Anais García facts for kids
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| Nationality |  Spain |
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| Born | 29 September 1980 Barcelona, Spain |
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| Sport | Swimming | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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Anais García Balmaña (born 29 September 1980) is a famous swimmer from Spain. She is known for winning several gold medals at the Paralympic Games. Anais has a vision impairment, which means she cannot see well. She competes in the S11 swimming category, which is for athletes with very limited or no vision.
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Early Life and Vision
Anais García Balmaña was born on September 29, 1980, in Barcelona, Spain. When she was born, she had problems with her eyes. One eye had a condition called glaucoma, which affects the optic nerve. The other eye had a detached retina, meaning the light-sensitive layer at the back of the eye had pulled away. These conditions caused her to have very limited vision.
Because of her vision, Anais competes in the B1/S11 classification in swimming. This classification is for athletes who are either completely blind or have very little vision.
Paralympic Achievements
Anais García has had a very successful career in Paralympic swimming. She has competed in three different Summer Paralympic Games, winning multiple medals for Spain.
1996 Atlanta Paralympics
Anais first competed at the 1996 Summer Paralympics in Atlanta, USA. There, she won a bronze medal in the 4 x 100 meter medley relay race. This was a great start to her Paralympic journey.
2000 Sydney Paralympics
Her biggest success came at the 2000 Summer Paralympics in Sydney, Australia. Anais won two gold medals at these Games:
- 100 meter freestyle S11
- 400 meter freestyle S11
Winning two gold medals showed her incredible talent and hard work.
2004 Athens Paralympics
Anais continued her winning streak at the 2004 Summer Paralympics in Athens, Greece. She won another gold medal in the 100 meter freestyle S11 event. This made her a three-time Paralympic gold medalist.
World Records
Besides her Paralympic medals, Anais García also set three world records in swimming. A world record means she swam faster than anyone else in the world in those specific races at that time.
Her world records included:
- 4x50 meter freestyle S11-S13 relay race
- 800 meter freestyle S11 race
- 4x50 meter medley S11-S13 relay race
These records show her dominance in the sport during her career.
Life After Swimming
After her swimming career, Anais García continued to work for people with disabilities. She is currently a deputy director at ONCE, which is a very important organization in Spain. ONCE helps people who are blind or have severe vision impairment. Anais works as the head of personal autonomy and adaptation, helping people with disabilities live more independently.
External links
- Anais Garcia at the International Paralympic Committee
- Anais Garcia Balmaña at the Comité Paralímpico Español
See also
In Spanish: Anaís García Balmaña para niños
