Ines Castillo visited the facilities of the Badminton Pan Am Confederation and after signing the recognition to the Pan Am players who competed at Paris 2024, she told us about her experience during her first Olympic Games.
How did you feel at your first Olympic Games?
“I was super happy to be there in Paris. I wanted to enjoy the experience to the fullest and also be focused on the competition to perform well. Even though I couldn’t win a match, I was happy with my performance because overall it was very good. I felt good, physically and mentally ready. But I also left wanting more, because the competition and the atmosphere leave you with that feeling of wanting to achieve more, and I think I can do it.”
How was your preparation for the competition in Paris 2024?
“The preparation started years before, it is a long road that is measured in small steps and that helped me to arrive in Paris in very good condition. The Olympic cycle was super difficult, but the preparation helped me to qualify and arrive well.”
After living this dream, what is your next big goal?
“In Paris I understood why people are so obsessed with experiencing other Olympics, so I think I would like to complete the next Olympic cycle and qualify for Los Angeles 2028.”
Who do you thank for getting this far?
“I thank all the people I train with. Having a good training place is key. I thank my teammates, my coaches. I thank the Federation, IPD, COP, Pan Am, everyone who has supported me in this process and every contribution has added a lot. Without that support, I would not have been able to get to Paris. I thank the areas of physiotherapy and psychology as well, because everything counts. Although sometimes you only see the athlete competing, everything behind the scenes is super important, and I am grateful to everyone and ready for more things.”
