Elena Congost

Started: She took up the sport in Barcelona, Spain. (Athlete, 17 Jul 2017) Reason: She enjoys athletics as it gives her the desire to improve herself. (Athlete, 17 Jul 2017, 21 Nov 2011) Ambition: To win a medal at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. (Marca YouTube channel, 09 Jul 2024) Awards: In 2019 she was presented with the Special Award of the city of Castelldefels in Spain. The honour recognises people and associations that have contributed to the spread of the values of liberty, equality, solidarity, progress and civility. (elcastell.org, 15 Apr 2019) In 2016 she was presented with the Gold Medal of the Royal Order of Sports Merit of Spain. (csd.gob.es, 18 Oct 2016) In 2016 she was named Best Athlete of Vic, Spain. (Facebook page, 18 Feb 2017) In 2013 she received the Silver Medal of the Royal Order of Sports Merit of Spain. (regiondigital.com, 29 Oct 2013) Additional Info: MATERNITY BREAK After the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, where she won gold in the T12 marathon, she took time off from competitive sport to start a family. The break eventually lasted for more than seven years and saw her have four children. "After winning gold in Rio de Janeiro my goal was to become a mother. I was not expecting the break to be that long but things happened little by little. Once the youngest one was born last year [speaking in 2024] my husband motivated me, I talked with my coach and started training lightly. During my pregnancies I continued training with the idea of competing at the [Paralympic] Games. So when I decided to come back, with the aim of competing in Paris [in 2024], it was easier." (Marca YouTube channel, 09 Jul 2024) SWITCH TO MARATHON She was previously a specialist in the 1500m event before she began to train for the marathon ahead of the 2016 Paralympic Games, where she won gold in the T12 classification. "I convinced my coach Roger Esteve to do it. At the beginning he told me I was crazy, but once I adapted so well to the 3000m, 5000m, and 10,000m we decided to do it. For me the event is a new challenge." (avancedeportivo.es, 02 Mar 2016; runners.es, 01 Mar 2016) STRICT DIET She stopped drinking milk in 2008 and then gradually started to leave meat and sugar out of her diet. "I went to a naturopathic doctor and he encouraged me to eat only fruit for a week, and then start with a vegan diet. I thought it would be impossible to face my training sessions having only eaten fruit. I tried it and it was the opposite, I had more energy, vitality and I felt super good. I started to feel much better and the workouts were superb. Then, when you find out what the food industry does to animals, you just convince yourself to continue with the lifestyle. They tell me I'm crazy but my results have endorsed my decision." (puntvalles.com, 04 Feb 2019)