Interview with paratriathlete Dani Molina: Looking ahead to the Grand Final of the World Series in Chicago
Dani Molina will compete next September 18 in the grand final of the WORLD SERIES in CHICAGO where he will fight to achieve the international title, placing today in the first position of the world ranking score table
1997
Dani is a clear example of improvement. After losing a large part of his leg in a motorcycle accident in 1997 that forced him to undergo surgery up to 14 times, Dani began in the world of swimming, achieving several national titles (including 12 times champion of Spain) and international, highlighting his participation in the 2004 Athens Olympic Games where he was a semifinalist in 100 meters backstroke. Months later, he made the leap to other disciplines, including Alpine Skiing, Windsurfing or Water Skiing.
In a moment of change, where sport became a hobby, Dani resumed his job as a technical architect until the 2011 when he discovered triathlon and decided to make the leap to this new discipline.
2011 "THE TRIATHLON MAKES ME FEEL FREE AND I DO NOT THINK I MISS A LEG"
Thanks to his physical abilities, his perseverance and his sacrifice, the titles were coming quickly highlighting the two-time runner-up in the world in triathlon and aquatlon modality in the 2012 that in the beginning were the guarantee to be eligible for an ADO scholarship and thus to be able to complete the competition seasons in search of the necessary score to compete in the Athens 2016 Paralympic Games but ....
ALL WAS A DREAM?
"Everything stayed in a dream, 6 months ago since there was a change in the categories in paratriathlon, leaving me out of the option of participating in the 2016 Rio Olympics ……."
6 months ago the ITU made the decision to make a change in the paratriathlete classifications, which took away the opportunity for Dani, and many other paratriathletes in TRI3, to fulfill their dream for Rio. A sad news that the newspapers did not take long to echo, highlighting the headline of "El Confidencial" where they detailed:
2015 "DANIEL MOLINA AMPUTAN THE DREAM OF BEING PARALYMPIC IN THE RIO GAMES"
Despite this news, Dani continued to fight for "a dream". World Champion or perhaps that there is a new change in categories that gives him the opportunity to go to Rio?
Anyway, Dani follows the "foot of the canyon" and months later he continues competing as if this had not happened but looking for new aid by losing the ADO scholarship that allows him to continue dedicating himself to the sport in a professional way and transmitting his values as an athlete there where are you going.
Dani is currently ranked first in the international ranking, where a total of 66 people compete in a discipline that combines leg and / or arm amputees "My aputation is below the knee, which is why I can not choose another category that would give me the chance to go to the Olympics, plus you have to work hard to be in the lead as I compete with people with one arm pointed , and although in swimming I have an advantage many times it is not enough to guarantee being ahead in the other two segments, cycling and running, where there are paratriathletes who do have both legs "
How has this period been since you “took away the dream” of going to the Rio Olympics until today? Many things have been going through your head these last 6 months. How have you “re-structured” your life? What are your next goals?
Well, the truth that was difficult when we received the news, I have never given up before the adversities so we knew how to take it fast, I say "we knew" because it was Carolina and me: We assumed that we would not be Olympians again and that we had to look for a way out and new objectives.
The World Cup is always the most important and then others such as a Half Ironman or a tougher test that gives us more media coverage. Find a solution and help to be able to continue training and competing until they include all the categories for the next games and try to re-enter the ADOP plan.
Have you ever thought of "throwing in the towel"? And in looking for an "alternative" sport to go to the Olympics? Could it be possible?
The truth is that I do not consider myself a triathlete and this is my sport, even if I practice others. I also think that I'm good at it and that I'm good at what I do.
From the committee I was offered to do rowing and try to get to Rio, I think it was a proposal that honestly did not think it was very possible to get. Also as I said: I am a triathlete
Have you "learned" something from this situation, have you taken something positive?
A lot! I have learned to make a living on my own and not expect the Spanish Paralympic Committee to support you even if you stay out of a few games due to a political decision.
