Fran Lozano y Sara Marín, dos historias de superación gracias al deporte adaptado

Abstract

Fran Lozano y Sara Marín son dos deportistas ilicitanos que nacieron con una discapacidad: él visual y ella intelectual. Para Fran el karate y para Sara la gimnasia rítmica se ha convertido en el remedio de una enfermedad que convive en su día a día. Gracias al esfuerzo, a la lucha y al convencimiento de no darse por vencido/a nunca, se han ganado un respeto en el mundo del deporte minoritario adaptado. Fran Lozano es bicampeón de España y además, número cinco mundial. Por su parte, Sara Marín se ha coronado, recientemente, campeona de España por décima vez consecutiva. Asimismo, la gimnasta ha logrado cinco medallas de oro en los primeros Juegos Olímpicos para personas con síndrome de Down. Los éxitos de estas dos personas están haciendo de Elche un referente deportivo en el ámbito nacional e internacional. Sus objetivos, van más allá de sobreponerse de cada piedra en el camino: situar el karate y la gimnasia rítmica a la altura de los deportes “mayoritarios”. Los resultados, ya están comenzando a dar sus frutos. Este reportaje de investigación no solo destaca los méritos de los protagonistas, sino el sufrimiento personal que han tenido que atravesar a cada instante. Fran Lozano y Sara Marín representan el modelo integrador de una sociedad la cual todavía, no está adaptada.

Fran Lozano is an athlete born in Elche with visual disabilities. Sara Marin is another athlete born in Elche but with mental disabilities. Karate and gymnastics have become therapeutic for them and help these individuals manage their disabilities in their day to day lives. Thanks to their strength, their constant fight and determination to not take a backwards step, they have both earned great respect within the worlds of both of these minority sports. Fran Lozano is a two time Spanish champion and on top of this the fifth best in the world rankings, while Sara Marin has recently been named champion of Spain for the tenth consecutive time. The gymnast has managed to earn herself five gold medals in the first Olympic Games for the people with down syndrome. The successes of both of these athletes is establishing Elche in both national and international stages. Their objectives are more than just simple progressiveness, they want to put both karate and gymnastics as high as they can in the sporting world. With the hopeful change that people will begin to believe that these forms of therapy work effectively. This investigation does not only value the merits and achievements of both these individuals,but furthermore it demonstrates the personal suffering that they have endured throughout their entire careers and lives. Fran Lozano and Sara Marin both represent integrity in a society that is still unprepared to eliminate various discriminatory barriers.