Eventough her young age, Maria Pérez Piñeiro has competed in several World Championships and World Cups in Marathon. Sixth in the Last World Championship Crestuma 2009 in K2 with Mara Santos, this year has team up again with Naiara Gomez.
We interviewed her before she went to the World Cup in the Czech Republic where she finished third.
Hi Maria,
How is going the season so far?
This beginning of the year has been a little weird. Because of my studies and job, I started the season later than usual. But now I'm training really hard which is what really matters, for the Spanish Marathon Championship. It's in august and mandatory if you want to compete in the World Championship.
Actually, you didn't take part in the Spanish Winter Championship, didn't you?
No, because what I have told you. I hadn't trained enough to compete at a high level and have fun with the competition.
I guess it's really difficult to study and compete at the same time...
I'm dealing with it quite well, actually. I'm proud to be able to study at the university with the competition. Since I started with the modality of Marathon I haven't missed any World Championship, and for me it's a big achievement. Now I'm studying a master degree, so I guess I like to be busy all the time. Honestly, it's true that you have to sacrify a lot of things because the time is so short. And I guess that in life you don't achieve anything without sacrifices.
Nowadays, Canoeing can be a professional career or it's a stage with an expiry date?
I always knew that canoeing for me it's a hobby that I love and which I have fun. But educations is necessary to get out to the laboral market. Sport is a stage really nice in the life of a sportwoman, but economically the benefits are so narrow and don't last forever, so you must have resources after that.
And what are your main goals for this 2010?
The main goal this season is the Spanish Marathon Championship, in august, because it's mandatory if you want to compete in the World Championships. The classification will be really hard, like every year, so I will have to train a lot!
As a secondary goal, I would like to compete in a World Cup as a preparation. And of course, and if everything goes Ok, the World Championships in Banyoles.
You have been part of the national team in velocity but in 2005 you started in the modality of marathon. Why did you change?
Well, everything influenced me in that decision. When I became senior, no one bet anything for the Sub'23, so it meant a big step to compete against the top paddlers. You need support from coaches ang people around you who believe in you and by then, I hadn't got any and I decided to concentrate in my studies at the university.
I even considered to quit canoeing, because I ended up a little bit discouraged because it was really hard to do both things. It was a complicated phase. But then Manuel Isorna, my coach, who always have trusted in me, encouraged me to change to marathon. And I really thank him because I am really happy with it.
What are the main qualities that a marathonian has to have?
Of course, it has to have a good aerobic capacity, but as many people may think, a good marathonian has to have also a bit of "spark", because it has to be explosive. Nowadays competitions has turned into more rounds in a shorter circuit, where there are brutal changes of rythm. And that's where you can loose a Championship.
Appart from the physical qualities, the phsycological factors are very important also. It is a long race and there are good and bad moments. Having a clear mind is necessary. And also the experience, because it's a very open race where a lot of factors have to be taken into account: the interaction with other competitiors, the porteos and their difficulties, the need of a good hidratation during the race... These little things that can make the difference in a race and you only solve inconsciously with the experience.
Could you tell us a little bit about the K2 partners you have had?
Since last year and for the last three years, I only competed internationally with Naiara Gómez, but last year she took a year off because she wanted to have a daugher.
We paddle really well and we also get on really well, which is also very important in order to compete together. It was her who introduced me in the K2, and apparently I really liked it, because I haven't ever competed in K1. She also helped me a lot, because when I was studying I couldn't trael a lot to train together. She has been always very supportive with me.
After Naiara, you prepared K2 with Mara Santos...
Yes. After Naiara's decision, the K2 with Mara came up by chance. I was training in Palencia and she proposed me because I was alone and she wanted to try again to paddle ina K2.
We paddle a little bit and in two weeks we went to the Spanish Championships and the final result was better than expected, so we ended up rowing together the whole season in K2 and she also competed in K1. That's something amazing, because I think by the time being she is the only women in Spain who is able to row 2 Marathons in 2 days.
Last year, you finished 6th in the World Championships in Crestuma after a really hard competition. Tell us a little bit more about that
On paper it seemed a really hard and actually it was! I think it was the year when there was the toughest competition in a World Championship.
The first turn was so close from the start line, so the initial rythm was so fast. Different groups were formed from the beginnin and we were in the third, but as the km went by and the tireness started, less boats were in contention.
There was also falling tide and the "porteo" in a little mount that cause a bigger difference in time and meters between the groups. We arrived at the finish line tied with the fifth boat. Unfortunately at the end they were faster than us!
Mara is one of the most popular marathonians in Spain. What did you learn from her?
Mara is the experience herself. She has a lot of competitions under her skin and that in Marathon is an important asset. Besides, she is a fighter and the moment she gets in the stard line, her personality changes to a professional sportswoman.
A few weeks ago, you won the Spanish World Cup in K2 with Naiara again, paddling out of competition as the winners in men K2 (Corominas and Alonso)
That's true, because we are from different clubs. It means that you can not get any points for your club, but it is valuable as a selective for the World Cups, if you ask permission to the National Team.
How has been getting back with Naiara in K2?
When she got pregnant, she told me that her plan was to come back to train again. And she did! Last September, she started to train again. Appart from a K2 partner, she is also a good friend, so we had been talking by phone about our trainings. So we decided to team up again this season.
I guess that coming back after the maternitiy leave, was hard for her but for the boat as well...
Her comeback has been spectacular, because it seams unbelievable that she gave birth to a child just a year ago. She is also a real fighter.
Is there any chance that you will team up with Mara Santos?
Last year, the technicians weren't convinced about her doubling in K1 and K2, so I didn't want to force a decision between K1 or K2, because she had excellent results in K1. Besides, we talked about Naiara's comeback and everything was clear.
In general, do you think that there's enough support to women in Spanish Kayak?
There's a big difference between men and women's participation in all the competitions, but I think that this difference is getting shorter and the topics are dissappearing as well.
Regarding institutions, we both have the same support but not from the sponsors. If you are a men, it's hard to get a sponsor, but even more if you are a girl! Economic support is fundamental, because you spent a lot of time training.
In a another interview, another kayake said that the most difficult about surviving as a top kayaker was the uncertainty related with grants and support.
That's so true, because an sportsmen invest a lot of his time in his preparation. He gets that time form his formation, work and future, so different from people with the same age.
Usually these grants come afther the success in big championships, but in order to get them there's a lot of time and money to invest in it. That's the main problem for a lot of people, they can afford this period of no income.
We agree completely. And to finish... Could you forecast what will happen in the World Marathon Championships Banyoles 2010?
I think it will be a huge Championship: the track is perfect, the porteo really good and the conditions are ideal. And the organisation... I have no doubt that it will be a 10. About the other kayakers... id don't want to say anything because there's still a long way to the World Championships!
Thank you a lot. We hope to see you in Banyoles!