Sonia Ruiz

Started: She learnt about the sport during her rehabilitation at the National Hospital of Paraplegics in Toledo, Spain. (otroperiodismo.com, 14 Jun 2017) Reason: She was involved with several sports before sustaining a spinal cord injury at age 17. "I loved team sports. I played futsal, volleyball and basketball. At school I was always called to participate in competitions. If I was told there was a race I would be there." She later discovered wheelchair basketball at the National Hospital of Paraplegics in Toledo, Spain. "I went to the sports hall of the hospital and I felt a smell like burnt rubber. It came from the wheels of the wheelchairs when they stopped on the basketball court. I saw a different type of wheelchair, a basketball and a hoop and I said, 'Wow, that's cool!' It was love at first sight." (sportcartagena.es, 09 Nov 2020) Ambition: To win a medal at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. (marca.com, 31 May 2023) Awards: She was named in the All Star team at the 2018 World Championships in Hamburg, Germany. (laverdad.es, 25 Sep 2019) Additional Info: CLUB FOUNDER In 2016 she founded the UCAM Murcia BSR club to promote wheelchair basketball in her city. She has since served as both player and coach at the club. (marca.com, 30 Jun 2019; eldiario.es, 15 May 2019; elespanol.com, 29 Jun 2019; otroperiodismo.com, 14 Jun 2017) POLITICIAN She is a member of the Regional Assembly of Murcia, Spain, after winning a seat in the 2019 elections. "I want to talk about sports, health, disability and women in politics and contribute with what I know about this. I have never been a politician, but I can contribute with the way an ordinary citizen sees things. I want disability to stop being a cross-cutting issue within politics." (elespanol.com, 29 Jun 2019) COACH She has served as head coach of the Spanish women's national U25 wheelchair basketball team. "I have no words to describe how it makes me feel. It's the culmination of the work and sacrifice that many players have done for so many years. It also helps to improve the number of girls who stay in the sport." (marca.com, 31 May 2023; bsrespana.es, 31 Aug 2023) EDUCATION She has studied sign language interpretation in Cadiz, Spain. (marca.com, 31 May 2023)