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DO YOU KNOW THESE SPORTS WOMEN?

A virtual exhibition to mark the International day of Persons with Disabilities

You are about to meet people who, thanks to their tremendous efforts and those of their families and the bodies that support them, are changing the world. They also represent all girls, young people and women with intellectual disabilities for whom SPORT has been a driver throughout their lives. They aim to be an example so that other women with disabilities can follow in their footsteps and enjoy their full right to take part in sport.

The exhibition consists of posters that display the stories and experiences of 24 female athletes from the eight Andalusian regions in Spain. Their stories reveal to us their strength, desire to overcome and dreams. By the end of your visit, you will know these women a little better, women who are making unstoppable progress through sport.

The project was launched in November 2021 by the Spanish and Andalusian Sports Federations for Persons with Intellectual Disabilities (FEDDI and FANDDI), under the support of the Supreme Council for Sports of Spain. It aims to raise awareness and increase the visibility
of sports women with intellectual disabilities.

The photographic exhibition is staged to highlight the work done by the EESC on issues that concern people with disabilities.

This is a cultural initiative organised with the support of the EESC’s Section for Employment, Social Affairs and Citizenship (SOC) and is linked to the SOC 690 opinion on “The EU action for Post COVID-19 period: recovering better through sport”.

ROSANA VITA VILLEGAS

Swimming

My passion is swimming. I feel so good in the water that I train every day, sometimes even twice a day.

I enjoy swimming and that helps me to work hard and to combine my training with my job, for which I passed a competitive exam.

I started competing in 2015 in the FEDDI Swimming Championships , and I haven't missed a single one since. I have managed to secure a place on the podium several times. In 2018, I travelled to Paris to take part in the European Championships organised by VIRTUS (an International Federation), winning five silver medals in the women's relays. And in 2019, I made the big leap all the way to Australia to be part of the Spanish National Team at the VIRTUS World Games , where the women's relay team won a bronze medal. I also do sea crossings every summer.

I try to improve every day and do my best to become a great swimmer.

VICTORIA MARTINS COBOS

Swimming

I was born with Down Syndrome and due to my hypotonia (weak muscles) I always had to take exercise, mainly swimming. I've been swimming since I was a baby. When I was 16 months old, I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes and things got more complicated, but I never stopped swimming. I am also flat-footed, which makes it very difficult for me to walk, so water has always been my favourite place. Water and I have always been friends.

Nothing can keep me from going to training every week. I am very dedicated and very responsible. I am delighted to be part of my team and I love to compete. I am disciplined and determined; I never give up.

I have taken part in many competitions in Almeria. And this year, 2021, was the first time I went to a FANDDI Andalusian Championship, where I managed to win three medals: one gold and two silver. For me, swimming is freedom and I really enjoy it.

In the past I have played padel and done rhythmic gymnastics. I am a great Andalusian athlete.

TANIA CRIADO GUTIÉRREZ

Sailing

I have a strong character, but at the same time I am polite, respectful, very affectionate and particularly sensitive. As a child I had difficulty speaking, so I had to learn to be even stronger, to stand up for myself and to better myself. As a result of my hard work, I am now an open and outgoing person.

I can tell you that I am very active and I love learning. I like almost all sports, such as football, volleyball, cycling, hiking, etc., but I enjoy water sports above all. I learnt to swim when I was 5 years old, and I love water sports such as kayaking, diving, sailing... I have been sailing for more than ten years now.

In my long sporting career I have also competed in swimming, at Andalusian and national level. I have managed to do the whole circuit of open sea crossings in Almeria, and I have come first in my category. I am a veteran athlete who dares to do anything.

CRISTINA CANTILLO SÁNCHEZ

Handball

I have been an associated member since I was 13. I first started with basketball and then moved on to handball, where I was one of the best players at the national championships. I am a tireless and very hard-working athlete.

I have a very competitive nature – I always want to improve at every training and in every physical education session. I also always help my teammates outdo themselves. I swim and am good at all styles.

I have competed in athletics, making the podium in both regional and national championships in long jump, discus, shot put, high jump and relays. I have also tried my hand at volleyball, and would now like to explore aquatic sports and open water swimming.

I have been a pioneer in sports, being one of the first women to participate in the national Spanish championships in a mixed futsal team run by FEDDI, the Spanish Sports Federation for People with Intellectual Disabilities.

Now that I am older, I still really want to compete and continue improving. My coaches tell me I am an example for everyone.

MARINA ROJAS NÚÑEZ

Rhythmic gymnastics

I can assure you that I have a lot of energy. This need to move around comes in very handy when I play sport, which is why I have taken part in so many different sports. I have been devoted to sport my whole life and I am passionate about trying new things.

