Elena Congost, Paralympic athlete and example of overcoming and resilience, has been presented at FITUR as ambassador of the Ibiza Half Marathon 2025 by the Consell de la isla and as part of the Ibiza Destino Deportivo project.

Gold medalist at the Rio de Janeiro JJPP in 2016 and protagonist of the controversy in Paris 2024 when the organization withdrew her medal, the athlete from Barcelona continues to inspire the world of sport with her values and determination and will compete in the event scheduled for April 5, 2025.

The Ibiza Half Marathon is one of the few sporting events with a majority of women participants and for the 2025 edition the registrations, still open, show that 51% of the participants are women.

As part of the event IBIZA SPORTS DESTINATION organized by the Consell de Ibiza on Thursday January 23 at the Movistar Arena, Elena Congost received special recognition by being named ambassador of the Ibiza Half Marathon (IMM). This title highlights her contribution to the sport and the values it represents, while underlining her connection with the spirit of self-improvement and effort that symbolizes this competition.

Elena Congost is a Catalan Paralympic athlete recognized for her passion, dedication and outstanding career in athletics. Born in Barcelona, Congost has established herself as one of the most inspiring athletes on the international scene, especially in long-distance and middle-distance events.

With a degenerative visual impairment, she has constantly challenged the limits, proving that she can overcome any obstacle with willpower and determination. That is why the IMM organization has chosen her as the image of this iconic event.

At a very young age, Elena began competing in athletics, standing out for her competitive spirit and natural talent. Throughout her career, she has accumulated numerous successes, including a gold medal at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games in the marathon event. With a career marked by perseverance and self-improvement, he has become a source of inspiration for many.

One of the hardest moments of her career came at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, where she was disqualified from third place in the marathon for having helped her guide not to fall. Despite the disappointment, Congost faced this situation with an exemplary attitude, demonstrating extraordinary resilience and reaffirming the values of sportsmanship, perseverance and self-improvement.

In this new stage, Elena is preparing for her first major competition of the year in Ibiza. Despite being a marathon runner, she recognizes that half marathons pose a greater challenge due to their faster pace. “I suffer more in the half marathon than in the full marathon”, confesses the athlete, showing her honesty and closeness. This year, moreover, she will have a new guide, her nutritionist during the Paris Games, who has taken on this role with great motivation for the upcoming sporting challenges.

Elena also highlights the uniqueness of the route of the Ibiza Half Marathon, a spectacular circuit that favors personal bests. Her illusion is not only focused on the competition, but also on the possibility of enjoying the scenic charm of the island and sharing the experience with her family and friends.

Beyond the competitive aspect, Elena especially values the fact that the race has a majority of women participants. “It is very important that women are encouraged to participate in longer distances. As a woman and as an athlete, I’m thrilled to know that more and more women are taking part in events like this,” she says.

Despite the challenges, Congost also finds time to reconcile her sporting life with her large family. A mother of four children between the ages of one and six, she organizes her training day while they are at school and counts on the support of her entourage to continue with her sporting career. “It’s difficult to reconcile, but in the end, like any mother with her work life, you find the balance,” says Elena, reinforcing her image as an example of struggle and empowerment.

Elena Congost is an example of fighting for equality, empowerment and never giving up in the face of adversity. Her story is a constant reminder that, with effort and determination, it is possible to overcome any challenge. Therefore, her figure is ideal for a race in which more women than men participate since, currently, 51% of the registrations are for women.