For nearly ten years, paco Quiñones has been fighting Parkinson’s disease through the power of sports. A native of León adn a proud resident of Cardiel de los Montes (Toledo), he has achieved the remarkable feat of becoming a world table tennis champion.“When I’m on the court, I often forget about my illness,” he shares.
In a candid interview with EFE, Quiñones recounts how his victory at the global table tennis championship for individuals with Parkinson’s has turned him into a local hero in his adopted hometown.
Originally from fabero (león), where he spent years working in the mining industry, Quiñones has always been deeply connected to sports. From football to mountain biking, and now table tennis, physical activity has been a constant in his life.
interestingly, it was during a cycling session that he first noticed symptoms of his condition, prompting him to seek medical advice. After the initial shock of his diagnosis, he resolved to face Parkinson’s head-on by embracing sports as a way to slow its progression. “When life throws a challenge at you, you find a way to overcome it. You can’t just stand still,” he emphasizes.
Quiñones pushed himself to the limit, tackling grueling cycling challenges that required intense training. “On regular days, I’d ride 60 to 70 kilometers uphill,” he recalls.
He also urges others diagnosed with parkinson’s to stay active and engage their minds. “If you stop moving, the disease will take over faster,” he warns in his interview with EFE.
From Struggles to Triumph
Inspired by the book ‘Los Setbacks’ by journalist Javier Pérez de Albéniz, who also lives with Parkinson’s, Quiñones discovered the therapeutic benefits of table tennis. Initially, the sport proved challenging. “I’d swing at the ball and miss completely,” he admits.
However, his dedication paid off. Quiñones didn’t set out to become a champion; his focus was on consistent practice. He trains daily at home using a ball machine that automatically serves balls, honing his skills with relentless determination.
Last April,he decided to participate in the inaugural Spanish Table Tennis Championship for People with Parkinson’s. “I didn’t expect to go far,” he confesses.
To his surprise, he secured second place, narrowly losing the final to Paco Molina. Despite the defeat, he recalls feeling “overjoyed” by his performance.
Buoyed by this success, Quiñones entered the World Championship for People with Parkinson’s, held in France at the end of 2024. He admits he arrived feeling “a bit off” but gradually gained momentum as he advanced through the rounds.
In the final, despite experiencing an ‘off’ moment—a sudden worsening of his symptoms—he found the strength to push through. “I don’t know where I got the energy,” he says, visibly moved.After the match, he collapsed to his knees, overwhelmed by the moment.
When he came to, he realized he had become a world champion. “It’s amazing.At 62, I was competing against people in their twenties who also have Parkinson’s. We frequently enough think it’s an older person’s disease, but that’s not the case,” he reflects.
For Quiñones, this victory is just one step in his ongoing battle against Parkinson’s.“Even after winning these championships, I know I have to keep improving,” he asserts.
“I stay humble and keep moving forward. it’s not about the competition for me—it’s about the therapy that table tennis provides.Moving my hands, my legs, and keeping my brain active is what truly matters,” he concludes.
