Sara Revuelta, a talented basketball player from Madrid, has found a new lease on life in Sardinia, Italy. She had been playing in Madrid for over a decade, but the sport had become an obligation, and she was no longer enjoying it. However, since joining the Dinamo Sassari team in Sardinia, she has rediscovered her passion for basketball. According to Revuelta, “The Dinamo, Sardinia, and my coach have saved my sports career. Last year, I wanted to leave basketball, but here I have recovered the illusion for my sport.”
Revuelta had always wanted to play in Italy, and she finally got the opportunity last year. She had previously received an offer to play in Italy, but she had to decline due to academic commitments. This time, she was able to make the move, and it has been a great decision for her. She explains, “I always wanted to play in Italy. Last year, I had already reached the offer, but for academic issues, I stayed in Spain. One of the two master’s I am doing required face-to-face practices. Now it was the perfect moment.”
Revuelta’s experience in Sardinia has been a welcome change from her previous stint in Alabama, where she played for a month in the 2019-2020 season. She struggled with anxiety and depression during her time in Alabama, which made it difficult for her to enjoy the sport. She recalls, “I started with panic attacks. One night, I woke up almost unable to breathe. I didn’t stop crying, I didn’t want to get out of bed, I didn’t want to go to class, I didn’t want to train… I lost almost 10 kilos in that month.”
In contrast, Revuelta is thriving in Sardinia. She has found a new sense of freedom on the court and is enjoying the more equal competition in the Italian league. She says, “My role is quite similar to the one in Spain, but I have more freedom when reading the game. And at the defensive level, there are more defense options with my quintet.” Revuelta is also happy with the team’s professionalism and the fact that they have a chair basketball team.
For now, Revuelta’s only complaints are that she misses her family and friends, and she finds the lack of accessibility in Sassari to be a challenge. She has a medullary lesion caused by chemotherapy, which makes it difficult for her to navigate the city’s uneven sidewalks and steps. However, overall, Revuelta is happy in Sardinia and is excited to see what the future holds for her and her team.
As for the Spanish team, Revuelta is looking forward to competing in the European championship in Sarajevo, Bosnia, in October. She has achieved great success with the team, including two European bronzes and two Paralympic diplomas. However, what really excites her is the 3×3 format, in which she won the European championship last year with her teammates Sonia Ruiz, María Victoria Alonso, and María Heras.