Alfonso X el Sabio University (UAX) Mare Nostrum organised the event ‘8M: Women, Health, Sport and Leadership’ on Thursday, in collaboration with the Málaga Costa del Sol Handball Club . As part of International Women’s Day, the event featured several prominent female figures who combine elite sport, professional leadership and academic experience, with the aim of offering an inspiring perspective and highlighting the importance of equality in sport, in professional life and in terms of its impact on wellbeing.
The event was attended by Merche Castellanos, the Club’s international goalkeeper and a legendary figure in the Spanish national handball team. The goalkeeper emphasised the importance of holding events of this kind, which “are extremely enriching for the students ”. In her speech, she sent a message to young women embarking on their own projects: “Hard work, self-belief and the ability to enjoy the process are essential; it’s OK to make mistakes – what matters is valuing the journey we undertake every day,” she noted.
Rocío Campigli, a player for Club Balonmano Femenino Costa del Sol, also spoke at the event, emphasising how vital it is to “highlight the effort and daily work of the players. “We must change the current mindset, as support and resources should not come after success, but before, as a necessary investment to achieve it. Having that backing would allow us to perform to our full potential and achieve better results for women’s sport.”
For her part, Alicia Salas, a top-level athlete and head of studies at CAFYD, UAX Mare Nostrum, explained to the attendees the outstanding work carried out by the institution to nurture the talent of professional athletes and inspire leadership skills. “At the university, we promote these forums because they allow us to showcase to young women the perseverance and consistency that define the careers of our female athletes. It is an opportunity to shine a light on the less visible aspects of women’s sport, promoting a model of leadership based on hard work and genuine commitment, ” she said.
Furthermore, the event highlighted the importance of training, qualifications and motivation for professional development. This is something Martina Cueto, a dentistry student at the university and a competitive athlete, is well aware of. She expressed her gratitude for being able to “chat with role models and hear first-hand their views on the perseverance and sacrifice behind every achievement – it provides extra motivation for our academic and personal development ”.
This event reaffirms UAX Mare Nostrum’s commitment to and support for female talent, sporting leadership and professional inspiration, establishing itself as a space for open debate, where the values of sport and academic excellence come together to inspire new generations.
