Following the disappearance of swimmer Mireia Belmonte from the highest competitive level, Spanish swimming is lacking in references and joysOnly Hugo González, world champion last February in the 200-meter backstroke, is a candidate for a medal in the individual disciplines at the Paris Olympic Games.
Given this lack of success in the pool, any excuse, however small, is enough to grasp at straws… but if it turns out that that nail is proclaimed Junior World Champion in 2022 in the 800 and 1,500 meter events makes things much easier.
Behind these achievements is the figure of Carlos Garach, a 19-year-old from Granada (he turns 20 on July 25) who is making his Olympic debut in Paris and whose name has been accompanied for years by terms such as promise, talent or future.
This young Andalusian swimmer not only travels to the French capital to compete in the 800 and 1,500 meter eventsbut he will also participate in the 4×200-meter relay and the 10-kilometer open water race, something that does not intimidate him in the least. “I’m looking to make my best times,” he told El HuffPost minutes before the official presentation ceremony at the Spanish Olympic Committee of the members of the swimming team that will travel to Paris.
Garach admits that he is very excited and eager to make his debut, although he confesses that he is also nervous about what will be the biggest test of his life. “It is impossible not to be, but I go with the idea of enjoying myself, that’s the most important thing, and of making my best marks.“, insists.
The Granada native, who dreams of being among the top eight, is sincere when talking about medals: “Of course I imagine myself winning one, but Realistically, I don’t have the level and you have to be honest about that because it’s very complicated.“. However, he warns that by Los Angeles 2028 and if everything goes well, he will be in a position to fight for them. “In addition, we have a very powerful team and a very promising youth team is coming and at those Games we will see the level we will have,” he adds.
Carlos Garach celebrating a victory.
For the moment and since he became Junior World Champion two years ago, he has experienced a change both physically and mentally, as he explains that He is much bigger, stronger, with more technique and with much greater mental strength.“There has been a lot of work with my coach to improve with each stroke and with my psychologist to try to remove the nerves and pressure to give the highest level possible,” she describes.
The mental work has been so good that he has gone from feeling the pressure after being baptized as the promise of Spanish swimming to transforming those good words into something positive. “Before it overwhelmed me, but now I know that it is something that should not put pressure on me and that I have to see it as something good. because people trust me and see that I can reach a high level,” he admits.
With such varied distances, Garach has not stopped training during this Olympics. He has done this with long distance sessions to prepare for the 10 km in open water, pace days to improve in the 800 and 1,500 metres and speed sessions for the 200. All this combined with studies in electronic engineering“It’s true that everything is stressful and requires having a very good routine, but little by little I’m achieving it and moving forward,” says the UCAM student.
Seine River Pollution in the air
If there is a discipline that is surrounded by controversy, it is that of open water and triathlon, which will be held, if all goes well, on the Seine RiverSince bathing was prohibited in 1923 due to the fact that sewage and industrial waste emptied there, bathing has not been reopened.
As a challenge for these GamesParis and France set out to clean up its waters and leave it clean both for the opening ceremony next Friday and for these sporting events. In total, more than 1.4 billion euros have been invested since 2016.
The problem is that every time it rains, pollution levels increase and the state of the river worsens. To prove that it is safe, in recent days The Mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, has taken a dipsuch as French Sports Minister Amélie Oudéa-Castéra. Emmanuel Macron has also promised to do so.
Carlos Garach swimming in open water.
Garach pays close attention to all the news coming from Francebut he admits that he is not nervous because they have been given several alternatives in case they cannot swim on August 9.
“I’m not thinking about that right now. First I want to focus on the pool and then I’ll think about open waters.“he says, stressing his desire to swim in a place as special as the Seine and travel along its waters as he passes by the Eiffel Tower or under the Pont Alexandre III.
About those bathrooms of the representatives of The various authorities value them as “something symbolic that is good”but because he really trusts that they will not be put in danger if it is not safe. He also adds that he has swum in similar waters, with jellyfish, currents and even crocodiles and that at home they are calm and eager to start.
Source: www.huffingtonpost.es