I started ballet at the age of 4, then I competed in rhythmic gymnastics where I won several medals and I also played a lot of tennis. All of this activity has really helped me to improve and to be happier.

When I left school, I started doing athletics, but then COVID happened and everything stopped. This year, I was able to start competing for the first time and I managed to reach the podium, winning four gold medals. I love sport. It is my passion.

PALOMA VEGA PELÁEZ

Athletics

I took up athletics in 2014. In my first competition, I represented Andalusia (FANDDI – Andalusian Sports Federation for People with Intellectual Disabilities) in the Spanish teams championship. It was a great honour for me and I loved the experience of taking part in a competition.

I have achieved great success in throwing disciplines at the Spanish Adapted Athletics Championships. I practise three types: discus, javelin and shot put. I have won silver and bronze medals in all of them. I am very strong and love training.

I currently combine my classes in a training centre with my sports training. I am always cheerful and a friend to all my friends. I try to be there when someone has a problem and help whenever I can. I love sport and I love life.

CARMINA TORRALBO LÓPEZ

PUBLIC RACES

I have been playing various forms of sport for more than 18 years, winning many awards and representing my club. I share this activity with other women who are my colleagues, and we benefit from helping each other and working as a team.

I started with basketball in 2003 and took part in various regional and state competitions. At that time, there were few women athletes and I am very happy to see so many girls now playing sport.

In 2004, I became part of the athletics team, where I have achieved my greatest successes. I have taken part in a huge number of public races and Andalusian and Spanish championships.

I live for sport, body and soul. My effort and dedication have enabled me to achieve the goals I set myself. I am determined, persistent and of course, a great athlete. I have no limits.

Elena Martín de León

SWIMMING

I am a good student, and I am also a good athlete. I started swimming when I was three years old and in 2015, I joined my club's competition team.

Since I was little I have been doing sports, such as pilates, and I often train at home, doing jogging, swimming and gymnastics. In summer I also enjoy surfing and open water swimming.

Through sport, I have achieved some great successes, such as winning first place in both the Andalusian and Spanish Championships, and being awarded the Cordoba Provincial Council Prize for Best Sportswoman.

Over the years, I have learnt many values that have helped me to be a good friend, to be responsible and optimistic, to work hard, to improve myself and not to give up. I have a great sense of humour. And above all, I value my family and my friends.

Esther de Haro de Luna

SWIMMING

I was born with a hole in my heart, but that didn't stop me from starting to swim at the age of three. Swimming is my favourite sport; when I was eight years old I joined my club and that's where I spend most of my time and where my friends and coaches are.

Sport has allowed me to travel, to meet people, to learn not to be sad when I lose and to be happy when I get a medal, to know my capabilities, and to feel that I can overcome my limitations.

I rode horses for two years. I am also in a scouting group, with which I go camping and hiking. Another challenge I overcame was learning to ride a bicycle. Surfing, skiing and hiking are other activities I enjoy. I am a happy young person and I like to brighten everyone's day with my smile.

CARMEN SALAZAR PÉREZ

BASKETBALL

I discovered the world of sport recently. I started by trying various disciplines such as swimming, athletics, skiing in the Sierra Nevada, etc. However, finally, the one I have shone most at and my favourite so far is basketball.

I have twice been part of the Andalusian Sports Federation for People with Intellectual Disabilities (FANDDI) Andalusian Squad women's team, which represented us in the Spanish Sports Federation for People with Intellectual Disabilities (FEDDI) Spanish Championship for Regional Teams, and I want to continue my efforts so that they invite me again next year.

I move very fast when I am playing, I am a very powerful defender, and when I get the ball I attack fast. That is also my goal in life: to defend my future as a woman in my own right.

HELENA DÍAZ BELLIDO

SKIING

I never give up. Both as a person and as an athlete, I am always ready to do what I aim to do and I strive to it very well. I am a good person who is friendly and hard-working.

I started swimming in my mother's arms, and I am now a swimming champion in breaststroke and backstroke. I started riding in bike at the age of five and braked against the wall. If I fell off, I got up again and continued pedalling.

At the age of 10, I was introduced to skiing in the Sierra Nevada and my coach Juan said I was very good and never fell. On that basis, I have appeared on many podiums at the FANDDI Andalusian Championships and the FEDDI Spanish Championships. I also competed in a World Ski Championship in 2017.

In addition, I also enjoy hiking, archery, ice skating, kayaking, etc. I am excited about being a good athlete and I want to continue enjoying all sports.

