Bath crowd for the two-times world champion Paula Barceló

The sailor from Club Nàutic S’Arenal (CNA), Paula Barceló, has already landed in Palma, after conquering her second 49er FX world title, alongside her new teammate, the Canary María Cantero.

The flamboyant world champion has received a warm welcome at her arrival at Palma’s airport in which there has been no lack of relatives, friends, clubmates and even institutional authorities such as Pedro Vidal, autonomic secretary of Culture and Sports; Pedro Bestard, Sports insular councillor; Toni Prats, insular director; Ferran Muniesa, CNA’s manager; José Ramón Picó, CNA’s manager; Joan Sabater, CNA’s sports director; Cati Darder, president of the Balearic Sailing Federation; Jordi Castro, sports director; and Miki Bover, technification director.

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“We had worked a lot, but it’s true that the triumph has arrived before what we expected” has recognized the olympic sailor before the media that agglutinated before the airport’s arrival doors to get to know the athlete’s reaction first-hand.”It has been a very hard week, we’ve sailed with all type of condition and we’ve been very regular. In fact, from the first to the last day, we’ve been in podium positions, and that’s what has allowed us to achieve gold” has explained, excitedly adding that “when we crossed the finish line it was an explosion of emotions. We’ve worked a lot, especially these last four months, and at the end you see that the work gives its results. This is a motivation boost to keep going”.

The Mallorcan and the Canary have competed in waters of Cagliaria, Italy, where they’ve achieved the 49er FX world’s title in their first competition together. In fact, Paula Barceló and María Cantero announced that they would sail together at the beginning of the year. “I have known María for a long time, but the first contact was in the America’s Cup” has explained the sailor from CNA. Both formed part of the female team in Sail Team BCN and competed in the Puig Women’s America’s Cup, where they finished third. “From then on this new project, which is focused in Los Angeles 2028, began” she has recognized.

The Balearic-Canary team aims to participate in the next Olympic Games that will take place in Los Angeles in 2028.

“The path is still very long and there’s still a long time for it, but this has been prove that we’re in a good path” has explained, adding that “five years ago I won my first world title with Támara Echegoyen and that gave us the place for Tokyo’s Olympic Games, in which we stood at a place for the medal, and we were fourth, achieving the olympic diploma”. Paula Barceló has already taken part in two olympic games, the firsts in Tokyo 2020 and the seconds in Paris 2024. “I already have the experience, you know anything can happen, but getting there and feeling that you are fighting for the medal is something very satisfactory” she has ensured.