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María Hilda Rodríguez Rodríguez facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Personal information
Nationality Spanish
Sport
Country  Spain
Sport Boccia
Medal record
Boccia
Representing  Spain
Paralympic Games

Maria Hilda Rodriguez Rodriguez was born on May 10, 1955, in Lugo, Spain. She is a talented boccia player who has won gold medals for her country. Boccia is a sport similar to bocce or bowls, played by athletes with disabilities.

Hilda has cerebral palsy, which is a condition that affects movement and muscle coordination. Because of this, she competes as a BC2 type athlete in boccia. This means she can throw the ball with her hand, but she might need help to steady her chair.

About Boccia

Boccia is a precision ball sport. It is played by athletes with severe physical disabilities. The game is played on a flat, smooth surface. Players throw or roll leather balls as close as possible to a white target ball, called the "jack".

Boccia is one of the few sports that is specifically designed for athletes with severe impairments. It is a Paralympic sport, meaning it is played at the Paralympic Games. It requires great skill, strategy, and focus.

How Boccia is Played

Players take turns throwing their colored balls. They try to get them closer to the jack than their opponent's balls. If a player cannot throw the ball with their hands, they can use a ramp or other assistive devices.

The game can be played individually, in pairs, or in teams. Each player or team has a set number of balls to throw. Points are given based on how many balls are closer to the jack than the opponent's closest ball.

Hilda's Paralympic Success

Hilda Rodriguez is a very successful boccia player. She represented Spain at the 1996 Summer Paralympics in Atlanta, USA. This is a huge international sports event for athletes with disabilities.

At the 1996 Paralympics, Hilda achieved amazing results. She won two gold medals. She finished first in the BC1/BC2 team event. This means her team, made up of BC1 and BC2 athletes, won the gold. She also finished first in the BC2 one person event, winning another gold medal for herself.

Her Impact on Sport

Hilda's achievements show her dedication and skill in boccia. Winning two gold medals at the Paralympics is a great honor. It inspires many other athletes with disabilities to pursue their dreams in sports. Her success helped to highlight boccia as an exciting and competitive sport.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Hilda Rodríguez para niños

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