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Javier ILLANA
Sport Diving
NOC Spain   
GenderMen
Born12 Sep 1985 in Leganés, ESP
Height1.75 m
Weight 71 kg
 Human Interest 
Further Personal Information
Residence
Montreal, QC, CAN
Sport Specific Information
Why this sport?
"I started diving because I was scared of it, for the adrenaline it generates. And then I was amazed watching [Spanish diver] Chemi Gil. I wanted to be like him."
General Interest
Hero / Idol
Italian motorcycle racer Valentino Rossi, Spanish Formula One driver Fernando Alonso, Russian diver Dmitri Sautin. (Athlete, 20 Mar 2007; publico.es, 17 Aug 2008)
Sport Specific Information
When and where did you begin this sport?
He began diving at age eight.
General Interest
Nicknames
Javi (Athlete, 20 Mar 2007)
Injuries
Since late 2014 he has been troubled by pains in his back associated with a degenerative disease called ankylosing spondylitis, which limits his performance at training and competitions. At first it was misdiagnosed as a fissure in his sacrum [lower back] in February 2015 and was forced out of competition for six weeks. After that he continued suffering with pain until doctors found the actual problem. (elmundo.es, 09 Feb 2016; Facebook page, 07 Feb 2015)

In February 2013 he missed a two weeks of training because of a lumbar contracture. (bcn2013.com, 31 Mar 2013)
Further Personal Information
Languages
English, Spanish
General Interest
Other information
GAMER
He is an enthusiastic video gamer. In 2017 he became a coach of the eu4ia gaming team. “A professional player of a video game can earn much more than most athletes. They work in teams of five, with an analyst and a technician. I think I can benefit from my time in high level competition.” (republica.com, 27 Feb 2017; elmundo.es, 09 Feb 2016)

ILLNESS
He suffers from a degenerative disease called ankylosing spondylitis, a type of arthritis that attacks the spine. "The joints and ligaments that allow the spine to move swell and vertebrae solidify. It hurts a lot and sometimes I cannot sleep with the pain. It can lead to paralysis and has no cure, but you can manage to live normally and with proper treatment effects are alleviated. The problem is that I suffer a lot while diving; I feel a lot of pressure in my back and the entry in the water is very aggressive, so any mistake can be dangerous.” (elmundo.es, 09 Feb 2016)

BOOK
In 2016 he wrote a book called “No es el cuerpo, es la mente” [It is not your body, it is your mind] in which he talks about psychological techniques which can help to overcome adversities, and the way he is dealing with his illness, based on his experiences, after his grandmother passed away in 2013. (elmundo.es, 09 Feb 2016; shangay.com, 02 Mar 2016)

TV SHOW
He has worked as a diving coach for a reality TV show called "Mira quien salta!" [Look who jumps] broadcast on Spain's channel Tele 5. (bcn2013.com, 25 Feb 2013; mundodeportivo.com, 21 Jan 2016)
Further Personal Information
Higher education
Sports Management - University of Deusto: Bilbao, ESP
General Interest
Hobbies
Playing video games. (Twitter profile, 16 Nov 2016)
Further Personal Information
Occupation
Athlete, Coach

