In 2011 he suffered an accident that caused him to amputation of both feet. Just a few years later, she was diagnosed with thyroid cancer and a year later, skin cancer. Despite this, Sara Andres is currently in Paris where it is his Third date at the Paralympic Gamesafter finishing fifth in the 400 meters in Rio de Janeiro 2016 and seventh in the 100 meters in Tokyo 2020.
Her story reflects overcoming, sportsmanship and passion for life wherever you look at it. Despite the busy schedule of these days, where between training and competition there is little free time, Sara Andrés has agreed to talk with ElPlural.com from the Olympic Village to tell us about its history and the path that has brought it here.
Why not dream of the Games?
After the accident, the athlete from Madrid says that she had to overcome a period of adaptation, “of becoming a person again, of relocating myself in life and knowing what was going to become of me. I learned a lot about prosthetics.” Since she has always been a sports fan, she found some special prostheses for running and, with the help of a partner, also a Paralympic athlete, he began his journey into the world of competition. He says that at first he had no intention of becoming what he is today: “I had no idea of being an athlete, just running so I could do any sport, but I liked it so much that I stayed with athletics. That was when I started competing and I decided that Why not go for the big one and dream of the Olympics?”.
The conversation was over the phone and when we asked him about the feeling he felt when he started running again we didn’t see his face, but his voice conveyed the happiness and excitement as he brought his mind back to that moment: “Freedoma lot of freedom and lightness. Feeling again the air in the face and feel independent. I was crying and smiling at the same time because it was so incredible to feel that sensation again.” And the road to get there was not easy at all: “I was in a wheelchair for nine months, then I had to learn to use the prosthesis, it hurt a lot, it bothered me, but the feeling of happiness was so great that the pain didn’t matter”.
My opponents are strong but so am I.
With all this, Andrés arrives in Paris with his mind firmly set on the objective: go for the gold. She does so after winning two recent medals, a bronze in May at the Kobe World Championships and a silver at the 2023 Paris World Championships, both in the 100-meter dash. Today is the day when the Madrid native will demonstrate the hard work of these months on the track in Long jump at 11:00and the Thursday and Friday next in 100 meters flat.
Asked about her chances of winning a medal in this new Olympic event, she is very clear. “Right now I am fourth in the ranking.” And despite recognizing that the level of demand is high, she is very sure of herself: “My opponents are strong, but me too. It depends on many factors, whether there is a bit of luck, whether the weather is on our side, whether you are strong at that moment, but there are options.” And although he assures that he will fight for the gold, he recognizes that, whatever happens, the pride will be the same. “I have a chance and that is what I want, to get the medal. If I get it, great, and if not, also, because the work is done. With how much I have improved, with lowering my mark, being there and fighting for it, With that I am already proud”.
Andrés’ successes off the track
Although as an athlete she has already won numerous medals and a collection of Olympic diplomas, Sara Andrés has also achieved success on a personal level. And she has done so every time she has decided not to throw in the towel, despite the difficulties that have repeatedly appeared along the way. “When you think that you are incapable of overcoming adversity, just when you have it in front of you, you will be able to overcome it.” You realize that you have much more strength. The body is wise and the mind is also strengthened in difficult times.”
He also points out that this innate strength that “we all have inside” is also added to his passion for living life: “I like to enjoy life and There will be nothing in my life that will spoil that illusion.. So whatever happens to me will affect me and I will try to overcome it, but once I have the plan I will not be reveling in the pain. I will be putting all my efforts into overcoming it and above all in being happy, which is what matters.”
90% of sport is mental
In addition to going for gold, the athlete from Madrid is also very clear about another factor. Because of the difficulties she has had to overcome throughout her life and also because of what it means to be a Paralympic athlete, Andrés has repeatedly claimed the importance of mental health. “90% of sport is mental and that 10%, or 20% at most, is physical. The important thing is to have a good headbe stable, calm, with a positive mentality and the rest will come by itself.”
And he encourages people to ask for help whenever they need it: “People have preconceived ideas about going to a psychologist or a psychiatrist and they are just another doctor who helps you. Just like if you have a stomach ache you go to the doctor, well If your heart or soul hurts you also have to gor”.
Appreciate the difference
In parallel to her role as an athlete, Sara Andrés is also a primary school teacher and, as she points out, this is a perfect environment to put into practice and spread countless values, such as those that have accompanied her over these years.
Precisely along these lines, when asked which ones define her, she points out: “Being a good person, helping others, being empathetic and respectful.” But among all of them, Andrés pauses so that the most important one does not go unnoticed: value the difference“It is nice that each of us is different. Children who are different often have a bad time, they are bullied, they are singled out, but thanks to that difference, they are special. We have to learn to value people with differences, whether physical or mental.”
And if all this were not enough to invite reflection, the athlete concludes the interview with a life lesson: “There is a phrase that I have used since I began to recover from the amputation and it is ‘I’d rather not have feet and know where I’m going than have them and be lost.‘. Many times we have everything in life, we have mental health, physical health, family, but we feel super empty and super lost. For me it is more important find that meaning and purposebecause the rest will come. That makes you excited and joy for living”.