Rosa Ucendo Martínez

FOOTBALL

Back in 2014, I started in the world of sport by engaging in different activities. I tried basketball, petanque, football and skiing, which I love because the Sierra Nevada are very near Granada.

During these years of sporting activity, I won several medals in the different categories in which I competed, including international skiing. Since last season, I have become part of the Grenada Genuine football team. I am a very good footballer, and I am also a very good goalkeeper.

I live in a hall of residence with a lot of colleagues and we train every day. Playing sport is very important for us. We also look after Niebla, our little dog, and thanks to her we go for walks, run and keep in shape.

Blanca Betanzos Orihuela

Athletics

I like going fast. Athletics has got the best out of me and allowed me to prove that we can be great athletes. I have had the opportunity to train and compete with athletes in other categories, with and without disabilities, excelling in each race.

In just over four years, I have won many prizes, rewarding me for my hours of training and hard work. I have competed in Andalusia, winning 10 golds, 1 silver and 2 bronze. In the Spanish Championships, I won 10 golds, 1 silver and 1 bronze. I finally managed to make the jump to international competition by meeting the minimum requirements and I am now European and world athletics champion, in addition to beating various records. I have received many honours for my sporting career, including the Medalla de Andalucía de los Deportes (Andalusian Sports Award).

I remain unstoppable with a desire to excel every day, trying out other athletics disciplines such as shot put and long jump, where I have already notched up victories.

María Leandro Gutiérrez de Ceballos

SWIMMING

Swimming has given me great pleasure and satisfaction. I started training in 2001 with a lot of effort and hard work. Thanks to my coaches, I reached ever higher sporting goals, with more than 18 gold medals, 18 silver and 20 bronze, all won in the Swimming Championships of the Andalusian Sports Federation for People with Intellectual Disabilities (FANDDI) and the Spanish Sports Federation for People with Intellectual Disabilities (FEDDI), as well as in the European and World Championships organised by the Down Syndrome International Swimming Organisation (DSISO). I also hold records in Spain and at international level.

My greatest strengths are perseverance, an infinite desire to improve, and that I never give up whatever it takes. My coach Pepe says I am a fighter, a gladiator, and that as long as one metre of swimming pool is left, I try to gain an advantage. Those who know me love me very much and I cherish everyone.

SORAYA GÓMEZ SOUSA

SKATING

I am, without a doubt, happiest playing sports. It's why I have tried so many, and I am still passionate about them. At only four years old I was horse riding and enjoyed galloping and jumping over obstacles. I also played badminton, but I didn't like it so much. What I really love is roller skating, where I can combine my two passions: sports and music.

And, of course, I like athletics, where I enjoy both training with my coaches and teammates, and the atmosphere in the stadium where I share special moments with athletes of all levels.

I have participated in three Andalusian and Spanish championships, winning several gold medals in races and shot put. I have been playing sports for over ten years, and over time I have learned that having 'skills' is not all it takes. You need to live life with enthusiasm, and in that, I am one of the best.

CARMEN ESCUIN GALIANA

SWIMMING

I got into sports in 2010, through basketball. I loved what my club was trying to do, and I gradually became someone to look up to for my teammates on the women's team. They told me I was like a mother to them.

I was one of the first women with intellectual disabilities to practise adapted sports, and one of the first to compete in swimming, having the willpower to enter several championships in Andalusia almost without any training, because we did not have an indoor pool in Bailén. It was quite a challenge for me.

In 2017 the doctor advised me to retire from sport at the age of 50. But I am still in touch with my friends and coaches. The club is like a second family to me. Now I volunteer at lots of club events. I will always be involved with sport.

MARTA RUBIO HERRERA

ORIENTEERING RACES

I am the youngest in my club in Bailén. I started with basketball and, together with my team mates, we came second in the Andalusian championship and first at national level. We were also part of the squad of the Andalusian Sports Federation for People with Intellectual Disabilities (FANDDI) at the Spanish Championship for Regional Teams.

Thanks to basketball, I have been able to make many friends. I still play, though I recently discovered my number one sport: athletics and outdoor orienteering races. I won triple gold in the FANDDI Andalusia Championship. I now also take part in races with people without disabilities, taking a step towards inclusive sport. The world is changing and we all have the right to participate in any sporting event. But the most important thing for me is that I improve my times every day and that I know I will go far.

LOLI ANULA DEL ARBOL

BASKETBALL

My passion is without a doubt basketball. Sport has helped me to overcome my limitations on a daily basis and to understand my disability. I am dedicated, hardworking and competitive, and I don’t like to give in. Even when injured, I have played in matches and waited until the end so as not to leave my colleagues a player down. Sport has made me a stronger woman.