And very positive, I am very fortunate to continue to count on all my sponsors, in an email I communicated to everyone that the dream of Rio would not be possible and that I would understand if they stopped supporting me, they all replied that they would continue by my side. I have also met people along the way who want to help me continue doing what I love.
THREE OF THREE
Madrid (1º), London (2º) and Ginebra (3º) and improving the marks in each test ... with 1: 08: 04 in the last competition and on a "complicated" bike circuit .... Every day with more strength? Have you made any changes to your workouts, competition, bike ...?
The truth is that we gave a twist to training at the beginning of the season, thinking about doing longer distances and that gave us a plus on the bike. We went from doing 400-500km per month to 1200-1400km per month. In the end, as cyclists say, the bike only has one trick: doing kilometers!
In the race we have continued doing more or less what we had been doing years ago, with more volume in the preseason and a lot of intensity in the competition period and that is very good for us.
Swimming thanks to Sergio de Torres, coach of the Blume team who is training me this season, we have managed to improve a little more, here it is more difficult, since coming from swimming it was more difficult to improve.
PRIOR TO THE CHICAGO GRAND FINAL - FIRST IN THE WORLD RANKING
You are first in the world ranking of more 50 paratriathletes in your category despite competing with limitations that at first seem greater than other TRI3 (arm amputees) are in the TOP 3 internationally How do you think about Chicago? Will you achieve your goal of being on the podium once again in the World Series?
The goal is to be on the podium, always striving to be at the top. I think this year we are better than ever, third place at the Geneva European Championship gave me a lot of morale, more than for the position, for the result, since I was very close to second, which last year in the World Cup I got almost 4 '. I think that if everything goes well you can fight for a medal.
And after the World Series? Do you set new goals?
After Chicago I will do the Challenge Paguera on October 17. We have been invited and we are going as one of the test ambassadors and the only Paratriathlete. After sure there are new objectives, although I already have one in mind!
After knowing the personal story of Daniel Molina, a mirror of the current situation that many paratriathletes live, many of us wonder: Is PARATRIATHLÓN really “recognized” as a sport? Can you make a living from it?
... That is my goal, to live off sport, in this case paratriathlon. But right now, without being in the ADOP plan, it is very complicated.
Paratriathlon is growing a lot in recent years and it is becoming more and more visible. But there is still a long way to go to make a living from it.
For example, in no test there are cash prizes for paratriathletes, in my case if they invite you to try ... but there are no prizes, which is difficult even if your training and results are equated to the elite.
What is the hardest thing to dedicate to the sport professionally?
Dedicating exclusively to something in the end is always hard, it goes from being a hobby to being a job. But I would not change it for nothing.
The hardest thing can be everything you leave aside for your goals and all the time you stop being with yours. I am lucky to have a family and a woman who support me at 100%.
And the most rewarding?
When the objectives are met. When things go well and you see the thousands of meters that you have swum, the thousands of km of bike and running behind to achieve your goal, there is nothing more rewarding than that.
How is the daily life of Dani Molina?
My day to day is long, I get up early at around 8. Breakfast, I check my mail, I answer the odd email and it depends on the day I run and bike or vice versa. Like, I rest a bit and in the afternoon swimming and gym.
In addition to training and competing, which is already a lot, do you have other objectives in mind personally and / or professionally?
Yes, I am getting the title of training level 1 (I lack the practices) and I collaborate with a triathlon club in the swimming part.
With a friend we have set up a Coaching program for companies that we want to start in October.
In addition, I have my career as a technical architect, if the situation becomes unsustainable I could always work on it again.
How do you see Dani Molina in the 2025?
Well, I would like to continue doing sports and why not having done an Ironman… Hawaii, for example! (laughs) have a couple of kids and still be as happy as I am now.
ITU Ranking: http://www.triathlon.org/athletes/results/daniel_molina/44924
We invite you to visit the website of DANI MONINA, a great athlete and a person with great values being a clear example of overcoming and to whom we wish good luck in the grand final of the World Triathlon Series in Chicago http://www.danimolina.com/
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