Iria Solera, U16 national medal winner: “I hope to be able to wear the jersey of the Spanish national team”

Iria Solera Movilla (Ourense2008) is one of those young promises that are forged in the structure La Purisima Sports Club. His recent bronze medal in the high jump, at Spanish championship under 16 years from closed trackin exposurehe was poised for another fifth place in the triple jump competition.

Although it started at the age of six in Ourense Athleticshe moved to his current team in hands alfredo gonzalez: “My other friends came with the coach and it’s true that we are very comfortable here.” His multidisciplinary training is also included in the plans Chema Royo, your current technician. A true European decathlon champion, who spent several years as a physical trainer for Ourense basketball club: «The people in charge of La Purísima asked me, whom I had already trained when they were athletes, so I took over the leadership of this group. They are still small and that’s why we wanted them to practice several disciplines that will be useful for their motor development.

In the specific case of Irije, little by little she decided to jump, especially high jumps: «At first I just ran. I was also in the national triathlon up to the age of 14 (hurdles, length and height), I also made it to another Spanish cross-country team championship, but I prefer jumping”. Now in his third year at ESO, he is also racking up excellent results, a requirement of Roy, who doesn’t coach athletes who fail classes.

“I still haven’t decided what I want to do in the future, and besides, I appreciate two very different options, like becoming a teacher or being a firefighter, which is more about keeping in good physical shape,” says advanced Solera Movilla, aware that the effort can take her where he wants. In the short term, after a magnificent season on the indoor track, making the most of my sessions in Expourense, it’s time to think about new challenges: «The winter went very well and I improved my grades, with a national medal. Now the goal must be the Spanish championship in Alicante, mainly in height. The team will also have other options and we are all very excited.”

Looking a little further, Iria knows that combining studies and sports is a reconciliation that will require effort, but her smile escapes her when she confirms: “Athletes have always looked towards the Olympic Games since we started, but it is within the reach of very few. At least I would like to participate in European, I hope to be able to wear the jersey of the Spanish team.

For her coach, it is clear that she is a successful athlete: “Iria has a huge body and is the great hope of our athletics, she is very young and it is not good to put pressure on her, although she reacted well in the last national.”