Victoria Padial, Olympic biathlete and triathlete

Triathlon brings physical and, above all, psychological benefits

 

 

Hoy to the presentamos Victoria Padial Hernández, one of the pioneers of Spanish sport. In his case, the first Spanish to score in a Biathlon World Cup and also to get a medal in Cto. of Europe and Cto. of the Summer world. Victoria has 27 years, lives in Albolote (Granada). She has a degree in CAFyD, in addition to having a Master's Degree in Sports Management and Training and is currently studying another in Physical Activity and Health.

- Good morning Victoria. For me it is an enormous illusion to be able to realize this interview and that the readers of Triatlonnoticias can meet you. How were your beginnings in the sport? Did you practice sports as a child? When did you start with the biathlon?

Hello, good morning Juanjo. As a child I really liked sports I have always been very active, at school I practiced basketball and volleyball and we did competitions with other schools, what I liked the most was volleyball and I have also always liked dancing I started dancing flamenco but with it Cross-country skiing couldn't handle it and I had to decline because of the snow. At age 6 I started cross-country skiing and at 19 I tested my aim with the biathlon without much success at first, but with a rapid progression the motivation was very great.

- For readers of the page who do not know it, can you explain what the biathlon is?

The biathlon combines cross-country skiing with the carbine shot (22 caliber). It consists of skiing as fast as possible with the 3,5kg rifle in the back and with the accelerated pulse stop to shoot 50 m away. The shooting positions are stretched and standing all with skis on. Each failure in the shot has a penalty of + 150m of ski or + 1 minute depending on the test (sprint, pursuit, individual, mass start and relays). It is a very exciting sport because of the multitude of factors that influence each competition, physical, psychological, technical, meteorological, etc. Until the last biathlete does not finish, there is nothing definite.

Victoria Padial

- Who encouraged you to dedicate yourself to the biathlon professionally? When did you decide to take this step?

after many years of cross-country skiing I felt that I needed a new stimulus and the biathlon was the perfect combination, endurance and aim, stress and calm, activation and relaxation, a multitude of emotions to control in a short time and with a lot of pressure.

El biathlon It is a sport that helps you to know your limits very well, to control your body and your mind, it teaches you something new every day. After testing it in an IBU training camp I was fascinated and hooked and I searched for all the methods to continue competing with my coach Alexandre Nappa. In Spain this year there have been 4 female biathlon licenses, but without facilities or an annual testing circuit it will be difficult to continue adding Spanish biathletes.

- About your workouts, we know that you do triathlon (swimming, cycling, running and competing in tris) to complement your preparation in your biathlon sport. What benefits does triathlon generate for your triathlon preparation?

Victoria Padial

In biathlon we have a long preseason in which we look for variety and volume in training, which is why we do swimming, cycling and a race every other day. I never considered doing triathlons but with the boom that there is and the offer of tests for my land I saw it as a great opportunity especially to do threshold training accompanied by other athletes and dorsal since it always motivates much more than training alone. I really like these competitions and I have a great time even though the transitions I never train them or the 3 sports followed. Triathlon gives me physical and above all psychological benefits, seeking to improve myself every year in times and rhythms is a sign that we are doing a good job and that increases confidence.

- How is it usually a training day in summer ... and in winter?

In summer double sessions, a lot of volume in the first months, strength work, proprioception without forgetting the shot both precision and effort. A summary of my day to day: We start at 7 a strong breakfast 2-3 hours of physical training with effort shooting, the key is to shoot few bullets but with specific objectives. After lunch I always take a nap and in the afternoon I workout in the gym, stretching and psychological training. At 10 am I am back in bed, for me rest is essential to be able to withstand the training load that awaits me every day.

In winter there is much less volume and you can rest more although we have to prepare well each competition testing skis and paraffins (chemicals that are thrown into the sole to improve the slide on the snow). In winter there is less physical work but much more technical.

Victoria Padial

- You have competed in 2 JJOO (Vancouver and Sochi) Tell us a little about this experience

Two totally different but unique experiences. Vancouver with only two years of biathlon practice, a classification that came great but made me see what it meant to be in a JJOO and all the way that I still had to go, it was a very motivating stimulus and Sochi some great games that I enjoyed from the First up to the last day a reward for so many days sacrificed with workouts.

- What are your best sports results? (I know about the European double silver and the times you have scored in the world cup)

My best results double runner-up in Europe in Sprint and Persecution in Nove Mesto - CZE 2014. Also very important to score in the World Cup (only the first 40 do) the best test the 20 sprint post in WC Pokljuka- SLO 2014

- And in the triathlons that you have run ... Can you quote us any result or race that you liked in particular?

I enjoyed a lot in the Nyon triathlon I have run it several times but last year I finished 6 and with very good sensations, the atmosphere was beautiful. I also enjoy the triathlons in my land since I count on the warmth and affection of my family that whenever they can they come to cheer me up.

- In order to compete in the World Cup throughout Europe, you need financial support. Who are your Sponsors and who collaborates with you to be able to dedicate professionally to the biathlon? 

I count on my longtime sponsors who have bet on my progression and are now benefiting from my values ​​and image such as Dragonski, Psicodepor and Aquakinetic. Every day there are more collaborators who join our project and facilitate the way: zurita, ices valeta, noname, Lapua, Fischer, Esther Gil nutrition, David Martín dental clinic And this year we have a new sponsor of nutritional supplements made to tailored for my sports needs, Inoofood, a Granada company that develops personalized products adapted to the needs of what you are looking for.

Victoria Padial

- We have also seen that you perform various events and days to get to know and publicize the biathlon in Granada. How are these activities usually?

On my YouTube channel "Victoria Padial" you have graphic samples of these days. They are days for all, a contact with the biathlon with lead carbines, we start with precision and technical exercises and then we move into action, physical circuits combined with aim and finish with competitions.

If the children enjoy it, I think that more parents do, who end up hooked on the shot and poking. We made a great paella, enlivened with music and we had a good day of social life. It is also an opportunity for people to get to know us better and resolve their concerns about the biathlon and there is always time to share our experiences for the World Cup.

- What are your short and long term objectives?

In the short term continue to consolidate in the world cup and climb Spain in the world ranking. In the long term, the next winter 2018 JJOO will arrive in a good physical and psychological moment and make everyone enjoy themselves.

- Well and to close the interview ... When you retire ... would you like to try Ironman and try to qualify for the World Cup in Hawaii (in age groups)? Motor you have for it!

I do not see myself doing those distances at the moment, it does not catch my attention, but you never know, you do not have to close doors.

Thank you very much for sharing this talk, it has been a pleasure to make the interview and we wish you the best for this new season that you are about to start. I also want to remember that everyone can follow you on your personal website http://victoriapadial.es/.

Thanks to you, we will fight hard for it. A greeting.

Juan José Martí Navío @jjnavio

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