Alejandra Gálvez and Daniela Sierra each certified for the 1500m and ended up operating in the identical warmth
A mom and daughter made historical past at this previous weekend’s Spanish Indoor Championships (February 16-18) after competing towards one another within the 1500m.
A 31-year hole separates Alejandra Gálvez (46) and Daniela Sierra (15) however they turned the primary mom/daughter mixture to ever run in the identical race on the Spanish Indoor Championships.
Gálvez, who final 12 months broke the W45 world indoor 800m report with 2:12.99, was the oldest athlete within the championships. Secure to say, her daughter was the youngest.
Extremely, the pair acquired the final two locations amongst the 36 registered athletes within the 1500m.
Sadly, they didn’t qualify for the ultimate. Gálvez and Sierra completed tenth and twelfth with occasions of 4:38.59 and 4:49.85.
Nonetheless, they captured the hearts and creativeness of the athletics neighborhood.
AW caught up with Gálvez and Sierra concerning the feeling of competing towards one another, the feelings concerned and what’s subsequent for each of them.
Alejandra Gálvez and Daniela Sierra on the beginning line
You’ve been everywhere in the media in Spain and had a lot consideration on the Spanish Indoor Championships, so how do you are feeling?
Alejandra (Mom): The reality is that it involves you from all over the place. You don’t even must search for it. We get information by way of WhatsApp and Instagram. I’ve even acquired extra followers on Instagram! On the one hand, I’m a bit hooked on social media lately. However alternatively, I can’t wait to show it off, to be sincere. We’re getting a lot publicity. However we adore it too.
Daniela (Daughter): My pals write to me asking me what I’m doing showing on their tv. I don’t know! I haven’t even came upon what has occurred. I haven’t processed it but.
You simply made it to the Spanish Indoor Championships. You had been the final two out of the 36 opponents on the checklist. How did you obtain the information?
Alejandra: We had rejected the likelihood [of being at the championships]. We had calculated that we needed to run round 4:35 to qualify. We went for that point on the Andalusian Championships. We had been pushing one another to attain that point and we had been upset as a result of on the finish we clocked 4:37 and we thought that point would by no means get us within the checklist.
At some point although, I used to be working a day shift [Digestive Doctor in Almería] and I acquired a message from the competitions coordinator on the Cueva de Nerja Membership [a team from the city of Nerja (Málaga) where Alejandra and Daniela both run] saying that we had certified – myself within the 800m and Daniela for the 1500m.
Being sincere, at first it didn’t swimsuit us. We had already organised our coaching for Daniela’s upcoming competitions. However after I acquired residence, my husband and Daniela advised me that I had additionally certified for the 1500m.
That’s after I thought it will be wonderful for the 2 of us to be within the 1500m. Mom and daughter. It’s a really good generational relay! It will even be Daniela’s first nationwide championships.
Supported by our crew and our coach, we wished to have this expertise and began on the lookout for tickets to journey to the championships.
Daniela: I prefer to see which athletes go and which athletes don’t go earlier than a contest. Once I noticed my mum on the checklist, it was a shock and an enormous motivation. We each stated we should always go for it.
On the regional championships in Andalusia, Daniela beat Alejandra. Within the nationwide championships, it was the opposite approach round. Do you need to play the tiebreaker race on the outside season?
Alejandra: Effectively, she [Daniela] remains to be forward of me as a result of we ran a gathering earlier than and he or she surpassed me within the final 30 metres. So, in reality, we’ve had three 1500m races and it’s 2-1 to her!
We had considered one other problem for the outside although. As I’m an 800m runner and Daniela can also be beginning to prepare it this 12 months, we need to attempt to get the usual for the out of doors championships. It’s tougher than what we’ve accomplished now.
Speaking a bit about your careers as athletes… Alejandra, the primary time you competed in a championships was 30 years in the past in Seville and you probably did the pentathlon. Shortly after, you participated within the out of doors nationwide championships in 2002 and ran the 800m. And till 2020, you didn’t return to the observe. What occurred throughout all that point?
