Yago Navarro from Pamplona, student of History at the University of Navarra, has qualified for the European Fencing Championships, to be held in Italy from February 24 to March 2. The young man, who will represent Spain in the European Championship, becomes the first Navarrese to do so.

Yago Navarro will participate in the competition along with three other Spanish athletes. "I would never have imagined that I would make it to a European, but I fought for it. Only four athletes per weapon and category from each country can go". He says that "it has been a very nice way, but also a lot of effort; I had to give up many things, but everything I invested has been rewarded".

Yago Navarro is a second year student of Degree in History, is a delegate and combines his university programs of study with the sport of high performing. To help reduce the difficulty of development complementary to his professional and sports degree program , Yago is part of Talento Deportivo, a program of the University of Navarra that gives support and attendance to student-athletes like him. In this sense, he also highlights the financial aid of his professors and his advisor, which have given him flexibility to be able to attend to the championships.

Fencing, a sport with values

Yago Navarro began fencing at the age of 11. Since then, he has competed in territorial tournaments and, later, in national tournaments. He is the only Navarrese with medals in the children's, cadet and junior categories of the Spanish Championships; he has won the main territorial absolute tournaments in the northeastern part of the country; in Navarra he has won all the titles in minor and absolute categories; he has competed several times abroad, and this year he has joined the Junior National Team.

He assures that fencing is a sport with many values, which he has been able to apply in his own life: "There is admirable respect and Education among rivals. This sport teaches you both to enjoy victory and to accept defeat. It also prepares you to make a decision in critical moments and to control your emotions".

Halfway through deadline, one of his main objectives is to win a medal in the Spanish Team Championship: "We have never won one in Navarra and it would be very special to win it with my usual teammates," he explains. Regarding his professional future, he would like to dedicate himself to the teaching, both professionally and in sports.