Zaragoza
Eight Aragonese are taking part in the Olympic Games, which officially began a few hours ago in Paris, with the opening ceremony being rained out, although some sporting events have already been held.
Footballer Salma Paralluelo has already made her debut, with Spain winning 2-1 against Japan. It is also the first Olympic event for Esther Briz, in coxless rowing. In swimming, Luis Domínguez makes his debut. In the basketball team, Jaime Pradilla also makes his debut, and it is also the first time for Inés Bergua, in rhythmic gymnastics, a discipline in which Alba Bautista will also compete.
Begoña García, who is experienced in field hockey and is facing her third Games, and Pablo Abián, who is in badminton, a discipline in which she has already competed in Beijing, London, Rio and Tokyo, are attending. These are her fifth Games. These athletes are joined by Víctor Lapeña, the Canadian Women’s Basketball coach. On Hora 14 Aragón, we review the expectations of Esther Briz, Inés Bergua and Alba Bautista.
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Rower Esther Briz: enthusiasm, motivation, preparation and confidence
The rower from Zaragoza, Esther Briz, 24, will make her Olympic debut tomorrow, Sunday, in the “two without coxswain” competition with her partner Aina Cid. Trained at the Helios Swimming Center, she has spent the last few years at Stanford University, in California, to be able to continue with her academic and sports training.
For Briz, this is his first Olympic event, which he faces with “great enthusiasm and motivation; the time to change what is written is now, we know where we are but we want to turn things around and I think we have the ability to do some very good races that will put us where we would like to be.”
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Rower Esther Briz in Paris 2024: excitement, motivation, preparation and confidence – Hora 14 Aragón (07/27/2024)
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She has spent the last few years training and studying in California. Stanford University has allowed her to continue her sporting career and she has graduated in Management Sciences and Engineering. The opportunities are not the same as in Spain. “I went with a full scholarship and the truth is that the conditions, if they put that in front of you and you value it well and you know what you want, it is an opportunity that is difficult to reject” but she clarifies that “that does not mean that in Spain it can be done”. Nevertheless, “I think it is very difficult to do both things and that it would be necessary to change things; the system is very different,” she says.
The duo made up of Esther Briz and Aina Cid, her boat partner, have been working since May 2023. They arrive in Paris with the endorsement of gold at the World Cup and were also bronze at the European Championships in Bled (Slovenia). Coordination and trust between the two is the basis. “You have to work very hard, very hard, trusting a lot in the process and in your team: my coach and my partner,” she emphasizes. “There are difficult situations, circumstances both personal and sporting, that many times on a personal level we are doing great but sportingly there are moments that are difficult for us.”
Spain has not won a medal in rowing for 40 years, since Los Angeles 1984. “The Spanish Rowing Federation only has one Olympic medal, and there is still none for women; in recent years, the harvest is being made and the results speak for themselves, but the time to culminate is now, at the Games.”
Inés Bergua and Alba Bautista, to the conquest of Paris
In the field of Rhythmic Gymnastics, Aragon has two great promises. They are Inés Bergua and Alba Bautista. The national team captained by Inés has 3 medals under its belt in the European tournament and 2 golds in a pre-Olympic triangular tournament and, with Alba being the Spanish champion in individual competition, they intend to conquer Paris.
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Aragonese gymnasts Inés Bergua and Alba Bautista, on the road to conquer Paris – Hora 14 Aragón (07/27/2024)
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At just 20 and 22 years old, Bergua and Bautista will step onto the Olympic mat to take Aragon to the top. Bergua will compete in the group event with the Spanish National Team and Bautista, for his part, will do so in the individual event, with “nerves” and “excitement”, they admit, before the Games. “This path is very hard and I am taking it in the best way possible and I am enjoying it”, they say, “with great desire”.
Aragon will be very present in these games: A jota will be heard loudly as Alba Bautista launches her ribbon in the Olympic stadiums. “I wanted to represent something from my land and as soon as that song is played… I live it all, with any song I live it to the fullest.” By the way, the Utrillas City Council will charter a trip and cover the expenses of the stay of six local residents to go and support live the participation of the gymnast from the municipality Alba Bautista in Paris.
Six exercises were presented in total, in which two Aragonese women will be able to compete for the coveted Olympic medals.
2024-07-27 08:43:44
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