 Competition Highlights
Olympic Games
Rank Year Venue Event Result
12 2012 London, ENG 3m Springboard 371.60
Preliminary Round 2008 Beijing, CHN 3m Springboard 423.90
  2004 Athens, GRE 3m Springboard  
World Championships
Rank Year Venue Event Result
6 2013 Barcelona, ESP 3m Springboard 468.15
5 2011 Shanghai, CHN 1m Springboard 402.40
9 2011 Shanghai, CHN 3m Springboard 429.00
6 2009 Rome, ITA 1m Springboard 395.55
7 2009 Rome, ITA 3m Springboard 452.10
12 2009 Rome, ITA 3m Springboard Synchro 384.93
Semi Final 2007 Melbourne, AUS 1m Springboard 378.95
Preliminary Round 2007 Melbourne, AUS 3m Springboard 370.70
Semi Final 2005 Montreal, CAN 3m Springboard 627.03
Semi Final 2005 Montreal, CAN 1m Springboard 389.25
9 2005 Montreal, CAN 3m Springboard Synchro 313.20
Preliminary Round 2003 Barcelona, ESP 3m Springboard 362.85
Preliminary Round 2003 Barcelona, ESP 3m Springboard Synchro 299.40
Grand Prix
Rank Year Venue Event Result
15 2014   3m Springboard  
2 2014 Madrid, ESP 3m Springboard 472.90
1 2012   3m Springboard  
4 2012 Bolzano, ITA 3m Springboard 425.30
3 2012 Montreal, QC, CAN 3m Springboard 482.60
8 2011   3m Springboard  
2 2011 Montreal, QC, CAN 3m Springboard 499.50
4 2010   3m Springboard 427.45
9 2010 Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA 3m Springboard 382.70
2 2010 Madrid, ESP 3m Springboard 460.10
4 2009   3m Springboard  
7 2009 Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA 3m Springboard 422.30
6 2009 Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA 3m Springboard Synchro 381.54
3 2009 Madrid, ESP 3m Springboard 446.80
4 2009 Madrid, ESP 3m Springboard Synchro 386.97
14 2009 Montreal, CAN 3m Springboard 358.45
3 2009 Moscow, RUS 3m Springboard 458.55
4 2009 Moscow, RUS 3m Springboard Synchro 364.86
10 2008   3m Springboard  
10 2008 Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA 3m Springboard 417.90
9 2008 Madrid, ESP 3m Springboard 385.25
7 2008 Madrid, ESP 3m Springboard Synchro 358.95
3 2008 Rome, ITA 3m Springboard 448.70
6 2008 Rome, ITA 3m Springboard Synchro 370.80
12 2007   3m Springboard  
8 2007 Madrid, ESP 3m Springboard Synchro 369.18
2 2007 Moscow, RUS 3m Springboard 460.25
4 2007 Moscow, RUS 3m Springboard Synchro 364.47
16 2006   3m Springboard  
5 2006 Rome, ITA 3m Springboard 389.35
11 2006 Rostock, GER 3m Springboard Synchro 327.39
12 2005   3m Springboard  
5 2005 Madrid, ESP 3m Springboard 426.39
6 2005 Madrid, ESP 3m Springboard Synchro 275.70
11 2005 Rostock, GER 3m Springboard Synchro 275.70
36 2004   3m Springboard  
13 2004 Athens, GRE 3m Springboard Synchro 288.84
5 2004 Madrid, ESP 3m Springboard Synchro 278.94
42 2003   3m Springboard  
5 2003 Madrid, ESP 3m Springboard Synchro 274.14
7 2003 Rostock, GER 3m Springboard Synchro 269.85
54 2002   3m Springboard  
12 2002 Rostock, GER 3m Springboard 208.77
European Championships
Rank Year Venue Event Result
4 2012 Eindhoven, NED 1m Springboard 395.30
9 2012 Eindhoven, NED 3m Springboard 412.95
4 2011 Turin, ITA 1m Springboard 389.15
6 2011 Turin, ITA 3m Springboard 445.15
3 2010 Budapest, HUN 1m Springboard 414.35
4 2010 Budapest, HUN 3m Springboard 445.05
5 2009 Turin, ITA 1m Springboard 380.50
6 2009 Turin, ITA 3m Springboard 415.00
8 2009 Turin, ITA 3m Springboard Synchro 367.98
Semifinal 2008 Eindhoven, NED 1m Springboard 311.90
7 2008 Eindhoven, NED 3m Springboard 417.30
6 2006 Budapest, HUN 1m Springboard 343.20
4 2006 Budapest, HUN 3m Springboard 425.95
6 2006 Budapest, HUN 3m Springboard Synchro 372.84
12 2004 Madrid, ESP 1m Springboard 320.55
10 2004 Madrid, ESP 3m Springboard 596.79
4 2004 Madrid, ESP 3m Springboard Synchro 319.56
World Series
Rank Year Venue Event Result
5 2011 Beijing, CHN 3m Springboard 464.40
7 2011 Guanajuato, MEX 3m Springboard 445.40
6 2011 Moscow, RUS 3m Springboard 411.95
6 2011 Sheffield, ENG 3m Springboard 449.10
9 2010 Qingdao, CHN 3m Springboard 391.45
6 2010 Veracruz, MEX 3m Springboard 467.80
4 2010 Veracruz, MEX 3m Springboard 439.05