“Less than 100 days left for the Games, but for training”

Antía Jácome (Pontevedra, November 22, 1999) is one of the obvious medal choices for Spain at the Paris Games. The Galician canoeist already knows what it is to win a medal at the World and European Canoeing Championships and in Tokyo, his first Games, he came fifth. Antía competes in C-1 and C-2, along with María Corbera. Antía spoke to Mundo Deportivo to talk about the upcoming Paris Games.

[+] Watch the video interview here:

Less than 100 days to go before the Games, are there any nerves?

With a lot of desire to compete, but above all, to have very good sessions, both in double and individual boats. We are very happy, very excited about the tasks that are left, less than 100 days to go, but in practice, that is what we have in mind, looking forward to the moment that is approaching.

You know what it’s like to compete in the Games, are you able to approach these games in Paris in a different way?

The first difference will be the audience. I had never experienced a Game with an audience, so they were, so to speak, my first real Game. It will be a huge change to have our family in the stands and that will give us a plus.

Given the role of one of the medal favourites, is it more pressure?

We put the maximum pressure on ourselves and right now we know what we can fight for, where we are and what we are very clear about is that we have to train very well for that to happen. Like us, we have 15 other girls who want the same thing, for it to be us, we have to fight very well, be very united and on the day of the competition, give our 100% and be calm about the finish already. good

When will they start preparing for the Games, when will the previous ones finish, one year, two years before…?

I don’t know what to tell you. This period is shorter than the others. Three years of preparation is short, but in the past, it was very long. I never experienced a normal preparation, so to speak. This, for me, is very good because I experienced it with María and developed a new project and if in every preparation things like this appear, it will be better than the previous one.

He makes a great couple with María Corbera, what’s the secret?

Our complicity, our friendship and our desire to fight together for a common goal. We fought against each other in the selection we made in Pontevedra, vying for a place in the Tokyo Games and now, we are very happy to fight together for this goal. We qualified for Paris and now, together we set another more ambitious goal, the Olympic medal. We have to work to achieve it, to try to make it happen and if it doesn’t come, we will give everything to achieve it next time. Let’s enjoy this process that we are so blessed to experience. For me, it’s a pride to represent Spain again.

What is it about Spanish canoeing that gives Spain so many medals?

I really do not know. I don’t know how to answer this question. We are working very well, the Federation, the Olympic Committee is helping us a lot to be better every day. Having so much support from companies, sponsors, coaches, physiotherapists… all that is a team and allows us to grow and have those facilities, so to speak, makes us stand out in the world . With desire, enthusiasm and hard work, things can work and if it doesn’t, then keep fighting to achieve it.

And what does Vigo need to provide so much good canoeism?

I’m from Pontevedra (laughs)

Sorry, Galicia

In Galicia, we have incredible places to practice canoeing and it catches our attention, we see men, women, girls, men practicing this sport. When you are small, which is when you start practicing it, seeing it by the river and it is a common sport there, makes it catch our attention and makes us try it. For me, it hooked me and inspired me, enough to choose it for the rest of my life.

How did you convince your mother to let you go to Seville when you were young?

I don’t really know how I did it (laughs). It’s hard for parents to let a 15-year-old girl live away from home, especially leaving home to become a high-level athlete, which is something very different from -leaving home to study. They made the most important decision because I wanted to leave, now I don’t see it that way anymore, I want to spend as much time as possible at home. When you are a girl, you think about living, about leaving, going out, going to your friends and for parents, it is a very difficult decision. I am lucky with them, with their support since I started until now. My whole family lives the way I am and it’s great to have that support because thanks to them I am who I am today.

His time in Seville greatly marked his career…

Yes, in the end, Seville will be my future home. The people are very similar to me and this is something that made me fall in love with that city. The people, the way of life is different and for those of us who are always in the world of sports, who don’t leave it, Seville is like a city of disconnection, of having something besides canoeing. Now, for example, not so. In Mallorca it’s like more focus on canoeing and I see that moment of disconnection as very important to stop thinking about everything we bring every day to training and to enjoy life a little, so to speak.

There is a side to him that is not well known: volunteering with children…

I study early childhood education and this is something I want to repeat. Last year I traveled to Kenya and it was an incredible experience for me. One of the best trips of my life and it’s something everyone should experience. It’s not something most people can afford, but for me, being able to afford it at that moment in life is something I really appreciate for everything that has helped me see life from in a different perspective. I want to repeat it, spend more time, teach them everything I know, but from the basis of the sport. The associations I went to were based on sports and it was something that I loved and right now this is what I am looking for in this matter of volunteering, trying to help them in the best way there is through sports.

The opening parade of the Games is on barges on the Seine…

I will watch it on TV (laughs). We fight in a week or two and I don’t think we’re in the opening…

But that should piss you off, not the opening of the Games

Yes, I would love to live that experience. Furthermore, it is very different from any inauguration, but the best is later. If I get a medal or a good result, I will really enjoy the Clausura. I hope that the people who can go have a good time, that they enjoy that experience, but we have a very clear goal and we can’t go to the inauguration.