On the brink of retiring, the exporter from Efesé wins the gold medal in table tennis at the last world firefighting championships, a profession he shares with that of ‘coach’ and writer
On his way to retirement, firefighter Juan Cayuela (Cartagena, age 59) just extinguished the last fire. He has done it in Lisbon, where, after many years without achieving it, he has just won two gold medals (single and double) at the World Firefighters Games, notably in the table tennis discipline. The appointments in Rimini and Rotterdam, over the next two months, now mark the last stretch of a versatile man, always connected to sport and the tranquility he finds in the mountains of Cartagena.
Because Cayuela is a man for everything. He was a former footballer in his “young” years, first with Naval and also with Torrevieja. And even at Efesé de Aranguren, in Segunda, in the 80s. He was the substitute goalkeeper and had to play occasionally, like one afternoon against Las Palmas de Roque Olsen and another against Castilla de Pardeza, Xavi Juliá and Pepe Mel. “It was a very enriching stage”, which led him to hang up his boots at the age of 36 and to practice the profession of police and firefighter in his hometown ever since. As an experienced firefighter and athlete, he has aroused his interest in publishing several self-help books over the years. The eighth, “Seven Secrets to Building Extraordinary Couples,” will be presented on the 14th at Mister Witt Café (Tolosa Latour, 4).
Nor does he neglect his facet as a salsa and latin rhythm dancer, soon in Los Alcázares, which helps him “soothe the mind and eliminate all the garbage we carry inside.” Linked to social work, he has traveled to more than 75 countries, some for pleasure and others to partner with Bomberos and Acción, to provide medicine and food to the most deprived. Now he is immersed in a project in Senegal, building chicken coops and other necessary infrastructure.
The thorn in his side was with sports, which he has always been associated with in one way or another. For six months he was the coach of FC Cartagena that was on the point of relegation to the Third Division in 2015. A partner and friend of the then coach, Palomeque, awakened the spirit of an emotionally stricken squad. “These were tough times, of mental and psychological pressure, because the staff had not been paid for months and we tried, with the help of the family, to transform those thoughts. The team was saved and that moment was very enriching,” he recalls.
Just a few days ago, he returned from Lisbon, where he has just won two medals at world championships that bring together firefighters from all over the world. Cayuela has already attended other editions (Liverpool and Valencia, among others) without being able to win the individual gold. He got it in Portugal, in table tennis, which he has been practicing since the beginning of the 21st century. «I could never have gotten gold, although the result is the least for me. This sport fascinates me, it activates the brain, stimulates it and helps prevent diseases. The “pride” of Lisbon will carry you forever. Rimini and Rotterdam continue to dream.
Source: La Verdad
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