Patri Guijarro Takes Center Stage at Sports Tomorrow Congress

FC Barcelona midfielder Patri Guijarro was a key participant in a session focused on success and emotional well-being in sports during the Sports Tomorrow Congress’s first day. The congress, held this week in Barcelona as part of the Mobile World Congress, delved into discussions about the growth and diversification of personalization in the sports world, aligning with this year’s theme: “Shape your own game.”

Guijarro played a central role in a roundtable discussion titled ‘Women football: How to combine success and wellness,’ exploring success and emotional well-being in sports. She was joined by Carolina Loya, Head of Research and Development at BIMBO, and Dr. Eva Ferrer, a member of the medical team at Barça Innovation Hub.

Among various aspects related to her well-being and performance, Guijarro particularly highlighted the importance of nutrition and mental health. The midfielder emphasized, “Nutrition is equally important as training; it’s our fuel and what helps you perform better.” Dr. Ferrer, in this context, underscored the significance of acquiring habits that evolve with personal growth, especially during injury periods.

Guijarro shared insights into her performance routines, providing data to the club’s medical teams to optimize her physical condition. Through a daily app, she and the team answer questions about fatigue, muscle pain, stress, sleep, menstruation, etc., adapting their training and recovery phases accordingly. Guijarro also mentioned using GPS to monitor muscular load and a ring that tracks sleep.

Addressing mental health, Guijarro discussed the challenges of constant travel, a process she stated one eventually gets accustomed to. She emphasized the importance of a psychologist, stating, “Your mental state is crucial; if your head is not in the right place, it can play tricks on you.” Dr. Ferrer added that “mental health is health; it is part of our well-being” in this context.