FEB President Elisa Aguilar: “Seeing myself in this position of responsibility shows that the obstacles are removed”

He has lived a life in basketball since the day he stepped into the A team at the age of 14 and became the president of the federation 33 years later. What emotions go through your mind?

I’m a long distance person. I would be a good marathon runner and I feel like I have achieved all the goals I have set for myself in my life at the pace I was meant to achieve them. As an athlete, I realized my life’s dream, which was to play professional basketball, compete in 222 matches with the national team and be on the podium in many international tournaments. But frankly, this is another dream come true: to have maximum responsibility in the place that has been my home for nearly 40 years. And the truth is, I’m very excited, I’m very happy, and I believe we can achieve great things.

What do you value more, unanimous support, which ultimately means recognition for your work, or the federation’s ability to break the glass ceiling for women?

I don’t focus on the female aspect because they choose me not for that, but because they see me as talented. Then there are the derived consequences of this, which is that for the first time in history a woman is in this position of responsibility and this has never happened before, it shows that the obstacles that have stood in our way throughout history have been removed. I believe this is the strongest message we can give to girls who want to dedicate themselves to management one day: If you prepare, you can and will get there.

“Basketball fulfilled the demands of society and took a step towards equality in this country.”

Do you understand that you are now a reference for women and an example of commitment to equality?

I don’t feel that way. I feel like I am one of a chain that started a long time ago and is perhaps breaking down the boundaries we have or have placed on our professional and personal development. But I understand that the sport and the federation have a lot of visibility, and I realize that I am in the news. But if I am a reference, I feel proud because it is also important to send the message that we are getting there. Here, basketball managed to meet the demands of society. As I said in my speech, you have taken a step towards equality in this country. I think it is another example of what basketball and the Federation is, which is ahead in many aspects.

As a woman, athlete and leader, I have to ask you how you experienced the Rubiales case.

I want to distinguish directions. What happened at the World Cup in Australia was a great work by the players because being a world champion is a very complex thing. It’s very, very difficult. And that makes me angry because that’s what’s in the background. Therefore, what was seen at the ceremony was inappropriate. Apart from the values ​​I received as an athlete. As a manager, I am very clear: There are behaviors that cannot occur neither in women’s sports nor in sports in general. Then there is an open case and I am extremely respectful and believe we should leave it to the judges to decide.

“I’m just one member of the chain, but I’m proud if they see me as a reference because it’s important to send the message that this can be achieved.”

Can you say that basketball, the sport with the most female players in Spain, is one step ahead of other federations in terms of equality?

I can’t speak for others, but I know what we’re doing. We have procedures to prevent this and will strengthen them further. We are all one in this. And we can say, for example, that the treatment between men’s and women’s teams is the same at all levels (coach, trainer, diet, travel, accommodation…). This is an issue we have internalized. You must believe it, and so do we.

The dispute arose two years ago in basketball, with complaints by Anna Cruz and Marta Xargay against former coach Lucas Mondelo. Do you see any parallels?

For me, the situation is completely different because the incident presented to me took place not in the federation or the national team, but in a European team. We had no idea that this behavior was happening in the national team. If such a thing had happened, I can assure you that the federation would have nipped it in the bud.

“I make my choice not because of being a woman, but because they see me as qualified.”

How will the Federation change with your arrival compared to the Garbajosa scene?

I’ve been with Jorge since 2016 and it’s been a privilege. There are the results and the direction of the federation. Now he gives me the flag, but we are different. I want to put forward my ideas and do it with my personality. I took a lot of good things from Jorge’s time, and now I want to add my own stamp to them.

What difficulties do you encounter at this stage?

I want to approach the half million I mentioned in the Parliament by ensuring growth in licenses, which are indispensable for basketball. Initializing the signatures with the Endesa Women’s League collective agreement and the cooperation agreement with ACB. I also believe that we must adapt to the new world, and this means that our product has the best treatment that will bring us even closer to our fans and is as attractive as possible, so that the fan card or Club España reinforces the sense of belonging. National teams are the jewel in our crown and in this sense, the Valencia Men’s Pre-Olympic Tournament we requested is very important.

“What happened at the World Cup is inappropriate, there are behaviors that cannot be done in sports”

Is the renewal of coach Sergio Scariolo among the priorities on your agenda?

Sergio knows how much we trust him and that this will be his home until he wants it, but this is Sergio’s decision, the only thing missing… I think he is not a man who decides in nine months. . He knows our offer, which is to stay because we think we are in safe hands. He is very happy to be a coach and I hope he will be with us for many years.