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| Irene
GONZALEZ |
| Sport |
Open Water Swimming, Water Polo |
| NOC |
Spain
|
| Gender | Women |
| Born | 23 Jul 1996
in Espluges Llobregat, ESP |
| Height | 1.73 m |
| Weight | 65 kg |
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Sport Specific Information |
Club / Team |
CN Sabadell: Spain |
Further Personal Information |
Higher education |
Physiotherapy - University of Hawaii: United States |
Sport Specific Information |
Why this sport? |
As a child she did both basketball and swimming. One day, she was told she would do well in water polo and she decided to give it a try. She combined basketball and water polo for five years, before opting for water polo at age 13. |
General Interest |
Awards and honours |
She was part of the Spanish national team that received an award from the Spanish Sports Press Association [AEPD] in recognition of their triumph at the 2020 European Championships in Budapest, Hungary. (aepde.org, 20 Sep 2021; SportsDeskOnline, 30 Dec 2021)
She was named Most Valuable Player [MVP] of the Spanish Supercopa in 2020. (mundodeportivo.com, 16 Oct 2020)
She was named to the Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches [ACWPC] All-American First Team in 2018 and 2019 while competing for the University of Hawaii in the United States of America. (hawaiiathletics.com, 2019)
She received the H Award as Female Rookie of the Year from the University of Hawaii in 2016. (hawaiiathletics.com, 2019) |
Sport Specific Information |
Name of coach |
David Palma [club], ESP; Miguel Angel Oca [national], ESP |
When and where did you begin this sport? |
She took up the sport at age eight. |
Further Personal Information |
Occupation |
Athlete |
Languages |
Catalan, English, Spanish |
General Interest |
Sporting philosophy / motto |
"Just because it's not happening right now, doesn't mean it never will." (Facebook profile, 04 Oct 2015) |
Other information |
COLLEGE STINT
In 2015 she was offered a scholarship to study at the University of Hawaii in the United States of America. "I had the chance of learning another language, living another culture, and having an academic formation which was something I was opting for, and all of that combining it with high level water polo. A friend of mine had gone one year earlier to Hawaii. She encouraged me to go. I thought about it for a year. By chance a player at Sant Feliu [her water polo club at the time] worked at an agency that promoted student-athletes to the United States. We talked and made some videos and that was how the University of Hawaii offered me a complete scholarship." (waterpolista.com, 19 Jun 2018; esportiumaresme.cat, 01 Feb 2020)
STYLE
She defines herself as a fighting player. "I think I fight a lot. I never give up and I create some space with my own moves, not only for me but for my teammates as well. I also like to shoot. I take training and matches very seriously, always focused." (esportiumaresme.cat, 01 Feb 2020) |
Olympic Games |
| Rank |
Year |
Venue |
Event |
Result |
| 2 |
2021 |
Tokyo, JPN |
Team |
|
World Championship |
| Rank |
Year |
Venue |
Event |
Result |
| 5 |
2022 |
Budapest, HUN |
Team |
|
| 2 |
2019 |
Gwangju, KOR |
Team |
|
European Championship |
| Rank |
Year |
Venue |
Event |
Result |
| 1 |
2022 |
Split, CRO |
Team |
|
| 1 |
2020 |
Budapest, HUN |
Team |
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