Carlos Garach has set a precedent in Spanish sports by being the first elite athlete to integrate military service with his sporting activity. After leaving swimming last year, this decision has lifted a financial and mental weight off his shoulders. Now, he balances both passions and has returned to competition at the Spanish Championships in Sabadell, achieving the qualifying time for the European Championships in Paris in the 400-meter freestyle.
Military training as the foundation of a new athletic performance 🏋️
Garach's incorporation into the military program not only covers his financial needs but also introduces a different training methodology. The military regime provides schedule discipline, teamwork, and stress management under pressure, elements that are crucial in high-level swimming. Unlike the traditional circuit of scholarships and sponsorships, this model offers stability that allows the athlete to focus on technique and endurance, without the distraction of seeking external funding.
From the Seine to the pool: how to survive trauma with a breaststroke 🌊
Garach returns this Saturday to open water for the first time since his abandonment in the Seine during the 2024 Olympic Games. Overcoming such trauma is not easy, but apparently, the army has taught him that if he can handle a 20 km march with a backpack, the Seine no longer scares him. Of course, let's hope this time he doesn't confuse the river with a military training pool, because currents don't give warnings and commanders don't hand out rescue towels.