“What we lack in Spain is coaching technique”

“My shoulders are pretty good, it’s helping me train much better and get in shape faster”

The Spanish swimmer Mireia Belmonte was optimistic about the new season since she is getting “in shape” and training “much better” having already recovered from her shoulder problems, while at the same time she trusted in the future of Spanish swimming although she does not see any figure that stands out and misses “coaching technique”.

“My shoulders are pretty good, I’ve been working all summer, it’s what has allowed me to start the season quite well. It’s helping me a lot to train much better and get in shape faster,” he said this Friday during MARCA Sport. Weekend 2024 that is being held in Malaga.

The one from Badalona reviewed some of her great moments, with her 51 international medals and a special mention for her Olympic gold at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games. “My life has not been like a person of my normal age. I could have missed many things , but far surpassing what I have been able to win. I have been able to travel, learn about cultures, be in four Olympic Games, win a medal, I would not change that for anything. I would repeat everything without a doubt,” he said.

On the other hand, Belmonte also remembered his great World Cup in Doha 2014, where he broke two world records in just 45 minutes. “I wasn’t sure about winning, because my rival at that time was Hosszu, the best swimmer of the year, she is very complete. I faced her in many events, I got to know her more, we both knew everything about each other. My second 100 I knew he was the strongest,” he confessed.

“My sport is fair, the time puts you in your place. If you have done things well it will give you a good result. Although sometimes it depends on a nail. Everything is played in hundredths, I won the Olympic gold by three hundredths “You have to win one, sometimes it’s unfair because you put a lot of effort into it and you can come second, like I also came in at some World Cup, or you can win. There may be some luck but you have to earn it by training,” he added.

On the other hand, the award-winning swimmer hoped to be at the World Cup in Budapest in December. “This year I had a challenge which was to go to the World Championships, in Singapore in July, but since I started the season so well, there are World Championships in Budapest in December, 25 meters, I will try. The Spanish Championship is in Madrid, with another opportunity to do the minimum”, he stated, evaluating the moment of Spanish swimming.

“In Spain we are lucky to have many facilities, but what we lack is coaching technique and the people who dedicate themselves to it to do it with body and soul. Swimming requires many hours, being athletes 24 hours a day,” said.

“I don’t see anyone who can say he is the future of Spanish swimming. If things are done well, work is done and there is a plan from the Federation, there may be a good future. It is not just a thing for swimmers, it is for those who are behind support and provide the facilities so that the swimmer can excel,” he added.

On the other hand, Belmonte did not want to enter the debate about the best Spanish athletes in history, in a week in which Andrés Iniesta and Rafa Nadal announced their retirement, and she confessed to being an admirer of Michael Phelps. In addition, the Catalan confessed to a difficult last year, mentioning the mental health of athletes, but also celebrated her past successes.

“Last year was a very hard year, I had an injury to my right shoulder and I had to go to training without moving my arms. Mentally it was very difficult but there are sports psychologists who help you cope as best as possible. I try to be very positive and get the worst, the best you can that day. You have to come out of yourself, have a positive attitude,” she noted, before remembering her Olympic gold and her parade as flag bearer five years later.

“Many feelings inside you, it is difficult to handle, something so big has never happened to me. The medal, the Spanish anthem, in some Games, was very beautiful, I slept with the medal. And in Tokyo 2020 when I was the flag bearer, another moment to remember. Having the entire Spanish delegation behind you, going with the flag. I was wearing the mask but you could see my smile,” he concluded.