Marina Farray had been practicing rhythmic gymnastics for ten years and needed some motivation in sports. That's how she came to Jiu Jitsu, through her family, trying out in a training session and getting caught up in the atmosphere she found in this discipline. This is how the conejera fighter met a modality that she dominates overwhelmingly today. Not in vain, Marina Farray has recently managed to revalidate the double title of Grappling World Champion that she already achieved in Russia last year, a milestone within the reach of very few.

This time, she played at "home", since the Grappling World Championship was held in Pontevedra during the past month of October, bringing together more than 1,800 participants from the Under'17, Under'20 and Senior categories from 74 different countries.
Up to five athletes from the TAZ Lanzarote club accompanied her to Galician lands to be part of the national team. Arón Hernández, Acoidán Arbelo, Dani González and Albano Callero were present at the international competition in addition to the coach of the Lanzarote club, with Jonathan Hernández being part of the national technical staff.
All this allowed the Lanzarote athlete to feel at home to reconquer the two gold medals she had already achieved in Russia. "Here we feel much more supported, it is our people, our area and our climate. Although it may seem like a lie, you have to acclimatize well to the territory", Marina highlights.
“I knew that I was going to go for it all and give my best, I didn't want to keep anything, but leave everything on the mat”
She had her objective "clear" during the World Cup
Regarding the expectations before this new experience, the competitor had her "clear objectives", as she always does. "I knew that I was going to go for it all and give my best, I didn't want to keep anything, but leave everything on the mat", Farray relates, although she remembers that winning was not an easy task, especially against one of her rivals because both had a very similar style, "I didn't think it was going to cost me so much against the rival from Kazakhstan, but impressions are deceiving, she turned out to be very good and made it very difficult for me", details the young woman assuring that "without the previous physical preparation I could not have endured so much".
However, once she managed to overcome her tough opponent, she was clear that everything was in her favor. “When I won the first day, I knew that the second should be mine too”, she says referring to the fight against the Kazakh.
Regarding the memories that she takes to her memory, Marina indicates that "this year was very special" and in which she highlighted the union that existed between all the members of the selection. "I lived it as a very enriching experience", she concludes.
Despite the enormous success achieved, both on the podium and several days later, Marina was not aware of what she had achieved. “You don't realize what you achieve until you see yourself at home with two more medals hanging and one more world championship behind you. It is very difficult to assimilate so many things in such a short time, I still don't quite believe it but little by little I am assimilating it and I am believing it”.

One of the key aspects of Marina Farray is the constant interest in improving. After her journey in the international tournament, the fighter comments that "this world championship has served to work on other techniques that I had never considered, but I have to be prepared in every way".
Despite being one of the promises of this discipline, both nationally and internationally, Marina Farray remains with her feet on the ground. “I still have a lot to learn. I am in the process of becoming a future promise, but I will do everything possible to make that day come soon”.
Goals for the future
Regarding her short-term purposes, she will soon prepare for the Canary Islands Championship, which could open the doors for her to participate in the national competition. A task that will not be easy, being her first year competing in the senior category. "I will prepare as always, giving the best of myself", Marina warns.
When analyzing the level that exists on the island within the discipline, Farray points out that "there is a fairly good level", highlighting above all the results obtained outside the island and the Canary archipelago. In the last edition of the Spanish Championship, TAZ Lanzarote received the award for the best team in the entire country. "With that, you can already see the great level that exists", says the member of the Lanzarote club.

Marina points out that these achievements are not reflected in the support and visibility of the sport within the island. “We need sponsors to trust us to show them that they would not waste the little financial help we ask for”. She also highlights that the media “could get a little more involved to promote this type of sport that is not well known by everyone”, concludes the young talent from Lanzarote.