From Madrid to Trentino

TRENTINO – Any distance is short when the objective is to support the family. That must think Felipe and María José, parents of Carmen Rivera, one of the playerts of the Spanish women’s ice hockey team.

Carmen began her career in hockey at the age of 10, playing inline hockey first. Four years later, she discovered ice hockey with SAD Majadahonda, team of the National Ice Hockey League in Spain.

Together with Diana, the youngest of the family, the family has moved from Madrid to Trentino, to watch the performance of Carmen at the Universiade. Although it is not their first trip: “We travel all over Spain to watch her in the league, we have also been in Paris, and Brussels. But if she goes to the World Championship, which is in Iceland, I do not think we go, because it is a bit far”, explains Felipe between laughs.

They live the matches intensely, along with other parents who have gone to the Universiade. Proud of their girls, they applaud good plays, but do not hesitate to reprimand the girls when something goes wrong. They have not only had time to spend with their daughters. They have also enjoyed some men’s games and expect to go to other competitions in the days remaining until their return home.

Even though hockey is a sport of great physical strength, Felipe says they have no fear: “Our girl is strong. It is a rough sport, but they are very safe.”

Javier Morales, FISU Young Reporter