Benjamin’s team, Gymnastics Club Les Marines de Calp, including Laia Martínez and Lara Ponukalin, trained with a loan from Es Vinyet club and earned the title of Spanish team champions on July 8 at the Palacio de Deportes Paco Paz in Ourense. The championship celebrated a remarkable sequence of performances from the young squad, highlighting their emerging strength on the national stage.
Friday evening at 19:20, Lara Ponukalin took the floor with a rope routine that captivated judges and spectators alike. Her flawless execution earned the highest score in her category, and she was proclaimed Spanish rope champion. This victory placed Les Marines in the position of interim national champions, signaling their potential to claim the top prize in the team rankings as the competition progressed.
On Saturday, the focus shifted to the free hands discipline. Laia Martínez stepped forward to defend her early lead and once again impressed the audience and the jury. Her performance earned the team a silver medal in the discipline, reinforcing Les Marines’ standing as a formidable contender in the national event.
With combined points across the events, the youngest squad from Les Marines achieved the highest overall score in their category, ascending to the top of the podium and earning the title of absolute national team champions. The trio of performances culminated in two gold medals and a champions trophy for the young gymnasts, underscoring their rising status in Spanish gymnastics.
Sunday marked the first national finals for these competitors. Lara returned to the mat with renewed confidence, yet a small misstep prevented her from clinching first place, resulting in a bronze medal in the final. Laia Martínez delivered another strong workout, but a late error kept her from reaching gold, finishing second in the free hands event. Despite these hurdles, the overall result remained exceptionally competitive for the team, underscoring their consistency and depth.
Ultimately, thanks to the high level demonstrated across events, Les Marines secured a bronze medal in the final standings, bringing home two additional medals of renown for their collection. The club expressed pride and happiness with the season’s results, celebrating Laia Martínez’s standout performance, which included three national medals in a single season. Gratitude was extended to Es Vinyet de Mallorca for their support as part of the team, along with the club’s technical and management staff for contributing to the strong results achieved in the 2023 season. [Source: Es Vinyet de Mallorca, team collaboration and support]