Spanish female wheelchair racer Carmen Gimenez has shared her inspirational story on how sport has helped bring out the best version of herself after surviving and overcoming a series of tragic events in her life.
In an interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN), Carmen told how her life was turned upside down after a brutal attack back in 2010 left her in a wheelchair.
"Disability is not something that defines you completely, it is just one characteristic. I have reinvented myself, and that changes how you see yourself and others. On March 12, 2010, I suffered an attack, due to gender-based violence (domestic violence), that caused a spinal cord injury, which was obviously a turning point in my life. I would say facing the spinal cord injury was a process of training. Physically, just as I am now training to run as fast as possible, I have also training to adapt my daily life in a different way, using a wheelchair," she said.
Several years after this brutal assault, Carmen was then to face more unimaginable agony, as the tragic loss of her newborn son caused further devastation.
"My son Bruno changed me, I have his name written on my wheelchair. My son Bruno was something completely different from that other episode. I carried my son Bruno in my belly for 34 weeks. And well, Bruno survived for only 8 hours. However, he still lives with us. Bruno is the one who has most clearly taught me the concept of love. I realized that it wasn't about living but about loving to live. That was the transformation my son Bruno taught me. That's my way 'to walk'," she said.
To heal her pain, Carmen put on her "running shoes" – a racing wheelchair – and started competing.
Initially, she could only participate in 100-meter races, but after undergoing endurance training and building up her strength and stamina, she is now able to complete full marathons, showing how her determination has paid off.
In April this year, Carmen became the first Spanish female wheelchair athlete to participate in the Boston Marathon, the world's oldest annual marathon race.
She said that carrying the memory of Bruno with her during the race was what got her through.
"I believe that sports involve a series of values that directly translate to life. And I think it works somewhat in that order. Through sport, you can improve aspects of your life. In sports, I believe that failures are the foundation and basis for success. When I ran the Boston Marathon, I was going through very difficult personal and athletic circumstances. But I went and ran, I had to take my son and I was going to be the first Spanish woman in a wheelchair to run the Boston Marathon. For me, that race was about proving to myself and to everyone around me that I could do it. I thought I was carrying my son, but in that race, I realized that it is my son who carries me and gives me the strength," said Carmen.
Now she hopes her story can keep encouraging more people facing difficulties to keep on going and overcome any obstacles placed before them.
"Sports bring out your best version, successes are not just the ones we achieve ourselves, but also the implications they have for others and what we are doing. In that way, your life has had meaning, left a mark, and can be valuable to others," she said.
Inspirational Spanish female wheelchair racer overcomes tragedy in marathon of life
