At 24 years old, Paula Leitón is a legend in Spanish sport. The women’s water polo player has been part of the historic feat of the team that won Olympic gold at the Paris Games. This medal is added to the silver she already won with the team in Tokyo 2020 and the numerous successes achieved at European level.
Unfortunately, far from focusing on her successes, the networks were filled with inappropriate messages commenting on the player’s physique. In a further demonstration of maturity and Olympic spirit, Leitón has responded forcefully to the criticism, and the networks have turned to her.
Paula Leitón, proud of her body
In a statement to ‘En boca de todos’ on Cuatro, Paula Leitón assured that the negative comments about her physique were not going to affect her. “I know what my body is like, I love it very much and I work on it for what my life is, which is this sport,” said the water polo player proudly. The athlete continued to affirm that she is enjoying her victory.
Paula Leiton has just made history with Olympic gold in women’s water polo. She is receiving all kinds of fatphobic insults from sexist men: “I know what my body is like, I love it very much and I work on it for my sport, which is my life.” pic.twitter.com/sGO8V5jmob
— Fonsi Loaiza (@FonsiLoaiza) August 12, 2024
“I don’t care at all about the comments. I just won an Olympic gold medal, which is the dream I’ve had since I was a dwarf,” said the athlete, who admitted that she had not seen the negative comments on social media until they came to her from the media. “The messages I have stopped to look at are those from my parents, relatives and people who are really happy,” she explained in her statements.
Although Paula Leitón says that this type of criticism cannot bring her down, the athlete is concerned about the impact of this on other, more vulnerable people. “I am a mature person and it does not affect me, but perhaps some girl or other person may have serious problems with these comments,” she concluded.
