Discover the funny anecdote of the patriathlete Susana Rodríguez who was co-pilot with Fernando Alonso in the Jarama circuit
“Going out in Time magazine changed my life,” acknowledges the athlete who hopes to be at the JJPP in Paris
current Paralympic triathlon champion, Susana Rodríguez, is preparing a very important year in which she must qualify for the next games in Paris and also faces a very special year, like the rest of the Spanish triathletes, since this year in Spain the three great events of the world triathlon will be held, the Ibiza Multisport World Championship, the Madrid European Championship and the grand final of the Pontevedra World Series.
A few months ago he had the opportunity to ride the Jarama circuit in Madrid with neither more nor less than Fernando Alonso: “I like the mute of the engine, but because of the noise they make, sports cars give me a little respect. They told me if I wanted to ride and I told them that it depends on who the pilot was and suddenly I heard a hello and it was Fernando Alonso and of course, How can you not ride with Fernando Alonso! It was an incredible experience.”
Susana Rodríguez in the cycling section in Tokyo with her guide Sara Loehr
| EFE
short term goals
The Galician paratriathlete will play her third Paralympic Games next year in Paris. She must first get the qualification that she hopes to achieve in the World Series in Montreal and Swansea. In addition, she will compete again in Madrid in the European Championship and in her land, in Pontevedra, in the Grand Final of the World Series. “I really want to run in Madrid, it’s always special to run here. And in Pontevedra, in the Grand Final, I hope I can get rid of the thorn in the 2019 European Championship that didn’t go very well and that I don’t even want to remember. In addition, he stresses “that Pontevedra hosts the World Series is a reward for the great work that has been done by all the institutions.”
Paris 2024 on the horizon
About the future Susana Rodríguez does not give too many clues. “I think of Paris, of enjoying each stage, and then we’ll see. Everything I expected from this sport, fortunately I’ve already achieved it, so what comes next has to be to enjoy.”
Beautiful image of Susana Rodríguez and Sara Loehr entering the finish line as champions
| EFE
Kick off at the Bernabéu
He also fondly remembers the day he took the kick-off at the Santiago Bernabéu in a match against Villareal: “After the games in Rio they invited me to the box and Butragueño told me that the kick-off is only reserved on very special occasions. and it only took two days when I won the gold medal in Tokyo. Real Madrid is a noble club, few first-rate stadiums have invited a Paralympic athlete to take the honor roll”.
Susana Rodríguez also has the privilege of being on the cover of ‘Time’ magazine: “I wasn’t aware of the repercussions that being on the cover had. To some extent that cover changed my life a bit. I think it was a tribute to the disabled athlete and the health personnel.”