Raquel Carrera: Everything changed at the gym

It was like walking into a gym and melting into black. She didn't want to see weights, not even in paint. She liked it anywhere. "I thought it wasn't much use." But for the past year and a half, the gym has been her second home. For a long time, it was her first. A very serious knee ligament injury sidelined center Raquel Carrera (23 years old, 1.90 meters) for a total of eleven months and caused her to miss, among other competitions, the Paris Olympic Games. She was in Tokyo in 2021 and won silver in the 2023 European Championship, but, at her peak, she tore it. And her approach to her preparation "changed radically." Surgery, recovery, rehabilitation, and, finally, back on the court. A court where she has managed to regain her full form. To the point that this Friday (4:30 p.m.) she will be one of the leaders of the Spanish national team in the Eurobasket semifinals against a real challenger: France, the current Olympic runner-up. The match is being played in Athens.

In a team, led by Miguel Méndez, full of new faces, Carrera is already one of the veterans, a powerful and talented player who straddles two generations: that of the established players who have gradually fallen by the wayside, and that of the newcomers who are just making their debut among the elite in this tournament, which will reach its conclusion in the coming days. For half of the team, this is their first competition with Spain.

The Galician center has taken the reins of a very young team that faces France.

The departures of veterans like Silvia Domínguez and Laura Gil, the injuries to María Conde, Megan Gustafson, and Maite Cazorla, and the temporary departures of Queralt Casas and Cristina Ouviña have accelerated the imposition of honors on Raquel Carrera's shoulders. The Galician, who left her hometown of Ourense at age 13 to join Celta , was instrumental in Spain's comeback win against the Czech Republic in the quarterfinals on Wednesday. She scored 31 points with unerring accuracy from the free throw line (17 of 17).

“I've already overcome my fears after recovering from my knee,” says Carrera, who was close to missing this tournament due to another mishap, a sprained left ankle suffered with Valencia in the Women's League final. There was only a month left until the European Championship, but the national team coach waited for her, trying to assess the risks. That's why her participation in the competition has grown steadily. She played 12 minutes on the first day, 17 on the second, 21 on the third, and 27 against the Czech Republic. A progressive use of her skills has paid off. “Every day, it could be one of us who wins the game, and that's the key to our team. That, and having a coach who trusts everyone and helps us a lot,” says the center.

The time has come to reap the reward for all her commitment. The same commitment that led her to endure her knee injury with a smile on her face, determined to help her team, Valencia, from day one. Even though she couldn't play, she was there on the bench with crutches, supporting, applauding, and spreading warmth. "She's one of those people who, despite being down, is the one who cheers you up. She's a super-happy, strong person, she's got her head on straight; she knew her injury was a stumbling block. Sport is beautiful, but it also has these moments. She's incredible," praises Queralt Casas, her teammate at Valencia. Her career has only gotten stronger.