Yaneth Arias, the Colombian basketball engineer | ELESPECTADOR.COM

Hand in hand with this 35-year-old barranquillera, the women's team has won the most important triumph of its history: the gold medal at the XXIII Games of Central America and the Caribbean, defeating Cuba in the final by 67-65. His efforts were vital to the team led by Antioquia Luis Cuenca.

Never the former footballer Jorge Valdano said that sport was like life itself, with bifurcated paths, unique opportunities and even similar mistakes. And that the skill of the athlete was to take the instruments and experiences of everyday life to make them transcend in a field, in a track or in any scenario. Yaneth Arias is an industrial engineer and at the same time captain of the women's basketball team who won the gold medal at the Central America and Caribbean Games from Barranquilla. In September of last year, he decided to return to the senior team after giving priority to the academy for a long time, to enter the routine of the hours of office and meetings, to understand the dreams of others to materialize them through realistic but dreamy advice.

"I was far from the competition, but that does not mean I did not stay fit." For this reason, in her hard day, it was usual to see her with a backpack instead of a bag, with tennis shoes, a towel, a soap, shorts and a blouse. training in case there is room. T also saw her leaving at six o'clock in the afternoon to go to the Panamerican courses of Cali or the League of Valle del Cauca to repeat, throwing the ball over and over again and imitating the movements of a real match. the end of not losing the pace, nor the distance, let alone the motivation to return.

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This has been the case for three years. in the morning and in contact with the balloon at night. And with the same intensity, he led the quality management system of the Seine in the Valley, was in charge of 11 section chiefs and received and was in charge of audits of the Office of the Comptroller and the General Prosecutor up to To Icontec, for the system to improve, so that helping others is a kind of redemption, another stimulant in addition to the sport. It was to lead two lives in one. The first, the one of the devoted athlete who wanted to maintain the level of before, and the second, that of the professional with the intention of devoting himself to the wood.

"It's been very difficult for me to adapt to the game. Because, no matter how hard you train, you'll never have the shock and physical friction that the competition gives you and who are needed in a sport like basketball.Even today, after the triumph, I can say that it still costs me.In fact, in this championship my efficiency was not before. " Yes, his average points have decreased compared to other tournaments, in other years, but his group motivation was greater, his leadership deeper and his voice in the locker room of the team led by Luis Cuenca more accurate Antioquia.

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From the beginning, before starting the road that ended in Cuba's triumph by 67-64, Yaneth badured that the championship was a project to achieve, with the sum of the collective efforts, with constant encouragement, with the visualization of the goal before starting the journey. In other words, he took the basics of what he does every day in his office and applied them in the selection with the authority that gave him the captain's band, along with the experience that sometimes allows a firm tone and with the slogan that dignity at its best is fighting.

"There are many ways to succeed, all correct, it depends on which one you choose, how you choose it and how you develop it, I think we played well and that's why we are champions of Central America, something unthinkable a few years ago and which must now become a habit for returning girls.Always fight with the best, learn defeats with the powers, so to be on an equal footing. "

Basketball, a matter of discipline for Arias, will continue to alternate with the days at the office, with concerns and ins and outs where possible, both that the mind is strong enough to push the body and until the Tokyo 2020 illusion is something tangible. "Entrepreneurship always costs, but in the end, if the necessary dose of sacrifice and struggle is given, everything is accomplished, and I think we can do it with Colombia."