Paola Amilibia is the only rider in history to have won the absolute national title in Obstacle Jumping in more than 60 editions. It was in October 2017with its imposing “Gaudí”in a championship marked by a battered knee that forced her to spend hours immobilized on ice in the riding arena bar of the Real Club de Campo Villa de Madrid before competing encouraged by the remembered Marco Fusté.
Now the Catalan horsewoman born in 1986 represents the Mexican state of Veracruz and has disputed the Mexican National Championshipin the facilities of El Marqués / Viñedos del Polo de Querétaro, where it was silver in the absolute category con “I’m a Star”. Eight years after being Spanish champion, another knee put her on the ropes again before an absolute championship. Two months before the National in Mexico he broke another one and was unable to get on the horse until five days before the championship.
Her silver in Mexico confirms the extraordinary consistency of an Amazon who has been installed in the elite for many years and the disappointment that she does not compete under the Spanish flag. His departure was not a whim or a sporting move. It was a painful decision born from an extreme situation within the Royal Spanish Equestrian Federation. Paola herself explained it to La RAZÓN: for Rio 2016, the RFHE imposed conditions that later, according to her, were not applied equally to all riders. “We didn’t all have the same playing conditions,” he remembers. That was followed, according to her, by threats, pressure and the feeling of competing without support. “The line was crossed with a very sensitive issue and I had no choice but to abandon ship for my physical and mental health,” he said.
The only absolute champion that Spain has had in Salto felt that her federation was closing its doors to her and Mexico was opening them wide to her. Her husband is Mexican and she has always felt grateful: competing there gave her stability and respect. That decision still hurts. Spain is a destination where riders of foreign origin, such as Armando Trapote or Juan Manuel Gallego, are naturalized. Paola Amilibia found abroad what she didn’t have in Spain. If one day the circumstances were to arise, Spain would have to be prepared to facilitate his return. Losing her was a mistake; Getting it back would be a success for everyone.
“I don’t know how to answer that question today,” she says when asked if she would compete for Spain again..
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