Maria del Carmen Paredes Rodriguez

Started: She took up athletics in her 40s in Cornella de Llobregat, Spain. (Athlete, 26 Aug 2024; maricarmenparedesrio2016.blogspot.com.es, 08 Nov 2015) Reason: After losing her vision, she was affected by depression and anxiety. Her husband used to run marathons and convinced her to try sport to overcome her difficulties. (Athlete, 26 Aug 2024; maricarmenparedesrio2016.blogspot.com.es, 08 Nov 2015) Ambition: To win a Paralympic medal. (Athlete, 26 Aug 2024) Awards: She was flag bearer for Spain at the opening ceremony of the 2018 European Championships in Berlin, Germany. (IPC, 20 Aug 2018) Additional Info: HUSBAND AND GUIDE Her husband Lorenzo Sanchez has served as her guide since 2011. She says having a guide fully committed to her is an advantage not many runners with visual impairments have. "Without him I would not have gotten anywhere. It is a great advantage as he plans my training, all the travelling and the meals. Many blind runners have to quit because they struggle to find a guide and I am so lucky to have one 100% by my side." (dxtadaptado.com, 01 Aug 2021) FORMER OCCUPATION Before losing her vision, she worked as a nurse at a hospital in Barcelona, Spain, for 25 years. (maricarmenparedesrio2016.blogspot.com.es, 08 Nov 2015)

Sporting Relatives: Her husband Lorenzo Sanchez has served as her guide, and also played handball in the Spanish second division. (dxtadaptado.com, 01 Aug 2021)