My greatest achievement was to be Spanish Champion in 2018 with the women's team in my club. Since 2016 I have been in the Andalusian Sports Federation for People with Intellectual Disabilities (FANDDI) Andalusian squad. They always select me because I am very good at playing basketball.

I combine sport with my job and I hope to continue doing so for many years, because sport helps me to be better every day.

ARANTXA CARAZO ZUURMOND

Horse-riding

I started to play sport 44 years ago, in 1977. I started my first swimming classes at the age of 2. I have also practised athletics and horse-riding.

At the age of 12, I started to ride a horse at the first equine therapy school in Malaga. For more than 10 years I took part in various dressage competitions. I enjoyed it very much.

I also like athletics. I encourage my colleagues to keep running when they stop in the training. I have competed in public competitions and in the Andalusian Sports Federation for People with Intellectual Disabilities (FANDDI) Campo a Través Andalusian Championship.

Another sport which I have practised since I was little is swimming. In Torremolinos, I was the best woman swimmer with an intellectual disability at the municipal swimming pool. In my club I am told that I am an example for other sportswomen. This makes me very happy and encourages me to carry on.

JULIA FERNÁNDEZ JIMÉNEZ

Open water crossing

I was born very near the sea and I swam my first strokes at 5 years old. Since then I have practised various sports: athletics, horse-riding, skating, padel, skiing and, above all, swimming. Sport helps me feel good. When I swim, I am happy. Thanks to sport I have many friends and I am having a great time.

In 2015 I started competing in regional and national championships. I am currently one of the best swimmers in Spain.

Five years ago I started to swim in the sea and I discovered my great passion: open water swimming. My first sea crossing was 300 metres. Now I can swim up to 5 km, always with my lovely pink tow float.

Through swimming I have achieved sports inclusion. Everyone loves me a lot and they congratulate me when I win medals, but for me the importance of sport is not the goal but the path. When I am swimming in the sea I feel free and I am happy.

VALENTINA CAÑAS PÉREZ DE MUÑOZ

Surfing

Hello! I am the youngest of the group, and although I haven't had many years to do many sports, I can say that I like all of those I have tried so far.

At three years old I learned to swim, and I am quite good at all sports: football, baseball, basketball, etc. Most of all, I like the sea and the waves, and that is why surfing is my favourite sport. I might even be a mermaid.

I like and enjoy everything. I love horse riding, I've done climbing, and I have a great time on the zip line.

I have not yet won any medals, but I am already a winner. I love trying new sports and I don't stop until I learn to do them well. I am a very active girl, and I've been told I will be a great athlete.

LUCÍA UTRILLA NORIEGA

SKIING

I am a great athlete and I have autism. This hasn't stopped me from doing the things I like to do. And what I like doing most is downhill skiing. I started when I was eight years old and I already stood out at that age. Sports have always been with me and have helped me to be very happy.

Over the years, I have competed in many events and championships. I have won lots of trophies and awards throughout my sporting career, including being Spanish Ski Champion in 2016 and Andalusian Champion in 2017.

For me, the best thing about sport is not winning trophies or travelling, but breaking barriers, making friends, and sharing this hobby with my team-mates and coaches. Feeling like a member of a team, knowing that I am accepted and loved is the best reward for my efforts.

ROCÍO BREY IGLESIAS

PADEL

When I was two months old I was already in the pool and when I was old enough to hold a racket, I learned to play padel. Since I was a little girl I have loved sports. When I was 17 years old I started to compete in swimming and I even represented Spain in the European Championships. It was an experience I will never forget.

Among my achievements are the Spanish gold medal in 50 m backstroke and several medals for Andalusia, both gold and silver. For the last two years I have combined swimming with padel, participating in the Andalusian Championships.

I have never stopped studying. I am open, communicative, tenacious and responsible, and I love interacting with people. Girls with disabilities want society to realise that we can do anything and that we are unstoppable.

Susana Marín Caña

CYCLING

Sport is my best therapy. Since I was a child I have needed special help to learn: speech therapy, physical therapy, adapted classes... and sport has been very important in my life, too.

It was very difficult for me to complete my studies and pass competitive exams for the Andalusian Regional Government, but I have always combined my studies and work with my great love for sport. I started as a child with swimming and for the last six years I have participated in the Spanish and Andalusian Championships and in competitions in different cities.

I am also an enthusiast of Handbike, which is a sport adapted from cycling and which I have been doing for 8 years. It involves a special bike that I operate with my hands and which helps me improve my balance and my physical fitness. I have participated in competitions on the best circuits all over Spain.