Alejandra: Between the mixed occasions to the 800m, I began finding out medication in Madrid. The primary 12 months there concerned loads of sensible courses within the afternoon and all of it turned an excessive amount of for me. In the long run, I targeted on my research as a result of my mother and father had been making the hassle to pay for them. That was the choice I made on the time however I by no means actually stopped doing a little sport, even when it was simply to keep up my very own well being.
Throughout my fourth 12 months doing medication, I had extra free time within the afternoons. So, I made a decision to come back again and I spoke to Guillermo Ferrero, among the best center and lengthy distance coaches in Spain.
In lower than 4 months I completed second on the Spanish U23 Championships. Sooner or later I thought of taking up the game extra professionally nevertheless it coincided with the residency programme. So I went again to medication and did my residency within the gastroenterology division. That’s after I gave athletics up for good for 16 years.
In addition to being a health care provider, you even have three ladies. How do you handle your skilled life, your private life, and your life as an athlete?
Alejandra: Effectively, as my husband states, we’re a crew. Now we have made our household life round sport, and I feel we’re all proud of it. Generally extra, generally much less. It’s important to discover the appropriate stability to make sure that all of the members of the crew are joyful.
Alejandra Gálvez and Daniela Sierra take a selfie
Because you got here again, you could have competed on the nationals three years in a row, have set the W45 world indoor 800m report and had been nominated for Feminine Grasp Athlete of 2023. Did you count on all this whenever you determined to return to athletics?
Alejandra: It wasn’t a lot what I achieved final 12 months, however the repercussions it had in Almería. I used to be chosen as the girl of the 12 months in sport and this gave me the chance to go to varsities, speak to youngsters and encourage them to take part in athletics. Above all, many feminine athletes associated to me and I helped them to proceed within the sport. I really like athletics a lot and it’s one thing everybody ought to have of their lives.
Daniela, you’ve already managed to compete at a nationwide senior championships. What are your hopes for the long run as an athlete? How does your mom encourage you?
Daniela: For this season, my greatest aim is to attain the qualifying mark for the European U18 Championships.
I’d like to symbolize Spain at an Olympics, Worlds or European Championships in my profession.
I’m fortunate to have my mum and he or she helps me with the whole lot in coaching. She encourages me after I don’t really feel like coaching, she’s there when my coach isn’t round and helps me in each resolution. An athlete round my age advised me this previous weekend that I used to be fortunate to have such a tremendous position mannequin.
Momentazo en el #CEatletismoST con una madre y una hija en una misma carrera al más alto nivel en España
Lee más sobre la inédita historia de Alejandra Gálvez y Daniela Sierra en nuestra noticia ⤵️https://t.co/xQ3xp5JKkg pic.twitter.com/ArKL2RC5ZQ
— Teledeporte (@teledeporte) February 17, 2024
How would you promote athletics to all kids of your age?
Daniela: I’d do away with the concept athletics is barely about operating. My classmates ask me quite a bit if I simply go to the observe and run and that’s it. Since I used to be a toddler, I’ve accomplished many different issues. I’ve tried the whole lot. That’s how I fell in love with athletics.
I spend loads of time on the observe with my pals. I want it. Even on days when I’ve to check quite a bit, I choose to go for an hour to coach, to clear my head, to have enjoyable after which come again with my batteries recharged. It’s so significantly better than spending the entire afternoon finding out.
Lastly, who’re your idols in athletics?
Daniela: With Daniela García [European U23 800m champion], we had a particular connection this weekend. If we had to decide on somebody, we’d select our shut and great particular person, Mariano García.
Alejandra: In my life as an athlete, athletes like Jackie Joyner-Kersee, who was one of the best heptathlete after I was a youngster, have been nice reference factors for me. I’m additionally good pals with Maite Martínez and we are able to relate to one another.
By Silvia Rueda
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