The withdrawal of Sandra Sanchez (41) last year plunged the spanish karate in a immense doubt. After having the best in katas for eight years looked to see who could cover your absence. Yesterday the successor appeared in society: Paola Garcia Lozanofrom Almendralejo, from 17 years birthdays in February, succeeds Sandra as European champion, the youngest ever.
“Had been European champion and of the world in inferior categoriesbut I didn’t know if I could compete in Guadalajarafor the matter of age”, Paola commented yesterdaywho in his debut in an absolute international competition rises to first place from the podium to defeat Taily in the finalthe represent french: “She is very young but due to age I had never faced her or the rest of the rivals. I had done my job and I just had to repeat it, and do the kata”.
Paola speaks like a veteran and is unwrapped with tables. In the middle of the exercise of the final had an imbalance (“these are things that happen”), and he did not flinch; followed with a tremendous coldness and won by 42.6 to 41.2.
It would seem that he has spent his whole life on the tatami, and it is partly true: his father was a karate fighter in Almendralejo, and his sister Marta was world champion with the equipment of kata. In fact, she now lives in Madrid: “I live with my sister in Coslada, which is very convenient for me because I’m still in the family, I have the school nearby (she’s studying high school) and my coaches and I don’t have to travel as much as when I was in Almendralejo” .
This new Spanish karate champion also has clear as focus his future: “I keep thinking about study criminologyand related to the police force. laura palacewho is a police officer and karate champion is one of my references”. Precisely for Paula, winning in Guadalajara has something special: Laura won the 2019 European Championship there.
Five minutes after winning the gold Paola, Damian Quintero it conquered in the male category. A double in katas, as almost always, Damián’s eleventh in the European Championships, although the last one was four years ago, in Guadalajara with Sandra. This time 43.5 compared to 42.3 for the Italian Busato.
Damián has already competed and won medals in all possible competitions, and now Paola what it claims is that “the Olympic Games open again for karate, and to be able to be in Los Angeles 2028″.