At 32 years old, Mireia Belmonte doesn't have to prove anything to anyone. With four Olympic medals in her showcase and four participations in the Games, the swimmer from Badalona has long since entered the history books of Spanish sports. But one last challenge has been set. She will be present at the Paris Games next summer. Already in Tokyo, weakened by injuries and the passage of time, she was not the same, but she does not give up yet. This Thursday she made it clear when she launched herself as a new swimmer at the Barcelona Swimming Club. After a long period linked to UCAM of Murcia, it did not reach an agreement to renew its relationship with the Murcia entity and will defend the colors of a historic club like Natació Barcelona, which presented it at the club's facilities, on the seafront of the capital. Catalan.
“I have the great challenge of going to Paris 2024 and being here gives me a lot of strength to continue training. "I am grateful to be with this team and to be able to help them to form a great family," said Belmonte, who was accompanied by the club's board of directors, led by president Bernat Antràs, and by the honorary president of the Catalan Federation, Enric Bertran. .
The Badalonesan wants to go step by step, without rushing, although she has noticed more positive feelings in recent times. “I'm much better from the shoulder injury, I'm swimming a lot more. In August I already added new things and little by little we are adding them to the training,” she explained.
Belmonte will continue working at the CAR in Sant Cugat with Ben Titley. That will be his base camp but he will also work some days at the Natació Barcelona facilities. With his new team he will reappear next week in the Catalan Club Cup, in short course. He plans to participate in the 100 styles. When he has to be in shape is in June, when he will seek Olympic qualification.
It just so happens that both the CNB and Belmonte have the same anniversary date, November 10. Hope that's a good sign. “Everything in life is about stages, I started with UCAM in 2013 and now this is over. I wanted to start a new project. Being able to do it with Barcelona makes me very happy. It is a historic club, the first in Spain and founded by Bernat Picornell,” the swimmer recalled. The agreement was reached very quickly. In 2008 the CNB already tried to sign her but then it couldn't be done. Now yes.
