“BADMINTON HAS TAUGHT ME TO ALWAYS FIGHT FOR MY DREAMS AND NEVER GIVE UP” – TAYMARA OROPESA

Bronze medalist at 2023 Pan Am Games, Taymara Oropesa (CUB) is experiencing one of her best sporting stages and dreams on qualifying for the Olympic Games.

In the framework of International Women’s Day, Badminton Pan Am highlights various women from our region throughout the month of March, sharing their experiences for the inspiration of the entire Pan American family.

Taymara began training badminton at the age of 14, after leaving tennis and trying a new sport that finally made her fall in love with it and allowed her great achievements in her life.

“I started at the age of 14. I used to practice tennis but I changed because the sun was hurting my skin. When I learned about and played badminton for the first time, I loved it and that’s where I stayed.”

And so far badminton has allowed her to live various experiences in her life, including representing her country, learning about different cultures and obtaining great results.

“The best thing that sport has given me has been living the experience of competing in multidisciplinary games. It has also given me the opportunity to meet many good people along the way, it has taught me many values for life, and above all it has taught to always fight for my dreams and never give up.“

And in those dreams Taymara includes being able to achieve a place in the Olympic Games, something that she has set as a goal and for which she is striving in various competitions.

“My fundamental objective is to be able to qualify for the Olympic Games, that is one of my dreams”

Although the path is not always easy and there may be various situations that discourage an athlete, Taymara has known how to overcome difficulties or problems and continues to strive for her goals.

“I have faced several problems in my sports career, like when I left the national team in 2019, but I joined again in 2023. I was almost four years out of the sport, but I got up and this time much stronger.”

With the experiences lived on and off the courts, Taymara shares a message of encouragement for all people who, like her, fight to achieve their dreams:

“The message I would give is simple: if your dreams are big, it is because your ability to achieve them is also big, so keep fighting until you reach your goal, in one way or another, along the way you learn many things, and it will always remain the satisfaction that you gave your best, and above all, ENJOY the process.“