Olga Chaves, an athlete at heart from a very young age

Olga Chaves is the perfect definition of lover of sport of Ceuta. Throughout his life, and to this day, his life has revolved around this world.

The road they have traveled has not been easy, many injuries have accompanied them in their sports career, but Olga has never been able to put her passion aside.

At age 7 he started his first sport, the judo. Olga Chaves went every afternoon to the current ‘José Acosta’ school To play this sport, “I put on what was previously called a kimono and my braids and went up the hill to practice judo. It hooked me a lot to the point that I got to win the title and compete at a high level ”.

For Olga Chaves, stepping on a tatami gave her the power to be herself, “judo is a sport that makes you think a lot. It was a pretty big sacrifice, but then it was very beneficial. I made very good friends and he gave me things that sport gives you ”.

The former judoka managed to rub shoulders with the elite of this sport and was even pre-selected for the Barcelona Olympic Games, “it was a roller coaster ride. The higher he was, the injuries came. Judo helped me a lot to overcome my injuries. He would go back to competing at a high level and then he would fall again. They were my best moments but at the same time my worst moments in the aspect that it was very hard ”.

“The respect that judo has given me towards the opponent, has served me for other sports”

The different injuries were the ones that took Olga off the mat, “there came a time when after so much overcoming the injuries, getting on a tatami gave me a phobia. When I competed we were few girls and this goes for pesos, so it was very difficult for me to find a rival. Replacement soldiers were coming and my trainer used them to train at a higher level. In one of those training sessions my knee went out. I managed to recover and got more titles, but when I was at the top, the injuries brought me down to the cruellest reality. There comes a time when it gets out of hand, your heart wants it, your head wants it, but the knee won’t let you. It was very hard but the positive thing I get is that the injuries made me stronger ”.

When she began her teaching career, Olga decided to start her sports career within the world of football, “A group of girls got together and decided we wanted to play soccer. I had never played soccer. We founded FUNIFE, which was Women’s College Football. And as a result, although there were already some things in Ceuta, we joined with Nicolás Rodríguez who helped us from the Center for Old Teachers. We brought together institutes and colleges and took out the first federated league in Ceuta. As a result, I competed in that league, I finished my degree and I got a job abroad. I went to Seville, and before getting home, I parked at the sports center where I asked if there was a women’s team. I was lucky that I found Hispalis de Sevilla and directly played in the First Division ”.

Olga Chaves played her game with the ball both on the court and on the grass, “here in Ceuta I played futsal, which was what we started with. Once I arrived in Seville, it was grass football, which is what I really love the most ”.

It can be said that Olga Chaves was one of the promoters of women’s football in the city. When she decided to step on the playing fields, there was hardly any female representation on the fields of Ceuta. Today, that fight they carried out led to the current privilege of girls who practice this sport.

Beginnings of women’s football

The fight to get women’s football to have a pull in our city begins at the time when Olga Chaves was a player, “I have a very healthy envy to see them. If they knew how little there was before, now they would be proud of the people who fought so hard for this to be as it is. It cost us our lives to get equipment. Now the rivalry throws all this back a bit. I would love for them to think that everything this has cost, we have to keep fighting it. We all have to row in the same direction, because otherwise we will go back ”. It all started with futsal and from there until today, “from the futsal we went to the grass with football 7 where there was a high number of participation. Now, once again, they have opted for futsal. We must continue to maintain it with enthusiasm and with effort ”.

An injury makes her hang up her boots and she assumes the role of coach, “we started in the provincial category and we were champions. There the national participation began. Antonio hooked me up to lead the Commission and from there we put the team in the Second Division. We started with Carmelitas and in the last game I got injured. The injury did not let me continue and I wish I could have because I feel good to continue playing ”.

Other sports passions

In addition to judo and soccer, Olga has practiced and continues to practice other sports such as volleyball or soccer. paddle, “My passions are everything related to sports. Now I try to stay. I alternate a bit with beach volleyball. Every weekend we meet a group of friends, we leave early and at 12 we are already home with our homework. I have also led the School League volleyball teams at the San Daniel school, which has always had a lot of fans and the children are very excited about the club. Now I passed the baton to a boy who is doing very well. I also practice paddle tennis, but I already do sports with my head. If I did sports with my heart, I would be there all day. Also, I play my matches from time to time and we have competed in the Spanish Veterans Championship. Nor can they take away my races ”.

But something that Olga Chaves is clear about is that of all the sports she has done, only one is her true passion, “my sport is judo. It is what has really given me the values ​​that I have. I also love football. But judo is my root, and from it many sports have flourished that also give me a lot of life. I always say that if I’m not sweating it’s not me. If you don’t see me wearing a tracksuit, something is wrong with me ”.

Trajectory

Olga Chaves can be considered as an example of improvement. An excellent sports career in all areas he has been in. With great difficulties such as injuries, but always wanting to overcome his limits and reach the top.