The three children of Isabel and James, Paul McGrath’s parents (23 years old)They have easy names to pronounce. The parents of the new world medalist in the 20 km march thought of His grandmothers, an Irish and another Aragonesewhen choosing them. From his father James – scocces because his parents emigrated from Ireland – also comes to him His passion for Celtic de Glasgowthe club that raised a European Cup – the predecessor of the Champions – in 1967.
Paul continues the current of Celtic and His European matches or vibrant derbies are never lost in front of the Rangers Although athletics is a jealous lover and does not leave too much time for other needs.
The march was discovered by chance, like so many other athletes that are testing different evidence until it is most adjusted to their conditions.
He was barely 10 years old and tried fortune in a race in his hometown of Gavá in which he was fifth. “He clicks on my head because I enjoyed it very much without having trained it in my life. A year later I was champion of Catalonia sub’12”recalls the now world medalist.
Already with 14 it is put in the hands of Alejandro Aragoneses, The coach who has led him to the elite of his discipline. A 34 -year -old technician who also works with the veteran Raquel González and the promising Sofía Santacreu In the athletic Cornellà.
“There is no one to understand me like him,” says Paul, who prepared this World Cup at the height of Font Romeu Discarding a possible adaptation to the harsh tokyo conditions in the heat cameras of the Car de Barcelona, as Maria Pérez did among other marchers.
Now He has taken the witness of the great Álvaro Martínretired after his Olympic gold and bronze in Paris 2024, which is why he is not in the Japanese capital defending his double world title in Budapest 2023. “It does not suppose any pressure that compare me but it would be a great honor to approach their results.”Paul reflects, who already began writing his own history last year with his European money in Rome.
There he could enjoy transalpine cuisine, his favorite, although he does not disgust the Japanese. “I love sushi and now when I return to Barcelona, I will not know the same because everything I have tried here was great,”McGrath confessed in a talk with a brand last Thursday.
A relaxed conversation in which he revealed a double promise. The first implies Mohamed Attaouione of his great friends in the Spanish team. Catalan and Cantabrian had opted that Whoever won a medal would pay a business ticket to the other To return to Spain with all comforts.
The other is more personal and has to do with the devotion that Paul feels for the Virgin of Montserrat. The marcher had promised that if he achieved ‘Chapa’ in Tokyo he would run from Gavá to the hermitage of ‘La Moreneta’Patroness of Catalonia. About 60 kilometers that will surely know Gloria after well done work.
