• Report. Luka Romero, the boy from the League: "He is introverted and respectful"

“Winning at 17 is the worst thing that has ever happened to me. I was not ready. I was not prepared to win a silver at the 1992 Barcelona Games. I was not prepared to return to Almería and have people treat me as if I were God. He was not prepared to receive four million pesetas, an ADO scholarship of 400,000 pesetas a month and other things from sponsors. I wasn't ready ... and I went crazy. As soon as there was a problem, when I ran out of invitation to the 1996 Atlanta Games, I fell into shit. I spent a time leading a very bad life. I always think that if he had won silver in Atlanta, at 21 years old, and not in Barcelona, ​​everything would have been different, "says former boxer Faustino Reyes by phoneand there is no better example than yours. Precocity, delicate matter. Success in adolescence places the elect on a golden rope that too often breaks over the abyss.

There is a Leo Messi , but many like Freddy Adu , who went from star in a U17 World Cup to roam clubs around the world. There is a Ricky Rubio , but many like Ángel Rebolo , who made his ACB debut at age 15 with Breogán and retired from basketball at 16. There is a Rafa Nadal , but many like Carlos Boluda , who ended up hating tennis after being compared with the Balearic. Last Wednesday, the Mexican Luka Romero became the youngest rookie in the history of the CBA at 15 years and 219 days: Will he hold on to the golden rope?

"It depends. It will be decided by him and, above all, by his surroundings. With teenage talents, coaches work with very sensitive material: it is very hard to feel that you fail at 18 or 19 years old and the consequences can be tricky. Beyond the physical aspect, the importance of biological maturity, in these cases the psychological aspect is fundamental. There are two very clear paths: motivate them for the process or motivate them for achievement. The motivation for achievement, that is, reaching a number of goals or winning a championship, is very attractive, generates a lot of energy, but has a short journey. Motivation must be obtained from the process, from daily training, from personal improvement. You just have to listen to Nadal: he never talks about winning in a tournament, he always talks about improving his serve, about his mobility on the track ... », analyzes the former athletic coach, Ramón Cid , who now trains María Vicente , Heptathlon junior world champion and great Spanish hope.

“A teenager focused on the process will know that he is on the right track even if he has a bad streak, an injury or even if he doesn't play much. An adolescent focused on achievement will be more vulnerable to the problems and comments he receives, "adds Cid, and in this matter there is a group of athletes who are experts: gymnasts. No one knows the dangers of succeeding before coming of age so well.

In fact, among the 10 youngest Spanish Olympic medalists ever are Faustino Reyes, Ricky Rubio ... and eight gymnasts. One of them, the fifth on that list, is Tania Lamarca , gold in the Atlanta Games in 1996 with only 16 years old and now coach specialized in the development of athletes. “When they appear in the elite, these 16 or 17-year-old talents must have already learned that in sports, whoever you are, there are always good times and bad times. That all races are oscillating. That they will have to avoid some problems. And also the importance of teaching it from the base every day is greater. Before the Atlanta Games we were focused on the competition and we did not know what was happening, what was expected of us, who knew us. Now from 11, 12 or 13 years old, they are already exposed to comments on social networks, both the good and the bad, "explains who went through a depression after retirement at 18 and had to reinvent himself.

«Sport gives you the best, but it is also dangerous. When you are a child and you already win, they already recognize you, they already talk about you, they already expect things from you, you need a lot of head. He played a trick on me. I had to go to a center in France to put things in order, then I was in Germany trying to compete in the boxing Bundesliga ... and for years I have been here in Seville, I dedicate myself to selling in the markets with my cousin. Many people helped me out, the former president of the Spanish Boxing Federation, the Spanish Olympic Committee and its president Alejandro Blanco, but it was difficult. At 17 or 18 years old, if a kid starts to stand out, they have to take him very well along the way and help him a lot ", ends Faustino Reyes with his own experience as the best example.

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