One of Spain’s most prominent athletes, Fátima Diame was nevertheless uncertain what the future would hold when the Coronavirus hit. But with new measures in place, she looks forward to getting back into her sport – the triple-jump and long-jump.
At just 24 years old, Diame has already competed internationally for seven years. In 2018, she took 1st place for triple jump at the Mediterranean U23 Championships, and 2nd for long jump.
Fátima Diame rises in the ranks
Diame’s natural skill and promise earned her early attention in Spain, where she trained and competed for years. In 2017, that promise grew into reality, and Diame long-jumped her way into the title of champion of Spain for her category.
That same year, she competed in the World Championship in London. She then pushed her way into the top 5 European competitors for triple jump.
Diame competes in both triple and long jump, but she shines most in the former. She broke past the 14m mark for a record of 14.03m, a feat claimed by very few in history.
Growing up in Spain
Diame grew up in Valencia, a coastal city on the East coast of Spain. She always participated in athletics, but did not find her niche until her teen years. “I was 14 or 15 years old when I started jumping,” she explains. “Little by little I was standing out more, but always enjoying myself, I was motivated by my coach, my friends and my parents.”
As her talents grew, Diame found herself having to make more and more sacrifices. “Sometimes it was hard,” she admits “Because sometimes you can’t go out for an afternoon with friends because you have to do things in class or you’re too tired from training.”
Nevertheless, Diame dedicated herself to her sport. Within a few short years, she began winning national competitions. Soon after, she earned her name on the national scene. She hoped to compete in the Rio Olympics, but had to take time off for an injury. Not one to get discouraged, she immediately set her sights on the next Olympic games.
Fátima Diame looks ahead to the Olympics
Already in 2020, Diame has tucked a few wins under her belt. Just as the coronavirus pandemic swept the globe, she won the 2020 Spain Indoor Long Jump:
The star athlete admits that after the pandemic hit, she felt uncertain about the future. “I had almost assumed that in 2020 there will be no events,” she explains “If there is something, perfect. If not, nothing happens. It neither discourages me nor despairs me. In the long term, there is the great dream of my life, the presence in the Tokyo Games. There is no greater incentive.”
With Olympic dreams in mind, Diame has returned to training in full. She began back in her home of Valencia, training at the river stadium. More recently, she joined a group of athletes training in Burgos.
Follow Diame on Instagram here
