Initially specialising in the 1500m event, she later switched to the marathon. This decision led to her gold medal win in Rio. She convinced her coach, Roger Esteve, to support this transition. Her success in longer distances like the 3000m, 5000m, and 10,000m events paved the way for this change.

Maternity Break

After her triumph in Rio, she took a break from competitive sport to start a family. This break lasted over seven years, during which she had four children. Her husband Jordi Riera motivated her to return to training after the birth of their youngest child last year.

Training and Diet

She trains twice daily and follows a strict diet. Since 2008, she has gradually eliminated milk, meat, and sugar from her diet. A naturopathic doctor advised her to try a vegan diet. She found that this change gave her more energy and improved her training sessions.

Awards and Recognition

Her achievements have been recognised with several awards. In 2019, she received the Special Award of Castelldefels for promoting values like liberty and equality. In 2016, she was honoured with the Gold Medal of the Royal Order of Sports Merit of Spain and named Best Athlete of Vic. She also received the Silver Medal of the Royal Order of Sports Merit in 2013.

Personal Philosophy and Inspirations

Her personal philosophy is simple: "Train, eat, sleep and repeat." She looks up to Spanish Para long-distance runner Manuel Garnica as her hero. Her commitment to athletics is evident in her dedication to training and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Future Ambitions

Looking ahead, she aims to win a medal at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. With rigorous training sessions and a supportive family, she is focused on achieving this goal.

This athlete's journey from Barcelona to Rio de Janeiro showcases her resilience and determination. Her story continues as she prepares for future challenges with unwavering dedication.