The pioneer of males’s synchronized swimming in Spain, joyful for the “step” of the IOC after “so a few years” of preventing Ribes retired final October and won’t be one of many rookies on the Paris 2024 Games: “There are different Ways of being Olympic”The former swimmer from Catatán has been happy with his profession: “What I’ve needed to do, other than making tales, is opening doorways”
Following the choice accredited by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), a most of two males might be eligible to compete in every eight-member workforce. For the previous Catalan swimmer, it’s a “fairly huge” step at the price of eliminating two ladies from the squad.
“If we actually need to make an inclusion, it’s that we hold the ladies on the workforce and embrace the lads with out eradicating folks. We are together with, however on the identical time not. It is the superb print”, defined Ribes, the primary man Spaniard to get a medal in some Europeans.
In this sense, Pau has proven himself “partly” joyful, after a job of “so a few years of battle” that has paid off. “In the tip it is a reasonably large step, however they need to additionally settle for the boys in a blended duo, not simply in groups,” he stated in statements to NIUS.
New alternative out of the water
Ribes determined to retire in October after attaining two silver medals this summer time on the European Championships in Rome as a part of the blended duo with Emma García, amongst different podiums achieved since 2016. In complete, on the continental stage he collected 4 bronzes and 4 silvers.
“Before retiring I already knew the likelihood that males may compete in inventive swimming in Paris. I took my scales and assessed every part, however I already had it very clear. I could not go forward, primarily for an financial problem,” he acknowledged.
“It did not compensate me and I used to be giving greater than what I acquired. I even have an age, though I’m younger, however inside elite sport you give every part day by day. The years take their toll”, has settled the pioneer of the Spanish masculine ‘synchro’ , which already has about 40 federated children.
In truth, the person from Canyamars grew to become the primary man to play in a World Cup, in 2015 along with Gemma Mengual, and the primary and solely federated participant till a few years in the past.
Open doorways and make historical past
“There is not any should be egocentric both. I’ve been a pioneer and proud. What I’ve needed to do, other than making historical past, is to open doorways and stroll the trail along with others and permit every part that I’ve not skilled or have gone via “, has valued Ribes, who doesn’t rule out reaching the Games by one other approach.
His life has turned the other way up since his goodbye to elite sport, though he has not moved away from the aquatic advanced. “In the morning I be taught the commerce of barbering as a result of my sport isn’t sufficient to make a residing from it alone. In the afternoon I assist out at Club Natació Les Franqueses as a coach.”
For this purpose, she leaves the door open to observe within the footsteps of Gemma Mengual, from athlete to elite coach. “Who tells me that I am unable to get there sooner or later. This hasn’t ended right here. I’ve hung up my swimsuit as a swimmer, however he can get to be an Olympian in different methods.”
Now, this alteration of playing cards within the International Swimming Federation (FINA) is yet one more step for the nationwide groups, who can play totally different methods. “There are international locations which might be fairer or have fewer folks. Perhaps these folks is not going to have the possibility to take part,” Ribes recalled.
Future of synchronized swimming
In the case of the Spanish workforce, the nationwide expertise within the ‘synchro’ has already paid off with Fernando Díaz del Río and Dennis González, aged 19 and 18 respectively. In the case of the Canarian swimmer, he received his second silver medal in August and third for Spanish inventive swimming on the European Championships, within the free solo self-discipline.
For his half, Dennis participated within the Junior World Championships in Quebec final summer time within the blended workforce closing, the place Spain received the gold medal. “This season has hit the nail on the pinnacle. In the tip, what I need is for them to get pleasure from what I have not lived via and work via it for them. I’ll be by their facet at any time when they want it,” Ribes stated in regards to the current and way forward for the choice.