Loida Zabala Ollero

Started: She began lifting weights at age 11. She took up powerlifting at age 18 in Losar de la Vera, Spain. (Athlete, 12 Jul 2019; practicodeporte.com, 22 May 2017) Reason: She wanted to be able to take care of herself and be independent. She realised to do this she needed strength, so she started lifting weights. Some time later she went to a competition in Madrid, Spain, where she met Spanish powerlifting coach Lodario Ramon. "The sport makes me feel strong." (Athlete, 05 Apr 2017; elmundo.es, 11 Sep 2008; eldiariomontanes.es, 11 Sep 2008) Ambition: To win gold at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. (paralympic.org, 27 Jan 2023) Milestones: She became the first Para powerlifter representing Spain to claim a gold medal at the European open championships by winning the women's 50kg category at the 2022 edition of the tournament in Tbilisi, Georgia. (paralympic.org, 25 Sep 2022) She became the first female powerlifter to represent Spain at the Paralympic Games when she competed at the 2008 Games in Beijing. (SportsDeskOnline, 23 May 2019; elmundo.es, 11 Sep 2008) Awards: In 2020 she was one of six winners of the Iberdrola SuperA Inclusion Award for her initiative to help integrate women with an impairment into sport. (hoy.es, 26 Nov 2020) She has received the Juan Palau Award for Best Sportsperson from the Spanish Adapted Sports Federation [FEDDF]. (Facebook profile, 16 Nov 2015) Additional Info: ILLNESS In November 2023 she was diagnosed with lung cancer that had spread to the brain. After starting treatment, she was competing at international level again by March 2024. "They told me it was a malignant neoplasia and had spread to the brain, liver and kidney. For this there was a treatment in pills and it was a huge peace of mind because there are other more invasive processes such as chemotherapy. It was a relief, I just had to reduce the brain tumours as much as possible so I could train. I got on the medication. The corticosteroids brought me many health problems, I even gained 10 kilograms in body weight, but in the next test they told me that I did not have brain tumours any more. When you are told you have cancer you learn how important time is. You don't know if you're going to run out of time. Every moment you live has to be super special. Sports have taught me a lot throughout my life. And now it's also helping me with cancer. For me, having the goal of the [2024] Paralympic Games has made me take my focus off of cancer." (loidazabala.com, 22 Mar 2024; 20minutos.es, 22 Feb 2024) OCCUPATION She has worked as a telephone helpline operator in Madrid, Spain. She has also trained to be an actress and has taken part in casting sessions. "I am an actress because I really like that by playing a character I can experience a lot of emotions that I do not experience as an athlete. An athlete is very strong, very brave. However, as an actress I can feel other emotions, such as sadness and hate, emotions that I don't usually feel. For me it is an important add-on, so that I feel human." (elespanol.com, 20 May 2023; Instagram profile, 20 Mar 2023; marca.com, 01 Mar 2023; paralympic.org, 27 Jan 2023) FOUNDATION In 2020 she received funding to launch the Loida Zabala Foundation. The foundation introduces patients at the National Hospital for Paraplegics in Toledo, Spain, to the sport of Para powerlifting. "When I started Para powerlifting I was lost. I didn't know how to get equipment or train. So I decided to help people in a similar situation. The National Hospital for Paraplegics in Toledo was very special to me, as they put me in my first wheelchair and taught me to be independent, so what better way than to start the project there? I saw an announcement of prizes of 50,000 euros going to sports projects in various fields, and it was like a sign. It seemed impossible to me, but we won! The patients are able to train in the hospital with competition benches, and some are already competing in championships in Spain." (paralympic.org, 27 Jan 2023; loidazabala.com, 01 Sep 2022, 22 Nov 2021; estadiodeportivo.com, 26 Nov 2020) DOCUMENTARY Her daily life was the subject of a Spanish documentary film named 'Fuerza' [Force], directed by Carla Alonso. "Making this documentary has been a turning point in my life. I learnt a lot from the director and it has pushed me to keep on learning so much that I even took up acting studies. I have the dream of becoming an actress. My favourite part of starring in the documentary was the lecture I gave at the Nino Jesus Hospital in Madrid, to children who were undergoing treatment such as chemotherapy. It was really special to be able to share my message with them. The main message I would like to share with the film is that there are no limits to achieving goals, no matter if you can walk or not. Sometimes we stop fighting for our goals because we think that they are impossible to achieve, but if you are very passionate about something, if you work hard and enjoy the work, you will achieve them for sure." (paralympic.org, 27 Jan 2023; tokyo2020.org, 07 May 2020; patrocinaundeportista.com, 30 Nov 2018; marca.com, 01 Jun 2018)