From Barxeta to the Elite Ranks
Candela Perigüell arrives at the senior division carrying the weight of a continental title. The recurve archer from Barxeta enters the national selection window following a standout junior campaign, highlighted by her gold-medal run this past summer in Roma at the under-21 European team championship alongside teammates Paula Álvarez and Carlota Navas.
That performance caught the attention of the Real Federación Española de Tiro con Arco. Federation officials first tracked her potential during national talent-identification camps, ultimately offering her a scholarship to train full-time at the Centro de Alto Rendimiento in León.
Sacrifice and the Daily Routine in León
Relocating to the CAR in León has demanded a steep personal toll. Perigüell now sees her family only during major school breaks—Easter, Christmas, and the summer off-season. Yet the distance from her hometown has forged a strict daily regimen, one she credits directly with accelerating her personal and athletic growth.
Chasing the Spanish Senior A and B Squads
The immediate challenge is breaking into the senior ranks. Having previously secured a spot on the national B team during the last competitive cycle, Perigüell now sets her sights on earning a place on either the senior A or B squad for Spain.
She has also circled the Campeonato de España de Aire Libre as a core fixture on her calendar. Rather than chasing medal tallies, she prioritizes steady technical and personal development month over month.
The Mental Edge of the Olympic Recurve
Her weapon of choice is the Olympic recurve bow—the identical equipment standard featured at the Olympic Games. The setup relies on an optical sight for target acquisition, specialized stabilizers and mechanical dampers to steady the frame against crosswinds, and precise hardware designed to deliver a clean release.
Hardware, however, is only half the battle. Perigüell notes that the discipline requires rigorous psychological conditioning, relentless repetition, and deep self-belief. Ahead of the European final in Roma, her coaching staff deployed structured mental distraction games to steel her against competitive pressure. In the end, she insists, trust remains the ultimate variable in high-level archery.
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