal of two of her opponents. Lorente is now submitted to a motion of censure by José Agustín Gómez-Raggio and signed by 53 of 74 members of the FER General Assembly. She says that “a gang of pissed off wants to kick her out” for, among other reasons, “being a woman.” The Asturian is the only woman who presides over an Olympic federation in Spain.
– What balance do you make of your management at the FER?
–The balance is very good. At the sporting level we have the best results in our history. Three Olympic diplomas, European championships, runners-up in all categories. We have won almost everything and at the level of positioning we are very good. We have a presence in the International Federation, a referee at the Olympic Games. In addition, I am a member of the board of directors of the Higher Sports Council and of the European Rowing Board.
–And why are you raising this motion of censure?
-Nobody understands it. In my team we came to the conclusion that many times it bothers that people work and that a woman is in charge. Pride and wounded males are everywhere. There is the one that you do not give him the position, the one that you do not let him command as much as he expected … Although, be careful, I am also clear about my mistakes.
-Which are?
“My biggest mistake has been trusting people who weren’t loyal to the Federation.” I brought the person who organized it later into the house. This is all politicalthat.
– Months ago you had no votes against and now the motion has broad support. How is it explained?
– What we are seeing has been preparing for a long time, especially due to the ways in which the vote is being requested.
– What ways?
– “If you don’t sign, you stay out”, “you will see what you do”, “look to see the grant”. These kinds of things are coming to us. There are federation presidents who have signed without consulting anyone. Team athletes are outraged. Ours is a small federation that lives on the subsidy that is for high competition. If this goes wrong, it will go wrong for them.
– What do your critics blame you on?
– Disloyalty to the voters, mismanagement … They only say vagueness.
How are you dealing with it?
-Is not easy. You work hard, you put in all your effort… I also tell him that I know quite a bit about the sport I am in and I was not surprised.
“Explain yourself.”
– I am from Castropol and you can practically say that I was born in a rowing club. Unfortunately, when it comes to rowing there are few of us and we all know each other. History repeats itself and now those who have been doing nothing for 30 years want to come and fix the world. Until recently I was a referee and did not paint anything, and those who had power did not change anything. What have they done so far?
-He says that the motion has to do with being a woman.
– I am the only president and I am not one of those who spend my day crying out for machismo, but it is what is happening. That, and hurt egos.
–The Asturian Federation supports the motion of censure. What do you think?
–Its president (José Manuel Álvarez de Linera) signed the motion, and when his board found out they asked him for explanations. Supposedly our management was a catastrophe and everything had to be changed, but in order not to raise the hare, he said nothing. One of the things he alleges is that in 2018 I refused to open the Trasona Technification Center because the president of the Asturian Federation was Ana, his wife. I can refute everything, because it has nothing to do with it. Funding was requested and we did not get it.
– Do you think you are living your last days in office?
“I trust common sense.” People are asking us and discovering that they have not been clean. They are a band of pissed off who want to get me out of the way for being a woman. And with bad arts.
– Do you know José Agustín Gómez-Raggio?
– I don’t know him, I think he was president of the Real Club Mediterráneo de Málaga, but I don’t know him. That’s why I have no opinion about him. He is not a person from the world of rowing.
– And who does he point to when he talks about a gang of pissed off?
– The candidate is a personal friend or acquaintance of many of those who are behind the motion of no confidence against our team. In the world of rowing almost nobody knows him, someone would cheer him on.
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