Classification
PTS2 (triathlon.org, 25 Jun 2021)
Type of Impairment
Limb deficiency (deia.com, 22 Feb 2014)
Origin of Impairment
Acquired (deia.com, 22 Feb 2014)
Impairment Details
In 2001 she was injured in an accident when 100 kilograms of fruit landed on her leg in the supermarket where she worked. She was initially diagnosed with a sprained knee and ankle but she did not recover from the injuries. After five years she sought a second opinion and discovered she had sustained nerve damage. After an unsuccessful operation on her left leg, she was fitted with a leg stabilising device, along with daily medication to manage the pain. As the pain did not subside, she decided to have her leg amputated in February 2021. (tokio2020.dxtadaptado.com, 18 Aug 2021; marca.com, 24 Jun 2021; elcorreo.com, 08 Mar 2017; deia.com, 22 Feb 2014; avancedeportivo.es, 06 Oct 2013)
General
NEW BICYCLE GIFT
She decided that she would give up the sport after her performance at the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro was affected by a delay when the organisers could not find a bicycle suited to her needs. But she was persuaded to carry on competing in Para triathlon when an act of kindness saw her receive a new bicycle from somebody who had witnessed her experience at the 2016 Games. "They couldn't find a bike that would work and fit my needs since I pedal with only one leg. After I cried for a while, they managed to solve it. A few weeks later I had a call from the Spanish Triathlon Federation telling me that someone wanted to send me a bike. I thought they were kidding me but, no, a spectacular bicycle came to my house, and the gift was from a man in Rio de Janeiro who was sitting next to me while I waited dejectedly in the pits for a solution to compete. I only know that he is Dutch and that he had a position at Shimano Europe. I hope to one day contact him. After those Games I was not going to continue, but I decided to continue and seeing me compete on that bicycle is the way I can thank him." (tokio2020.dxtadaptado.com, 18 Aug 2021)
ELECTIVE AMPUTATION
After 20 years of operations, treatments and medication following her accident, she continued to have problems with her leg. In February 2021, six months ahead of the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo, the doctors suggested the possibility of amputating her leg and using a prosthesis instead, and she decided to accept their advice. "They were giving me the possibility of stopping having medication, of painful treatments for nothing, of stopping using crutches. The first day I tried a prosthesis and started walking at the parallel bars I burst into tears with emotion. I had not bent my knee for 20 years. I was throwing both arms forward or backward at the same time due to the habit of crutches. When I took four steps and saw that my hands were free and that I would be able to get an umbrella again I could not believe it. My quality of life has improved substantially." (marca.com, 24 Jun 2021)
FIGHTING ANOREXIA
She had anorexia for ten years, and believes that overcoming it has helped her contend with her leg injury and amputation. "I was age 12 and suffered with anorexia for ten years. I finally understood that people have to accept themselves instead of trying to change, and I still think that is the correct way to see things. I suffered a lot with it but if, with my story, I can help a single person, it would have been worth it. When I had my accident, my leg hurt a lot and I thought, 'Not now'. But, since I see the positive side in everything, I think the disease made me stronger and that strength has helped me later in life." (Spanish Triathlon Federation YouTube channel, 05 Feb 2021; marca.com, 19 Sep 2020)
OCCUPATION
She has worked for Lantegi Batuak, a non-profit organisation in Biscaya, Spain, which generates work opportunities for people with impairments. (Facebook profile, 19 Aug 2021; deia.com, 27 Apr 2017)
Spain
Triathlon
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