About a year and a half ago I embarked on a personal, academic and also sporting adventure. I got a scholarship from the Amancio Ortega Foundation to study first year of high school in the United States.
By chance I ended up in the state of Oregon, a state with a culture of athletics and outdoor sports like few others. The city of Medford and the high school, North Medford High School, were witnesses to my adventures in the world of American sports.
One of the first things I decided after crossing the ocean was to join the high school Cross Country team and this was one of the best decisions I ever made. The adjustment took some time because the volume of training and competition was more than I was used to. Also, I was inexperienced in the operation and dynamics of athletics in this part of the world. Here I have to thank my teammates and my coaches (Pieter Voskes, Dave Formolo and Ashlynn) for their endless patience.
The effort was totally worth it. American school sports create a completely intoxicating and absorbing environment that radiates energy and excitement in all directions. From the nerves of pre-districts, to all the competitions, the trip to San Francisco, the victories, the laughter, the disappointments, the last few races in districts and the season finale, this experience helped me grow as an athlete.
I finished the Cross Country season with a slight discomfort in my right knee, which turned out to be nothing after a couple of weeks of rest. It wasn't long after Thanksgiving that winter training began, to prepare for Track. I was so excited that, in a clear act of irresponsibility, I pushed the locomotive too hard and ended up getting pretty bad shin splints. Here began the constant visits to the school trainer, consultations with my coach and, a little bit too, the frustration. I was on the verge of Track's season and could hardly train. The pain was increasing as I tried to get back to normal, and the endless hours of ice and exercise didn't seem to solve the problem for good.
I had a few months of balancing competition, training and injury ahead of me. But the world is ironic and sometimes it works in unexpected ways. The coronavirus appeared and with it my early return to Galiza, which suddenly separated me from American sport and gave me time to recover from the injury at home.
My American athletic experience was, even thoughshorter than expected, unforgettable. The team, who accompanied and supported me all the way; the coaches, who taught and understood me; and my host family, who encouraged my sporting participation, were the keys to the experience. I couldn't be more grateful.
See you soon!
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