Ona Carbonell announces her retirement: "Today I stop being one of the synchro girls"
“Today I stop being one of the 'girls' of synchro”. This is how Ona Carbonell began her farewell, at the ceremony held this Friday at the headquarters of the Spanish Olympic Committee. The decision had been flying over the athlete's mind for quite some time, but it was now when she wanted to communicate it officially.
In her speech, Ona declared that: “Withdrawal from sport is always difficult, when not traumatic. In my case, I feel lucky that this is not the case, I do it in a serene, thoughtful and calm way and in agreement with myself and with the decision”.
The Catalan hangs up her swimsuit, being the swimmer with the most artistic swimming world medals: 23 in total. In addition, she retires with two Olympic medals: silver in a duet and bronze in a team, which she achieved in London 2012, and 12 European metals.
It has undoubtedly been a very emotional day for the athlete, which is why she had to read her speech so that she did not forget anything. Her words have been of gratitude to all the people who have accompanied her during these 23 years in synchronized swimming.. From her teammates to the technical staff, going through her parents, children and brother. No one has been left behind. Regarding his profession, he has highlighted that it has been “the environment where I have developed a profession and where I have made many friends. I have learned the importance of empathy, a job well done, respect and teamwork, among many other things”.
But not everything has been rosy within his sporting career. “I have lived through everything, many good moments and some bad ones. Thanks to the support received, I was able to overcome the bad guys and I have always kept in mind the importance of the example we set for society as a whole, and especially for boys and girls.. I want to think that the one I have given is positive,” said the athlete.
Ona Carbonell during her farewell speech. EFE
Although Ona says goodbye to the swimming pools, she has made it clear that her life will continue to be linked to sport and the Spanish Olympic Committee within the First Department of Sport Maternity, which will seek to help athletes reconcile with motherhood. “For years I have been aware that women do not have the tools and resources to advance at the level of equality. I have worked to make visible how little progress had been made in conciliation. We will work so that women who want to be mothers do not have to give up their sports career,” announced the former swimmer.
Very wrapped in your goodbye
Nobody wanted to miss this appointment. Ona was supported by other athletes such as Sandra Sánchez, Teresa Perales, Lydia Valentín, Eva Moral, David Cal or Jennifer Pareja. There were also figures from Spanish sports who wanted to support the Catalan by sending her an emotional video. It was the case of Pau Gasol, Marc Márquez, Saúl Craviotto or Rafa Nadal, among others.
Gemma Mengual, one of the benchmarks in synchronized swimming, declared to EL MUNDO that Ona has been “an important person in this sport, a benchmark. She has left her mark and has made history, we all know that, but Ona is many more things. She is a mother, a woman, a friend and I think that from this moment another world opens up for her.”.
The former swimmer has not been the only one who has had good words for the honoree. The Secretary of State for Sport, José Manuel Franco, recognized, before all those present, that this act only reflected “the affection that Ona Carbonell has generated throughout her life”.
For him, the athlete leaves behind much more than all the successes she has achieved in the water. “Ona leaves her light, her warmth, her work, her ability to excel, her vocation and her will. In addition to endless successes that include her as the woman who has won the most medals in the world championships”, she announced during her speech in which she also admitted that: “You have been a partner, captain, reference, and above all a friend. I want to confess that in addition to sports, your human side, your involvement with the underprivileged and the social facets are what I admire the most about you, and look how I admire things”.
José Manuel Franco also wanted to make a request to the former swimmer. “You represent the transformative power of sport, that's why I ask you to stay close to him forever.”
Fernando Carpena, president of the Royal Spanish Swimming Federation, also had words of affection for her.. “You are a person who transmits values, but you not only transmit them, you also have them. You have lived what is the high level in the good sense. I can only open the doors of the Federation to you and in what you feel most comfortable, you will have your place.”