## Txell Mas: Biography of the Spanish Artistic Swimmer
Txell Mas: Biography of the Spanish Artistic Swimmer
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Txell Mas>, a pivotal figure in the resurgence of Spanish artistic swimming, stands as the lone survivor from the previous golden age of the sport. The Catalan swimmer made her debut for the national team at the 2013 World Championship in Barcelona and has taken on a leadership role following the team’s renewal after the disappointment of the Rio 2016 Olympics.
Mas’s journey began at the age of five, inspired by her older sister’s training sessions in Granollers. Witnessing the successes of the Spanish team during her formative years, she eventually joined them at the cusp of a new era.
Despite notable results at the 2013 World Championships and 2014 European Championships, the Spanish artistic swimming team failed to qualify for the Rio 2016 Olympics. This setback marked the end of an era for many team members, leaving Mas as one of the few remaining veterans.
Embracing the challenge, Mas has guided the adaptation of young swimmers joining the team, passing on the wisdom of legends like Gemma Mengual, Andrea Fuentes, and Ona Carbonell. As she stated in an interview with the newspaper Sport, “from the rest of the swimmers who sometimes aren’t talked about as much, but are equally important.”
A leader by example, Mas has witnessed the remarkable resurgence of the Spanish team. After a decade of searching, they finally clinched gold at the 2023 Fukuoka World Championship. This remarkable turnaround is attributed to the arrival of new head coach Mayuko Fujiki, the adaptation to the new scoring system, and the maturity of the young swimmers nurtured by Mas.
A decade after her first World Championship, Txell Mas stands at the forefront of Spain’s renewed artistic swimming era. With the Paris 2024 Olympic Games approaching, she hopes to return the team to the podium for the first time since London 2012.