 |
|
| Laura
ESTER |
| Sport |
Water Polo |
| NOC |
Spain
|
| Gender | Women |
| Born | 22 Jan 1990
in Barcelona, ESP |
| Height | 1.72 m |
| Weight | 53 kg |
|
|
|
|
|
Sport Specific Information |
Club / Team |
CN Sabadell: Spain |
Further Personal Information |
Higher education |
Biochemistry - Autonomous University of Barcelona: Spain |
Sport Specific Information |
Name of coach |
David Palma [club], ESP; Miguel Angel Oca [national], ESP |
Preferred position / style / stance / technique |
Goalkeeper |
Handedness |
Right |
When and where did you begin this sport? |
She began playing water polo at age 12. |
Further Personal Information |
Languages |
Catalan, Spanish |
Sport Specific Information |
Why this sport? |
A coach at her former club, CN Mediterrani, wanted to create a women's team and offered her the chance to be the goalkeeper. "Water polo chose me because at the beginning I didn't know what it was." |
General Interest |
Hero / Idol |
Spanish water polo player Jesus Rollan, Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal, Argentinian footballer Lionel Messi. (estudiantes.elpais.com, 18 Apr 2013; mundodeportivo.com, 26 Sep 2020) |
Nicknames |
Pajarito [Spanish for 'Little Bird'. "A coach used to say that I had the legs of a little bird and I flew like a little bird, so the name stuck."]. (rfen.es, 22 Jul 2020; as.com, 26 Jul 2019) |
Sporting philosophy / motto |
"Never give up. Have a clear goal and fight for it. And realise that if you want something it's going to cost you." (estudiantes.elpais.com, 18 Apr 2013) |
Famous relatives |
Her brother has competed in Para triathlon. (elpais.com, 01 Aug 2013) |
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 the Best Athlete for 2019/20 in Sabadell, Spain. (naciodigital.cat, 08 Oct 2021)
In 2017 and 2019 she was named Female Water Polo Player of the Year by the European Swimming League [LEN]. (goalsn.com, 10 Jan 2020; swimswam.com, 22 Jan 2018)
She was named in the All-Star team at the world championships in 2017 and 2019. (fina.org, 26 Jul 2019, 28 Jul 2017)
Alongside her teammates in the Spanish national team, she received the Extraordinary Medal for Sports Merit from the Spanish Swimming Federation in recognition of the bronze medal they won at the 2018 European Championships in Barcelona, Spain. (rfen.es, 04 Oct 2018)
A swimming pool has been named in her honour in Penaparda, Spain. (as.com, 23 Jan 2018) |
Further Personal Information |
Occupation |
Athlete |
General Interest |
Other information |
AGILITY OVER SIZE
Her goalkeeping style depends on speed and agility rather than size and reach. "Some goalkeepers depend on reflexes, others explosive power, or intuition. My style is fast and more explosive. With the body type that I have, I don't have enough size or reach to be effective without relying on agility and movement. I have to be quick and explosive or I wouldn't be able to cover the ground." (elpais.com, 24 Jul 2018) |
Hobbies |
Watching TV, reading, supporting Spanish football club FC Barcelona. (marca.com, 09 Apr 2020; mundodeportivo.com, 26 Sep 2020) |
Memorable sporting achievement |
Winning silver at the 2012 and 2020 Olympic Games. (lagacetadesalamanca.es, 18 Aug 2021) |
Olympic Games |
| Rank |
Year |
Venue |
Event |
Result |
| 2 |
2021 |
Tokyo, JPN |
Team |
|
| 5 |
2016 |
Rio de Janeiro, BRA |
Team |
|
| 2 |
2012 |
London, ENG |
Team |
|
World Championship |
| Rank |
Year |
Venue |
Event |
Result |
| 3 |
2024 |
Doha, QAT |
Team |
|
| 2 |
2023 |
Fukuoka, JPN |
Team |
|
| 5 |
2022 |
Budapest, HUN |
Team |
|
| 2 |
2019 |
Gwangju, KOR |
Team |
|
| 2 |
2017 |
Budapest, HUN |
Team |
|
| 7 |
2015 |
Kazan, RUS |
Team |
|
| 1 |
2013 |
Barcelona, ESP |
Team |
|
| 11 |
2011 |
Shanghai, CHN |
Team |
|
| 8 |
2009 |
Rome, ITA |
Team |
|
World Cup |
| Rank |
Year |
Venue |
Event |
Result |
| 3 |
2023 |
Long Beach, CA, USA |
Team |
|
| 4 |
2018 |
Surgut, RUS |
Team |
|
European Championship |
| Rank |
Year |
Venue |
Event |
Result |
| 2 |
2024 |
Eindhoven, NED |
Team |
|
| 1 |
2022 |
Split, CRO |
Team |
|
| 1 |
2020 |
Budapest, HUN |
Team |
|
| 3 |
2018 |
Barcelona, ESP |
Team |
|
| 4 |
2016 |
Belgrade, SRB |
Team |
|
| 1 |
2014 |
Budapest, HUN |
Team |
|
| 5 |
2012 |
Eindhoven, NED |
Team |
|
| 6 |
2010 |
Zagreb, CRO |
Team |
|
| 2 |
2008 |
Málaga, ESP |
Team |
|
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