Centre of Excellence: Laureus sporting greats visit Comunidad of Madrid's stunning Puerta de Hierro facility
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After Simone Biles, Mondo Duplantis and Rafael Nadal took the top honours at the Laureus World Sports Awards on 21 April in Madrid, four all-time sporting greats saw up close the incredible sporting facility that has helped elevate Madrid to the status of ‘sporting capital of the world’.
The 25th anniversary Laureus World Sports Awards brought the world’s greatest sportsmen and women to the Spanish capital, and the day after the biggest show in sports, Garbiñe Muguruza – a Laureus Ambassador – and Laureus World Sports Academy Members Cafu, Daniel Dias and Nicol David were the guests of María Cabezón Jiménez, the director of sports for the Comunidad of Madrid, at the stunning Puerta de Hierro sporting facility.
Up to 8000 people per day visit Puerta de Hierro, from elite athletes to members of the public. The Laureus athletes were taken to the taekwondo, archery and beach volleyball facilities. They met with the head of each department and got to try out in each sport.
That included each athlete picking up a bow – with Daniel Dias getting closest to the bullseye – and being coached on kick technique by Spain’s Olympic medallist Adriana Cerezo.
Up to 8000 people per day visit Puerta de Hierro, from elite athletes to members of the public. The Laureus athletes were taken to the taekwondo, archery and beach volleyball facilities. They met with the head of each department and got to try out in each sport.
That included each athlete picking up a bow – with Daniel Dias getting closest to the bullseye – and being coached on kick technique by Spain’s Olympic medallist Adriana Cerezo.
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Former world tennis No.1 Garbiñe Muguruza: “I’ve never seen a facility like this before – the scope of it, and the fact that it is shared by everyone in the wider community, from elite athletes to the general public, using the same expertise and state-of-the-art equipment.
“This shows what can be achieved when sport is put at the heart of community – and it was also a lot of fun. Now that I am retired, this was a reminder that it’s good to try a wide range of different sports!”
Cafu, the eternal captain of the Brazilian men’s national soccer team, two-time World Cup champion, and the only athlete to play in three consecutive World Cup finals:
“I could have done better, I’m disappointed with my performance,” says Cafu, laughing. “I’m not surprised by Daniel Dias’ incredible archery performance. He is an amazing athlete, not to mention his incredible resilience.
"We only had a glimpse of the infrastructure that the Community of Madrid benefits from every day. The sheer number of people passing through Puerta de Hierro shows that it is transforming the community — in terms of fitness levels, living standards, and mental health. It’s an example that should be shared with all major cities around the world.”
“This shows what can be achieved when sport is put at the heart of community – and it was also a lot of fun. Now that I am retired, this was a reminder that it’s good to try a wide range of different sports!”
Cafu, the eternal captain of the Brazilian men’s national soccer team, two-time World Cup champion, and the only athlete to play in three consecutive World Cup finals:
“I could have done better, I’m disappointed with my performance,” says Cafu, laughing. “I’m not surprised by Daniel Dias’ incredible archery performance. He is an amazing athlete, not to mention his incredible resilience.
"We only had a glimpse of the infrastructure that the Community of Madrid benefits from every day. The sheer number of people passing through Puerta de Hierro shows that it is transforming the community — in terms of fitness levels, living standards, and mental health. It’s an example that should be shared with all major cities around the world.”
