The captain of the Spanish artistic swimming team and ambassador of Les Franqueses, European City of Sport 2024, Meritxell Mas, has won the gold in the technical team event at the European Championships in Belgrade, the last competition before this summer’s Olympic Games.
The swimmer from Granollers, member of Club Natació les Franqueses, Txell Mas, is currently preparing at the High-Performance Sports Centre in Sant Cugat to participate, as the captain of the Spanish national artistic swimming team, in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games this summer. Mas and the Spanish national team come to the Olympic event after winning the gold medal in the technical team event at the European Swimming Championships held in Belgrade until Sunday, June 23. Mas, the captain and the most veteran swimmer on the team, faces the Olympic event in Paris with the enthusiasm of a debutant and the experience of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
– What does it mean for you to be able to participate in the Paris Olympics next July?
The Olympic Games are championships we have been waiting for four years, and they are very special. Not only in the realm of artistic swimming but on a general level, for all sports. It’s a moment of unity, of meeting people, sharing experiences… It’s not just about the competition, but everything you experience outside the pool.
– You participated in the last Tokyo 2020 Olympics. What memories do you have?
Remembering Tokyo, I think the Olympic Village was a very special moment. Being able to share with other athletes, whom we never usually meet or see. Normally, we only encounter water sport athletes, and being able to share experiences with more people was truly incredible. But, really, the moment I am looking forward to the most is diving into the water and feeling the audience in the stands and all the families who will be there supporting us. In Tokyo, there was no one in the stands because we were in the middle of a pandemic, and no one could travel to Japan.
– As a swimmer of Club Natació les Franqueses and ambassador of Les Franqueses, European City of Sport 2024, what do these Olympic Games mean to you?
For me, being at the Olympic Games is a source of pride. Being able to represent my club, being able to represent the municipality is even better. Being able to carry the name of Les Franqueses around the world and in such a special competition as the Olympic Games is a matter of great pride. I am very excited, especially knowing that this year they are nearby, in Paris, so many people will be able to come and support us. We want to experience them in the best way possible.
– At your first Olympic Games in Tokyo, you didn’t win a medal. Is winning a medal a goal for you in these Paris 2024 Olympic Games?
Yes, indeed. At the World and European levels, we already have all three medals, and the only one missing is an Olympic medal. It would be a dream, and we are fighting for it, and we will fight until the end to achieve it.
