The Spanish Paralympic Committee has presented this Tuesday the members of the Spanish team in the next Winter Paralympic Games of Beijing 2022, which will be held between March 4 and 13. Víctor González will represent our country in snowboarding and Pol Makuri Redolad will do so in cross-country skiing, although the expedition will be made up of nine people, including the technical team (skiman, trainers, doctor and physiotherapist). It will set course for China on February 28. For said appointment they will be dressed by John Smith and +8000. A kit that was also presented at this event held at the CSD. “It is a pride to be part of the Paralympic family again. We already dressed them in Atlanta and Athens. The technicality of the garments is very important and we want the athletes to be comfortable,” said Alfredo Peñalver, CEO of Aguirre y Cía.
‘Vic’ González repeats, since he already participated in Pyeongchang 2018. The Spaniard, who has a spinal cord injury after suffering an accident while taking an avalanche course, will compete in the snowboard cross and banked slalom events. “It makes me very excited. I return with a more mature mentality to face unforeseen events. My goals are to enjoy these Games and do my best. If this translates into a diploma or a medal, I hope to share it with everyone,” said the rider, who belongs to the Spanish Sports Federation for People with Physical Disabilities (FEDDF).
For Pol Makuri, who was born with right hemiparesis, these Games will be special for two reasons: they will be his first (will participate in the three distances of cross-country skiing: sprint, 12.5 km freestyle and 20 km classic) and will be presented to the Athletes Council of the International Paralympic Committee in the elections to be held during them. “It’s a dream I’ve been chasing for many years. I want to open the doors to everyone and that they can fight for their dreams, whatever their disability. And also transmit our values”, confessed the skier from the Spanish Federation of Sports for People with Cerebral Palsy and Acquired Brain Injury (FEDPC).
Your president Julián Rebollo took the floor: “It is the first time that an athlete of ours goes to a Winter Paralympic Games. Pol you are going to be a benchmark“. A message of encouragement in which the president of the Spanish Paralympic Committee, Miguel Carballeda. “When the public meets the private, it’s extraordinary. A little over five months ago we returned from Tokyo, from some difficult Games. Since then, the Spanish Paralympic team has not stopped receiving recognition. Our society has had a very bad time these last two years due to the pandemic and needs examples of life. Today I want to pay a special tribute to Silvia Mansilla (expedition leader) and Josefina Espejo (medical officer). My mother, every time she got angry with me, she told me I’m going to pack your suitcase and send you to the highest peak. Do not fail us as athletes, but above all do not fail us as people. We will be waiting for you, Pol and Vic”, confirmed Carballedawho again mentioned in his speech the importance of “equal opportunities”.
José Manuel Franco, president of the CSD, already recovered from COVID, closed the event. “The Tokyo experience was unforgettable. I am a sports lover, but I had not lived the essence of its values with such intensity as in the Tokyo Paralympic Games. There were few of us applauding, but we did it with incredible enthusiasm. They gave us an example of life and it is great for those of us who believe in equality. Whatever happens in Beijing we are tremendously proud of you. Victor achieved more than decent results in Korea. Pol, I hope you make the most of this unique experience. I want you to feel like a great achievement to be one of the 600 athletes who will compete in these Games. Thank you for that desire to live and that image that you transfer. Without wanting to burden you with excessive responsibility, on your board you carry the name of a modern and inclusive country, which wants to make the flag of the full integration of people with disabilities. The Sports Law reflects the Government’s commitment to promoting sports practiced by people with disabilities. A joint work between the CSD and the CPE. It is a good time to value the successes of the past, we are talking about 43 medals with the signature of Astrid Fina or Jon Santacana, among others. The fact of presenting a small team is circumstantial. Sport will be a vehicle to achieve equality and the promotion of people. You have the unconditional support of the CSD to build the society that we imagine and of which we feel proud. Your values make us better. My wish is that we dream big, for the future, together,” Franco concluded.