Salma Paralluelo – from track record holder to female World Cup hero
Spain was defined by technique and mesmerizing passing play at the 2023 Women's World Cup, but Salma - the team's youngest - offers distinct value with his pace, sprint and left-wing power. . The 19-year-old striker opened the scoring to help Spain beat Sweden 2-1 in the semi-finals yesterday 15/8. Four days ago, she alone scored the same goal against the Dutch runner-up in extra time.
Reaching the Women's World Cup final is the next big milestone in Salma's career, which has already won the U17 World Cup and EURO 2018, the 2022 U20 World Cup. In 2023, she won the Champions League, La Liga and Champions League treble. Spanish Super Cup with Barcelona women's team.
Coach Jorge Vilda is not surprised because he knows the great potential of his students. "Salma Paralluelo is far from reaching the limit," he said, adding that she has only been fully focused on soccer training for a year.
Salma has a height of 1.74 m, long solid legs, a slim body and big eyes with brown skin - the result of hybridization from her parents. Mr. Jaime Paralluelo is from Catalan, while Diosdada Ayingono is from Equatorial Guinea. Salma grew up in a poor neighborhood in the city of Zaragoza and loved football like any other kid in bullfighting. Salma plays soccer with the boys at recess at school, or in the park with her two brothers. But difficulties came when Salma was six years old, the world economic crisis in 2009 made Mr. Jaime unemployed and then having to do all kinds of jobs, and Ayingono was forced to go to Switzerland before the risk of deportation. Salma understood his father's hardships, and the conversations with his mother were brief through expensive minute calls.
That event probably brought Salma to the passion for speed. She has always said that athletics is a release or outlet for emotions in an inexplicable way. While still in school, Salma was the champion in the 300 m and 300 m hurdles for children and teenagers, breaking national records. She also attended the boys' soccer club and was the only female, before becoming frustrated that she had to switch to the women's team at the age of 13. It is not uncommon for the "little antelope" to become the focus of attention of coaches and scouts of both sports.
At the age of 15, Salma was called up to the Spain U17 women's team, always in the starting line-up for the 2018 European and world championship journey. A few months later, Salma made history again when she won. The bronze medal of 400 m in the Spanish National Championships in 2019. With a time of 53 seconds 83, the national under-20 record was broken and a place in the European Athletics Championships went to Salma Paralluelo.
Athletics coach Felix Laguna - who teaches and treats Salma like a daughter - said she is the second Spanish athlete to do this in 32 years. Besides, a large sports fashion brand has kept an eye on Salma to support its great growth later. In 2019, Salma was eligible to bring her mother back to reunite after 10 years of family separation.
When several football clubs wanted to sign, Salma set three conditions: to continue to play athletics, to continue working with coach Felix Laguna, and most importantly, to bring her family along – a requirement. can not negotiate. Villarreal First Division meets all conditions. A beautiful result for the girl who used to cry before each contest because she was afraid of losing, afraid of not having money to support her family. Her efforts are unconsciously motivated by the sacrifices of her parents over the course of a decade.
Coach Felix Laguna does not know why his students can do so many jobs at the same time. He told El Pais: "What's more amazing is that Salma only spends half of the time training. Others practice soccer, jogging six or seven days a week, and Salma only has three days because of the combination of training. created both. But she's still light years ahead of her peers in both sports."
The combination of football and athletics with a model body and skillfully braided long hair helps Salma stand out every run with a near-perfect aesthetic. However, with only seven days in a week and only 24 hours in a day, Salma understands what it means to be fully focused on a sport. "I know that teammates and opponents spend more time than me and my growth is limited," admits Salma. The mind standing between the two waters causes Salma to stress and suffer.
In April 2021, Salma suffered a serious injury to the left knee ligament that caused her to miss nine months. Not long after recovering, Salma continued to suffer an injury that led to a missed EURO 2022. What happened was tragic for many top athletes, but for Salma, perhaps it helped her relieve herself from the pressure of selection. She decided to give up athletics forever. "It's hard to give up, but if I don't, I won't be able to get to the next level," Salma told AS.
That choice helps Spanish women's football open a new history page. With Salma, she is aiming to win her third World Cup with Spanish football (both men's and women's). As for teammates, Salma Celeste Paralluelo Ayingono is a rare case.
