TARRAGO AYMERICH Roser

General
HIATUS
She took a break from the sport following the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro after she found she was putting herself under increased pressure to perform well. "Everything changed in my mind and my style of play. Winning and playing well was not enough anymore. I was being compared with top stars of other sports, so I had to be the best. Nothing I was doing was enough, if I played well I could have always done it better. Even getting into the water made me feel bad. In January 2017 I stopped playing for medical reasons. I was burned out. I needed a break, and it was the best decision of my life. In the end [mental health] is like a broken leg, only that you cannot see it." (mundodeportivo.com, 01 Feb 2020; lavanguardia.com, 08 Aug 2019; waterpolista.com, 17 Dec 2018; Esportiu Maresme, 02 Jul 2018)

POSITIVE RETURN
Following her break from water polo in 2017 and 2018, she spent time playing in Australia before returning to the Spanish national team for the 2019 World Championships in Gwangju, Republic of Korea. "Coming back to the national team has been great. I have never had so much fun. I'm playing because I want to have fun, with specific goals like qualifying for Tokyo [2020 Olympic Games]. The most significant aspect of these world championships [2019] is that I've enjoyed playing water polo again. Each goal we celebrate like it was the last one ever. The relationship with my teammates has been as good as always and the atmosphere amazing. I feel great with them and I am feeling much better." (mundodeportivo.com, 01 Feb 2020; lavanguardia.com, 08 Aug 2019)