A hours later, and already passed again through the podium routine, gold medal, anthem, Gallina’s skin is still put to María Pérez remembering the darkness at the entrance of the tunnel that leads to the Shining and Chillón stadium, shocking. “Pass it empty and get to the the first stadium and when you have to hear people shout is something unique …” he says. “That darkness is noted in the tunnel and that light at the end of the tunnel, as they say. It is something magical, unforgettable and had never lived before.” none. Legend of the world march with four gold medals in World Cups and an Olympic, best Spanish athlete in history, María Pérez only thinks of invading Shibuya, defining in a karaoke, crossing the diagonal zebra making selfis, unfortunate a bottle of champagne that has been in her fridge for 16 days and take a sushi with her friend of the soul, Antonella Palmisano. He will arrive in Madrid this Sunday in the afternoon and the next day vacation on the Mayan riverbank. The goddess, finally, rested.
Ask. It is circulating in the networks …
Answer. No, I don’t know, I don’t have networks. Well, yes, I have registered again, but it hasn’t given me time to see everything.
P. Well, a very interesting fact circulates. Only three male athletes in history, Carl Lewis, Mo Farah and Usain Bolt, have been able to do what you have made to win two medals each time in two consecutive World Cups. No woman, except you has done … everyone knows them, even non -athletics fans. You are only talked about in Spain …
R. And I don’t care. I do not do this because it is the best that, for showing anything to anyone, but I do it for myself, and I think that is what makes me happy. It may be different from others, but I am not a person looking for a holder, I am not a person who seeks to talk about me but about my work, and I believe, blessed madness that makes me happy to do with my suffering happy to others.
P. You will receive, like all the champions, a prize of 70,000 dollars for each gold, but you know that the lack of popularity will impact on the lack of important advertising contracts …
R. I can’t tell him not to that question, because it is the truth. I cannot charge the same as a tripler or a half -fondist … I am sorry because I think I have the same or more merit as they, because I compete also sometimes, that I have got up today at 3.45 in the morning. But, well, this is our society, I think that the culprits are ourselves and I think it is very difficult to solve.
P. With his record, do you think of the Princess of Asturias de los Deportes?
R. No. Last year, when they told me that my people, Orce, and Llerena, the people of Álvaro Martín, had presented our joint candidacy, I will not say that it did not make me illusion. I think it is the most important prize that a person, not only Spanish, from anywhere in the world can receive, is the international par excellence award that everyone wants. I think Serena Williams also deserved it for her sports values. If I have to talk about me, well, if it has to be, it will be, if not …
P. He has always claimed his peasant origins as a reason for his character, resistance, his courage … Is it still assuming it?
R. I know what it is to work with 15 years, I know what the effort is, the sacrifice, I know what it is to see my father get up very early to work, to have a bread. I know how hard it is to bring money home from a very young girl and I think that is the Mary that you all know, that you all see. You never have to lose the essence of each of us. Not for us, but for those people who have fought so that we are today what we are.
P. Do you feel pride of your roots?
R. I am not ashamed to come from a town of less than a thousand inhabitants, I am not ashamed to live in Granada and not be in a high performance center, I am not ashamed to have less resources than the rest. I think it’s proof that everything is not in high performance centers. I do not devise the work that is done, but I think you have to be where you are happy, and I am happy where I have always been.
P. She looks less frantic, less serious, quieter … What motivates him when he has already won everything?
R. I already have everything. I already said it in Paris, but I would like to win an individual Olympic gold, because the one I have is as a couple with Álvaro Martín.
P. That search that cannot be executed to Los Angeles 28 justifies all the effort, all the sacrifice of spending half a year away from home, in concentrations or competing? Many athletes are affected by mental health …
R. But I am lucky, the greatness that saves me, I can say it with capital letters, that in athletics I have found true friendships. And with that I stay, with taking care of friendships and that are true friendships. And, in addition, if I add that my idol [y levanta la voz para que se oiga bien]she is my greatest friend inside and outside, I can’t say anything else.
P. Precisely, the exciting story of his friendship with his Italian rival Antonella Palmisano has marked the World Cup in a certain way.
That very few people could say it.
R. Well, the situations, the moment of each person … but I believe that things should not be forced, as in relationships, things come out and I’m glad because athletics is not only rivalry, but there are many other things within sport and athletics. Yes, there is a lot of life after athletics.
P. And what will your life be like then?
R. That after athletics will be Antonella, it will be to go to Italy, it will be that she comes to my house and will be to share moments with our Bambinosas I say.
P. Palmisano is from the Puglia, in the South Peasant of Italy, as Orce is in Spain. Does that influence your relationship?
R. A lot. We are very similar, which makes us very love and be very similar people, although at first glance it is not seen.
P. In his taranto the tarantela was born …
R. And she dances her. It is a typical dance Puliense that is danced at weddings. He recently went to a wedding and danced, and I told him that I had to teach it. But I saw that I didn’t do well.
P. It is a dance of peasants …
R. Women dance towards men.
And because the tarantulas that are also from there, the spiders chopped them and then put the poison towards the other.
P. When he turned to the track at the stadium, he would see Antonella at the end of the line, who had retired, waiting for her …
R. Uff … It has been what has moved me most about the day. But not the only thing. I have lost a bet with her, who said he would win both golds, and I’m going to have to leave long hair, like her. But, blessed bet. I will continue to bet with her all the time, but … today when we were warming I have told her, I’m nervous,
But being here by my side I am more relaxed and he told me, yes, yes, but you know that if you win you are going to leave your hair long. I have told him, to take for ass and I have gone.
P. She has also told journalists that you are, the spectacular and invincible pursuit with pole …
R. I do not give the show that Mondo will give, but I think that the message I give is that sport and march is universal, which can be practiced everywhere. I do not know if I am Mondo, no, what I am is a girl who comes from a town and continues to live in a city, and I am happy, and I think the word happiness is above all. I am happy, I have the family that I want and that I have touched, I have the friends that I want and that they have touched me and all the people who have gone through my life, who have given me things, have done to the Mary that I am now and that continues maturing.
