Panamanian gymnast Karla Navas is going through a significant phase in her athletic career. After nearly six years of non-stop competition, marked by achievements, medals, injuries, and high-level pressure, the athlete has decided to take a break to recover physically and mentally.
«My body needed it, my mind needed it, and I’m already mentally preparing for what’s to come,» Navas said. She credits the Panamanian Olympic Committee and Pandeportes (the Panamanian Sports Institute) for helping her achieve one of the fastest recoveries to be at 100%.
One of the most important moments of her career was winning the gold medal at the Doha Gymnastics World Cup, a result she considers a landmark. «I achieved one of the strongest medals, a World Cup gold in Doha. It still fills me with great satisfaction,» she added.
In addition to sports, Navas is building her academic future by studying physiotherapy. «Thank God I got an athletic scholarship to the Latin University of Panama, which made it possible for me to study there,» she said, noting that she is fulfilling two big dreams: reaching the Olympic Games and graduating as a physiotherapist.
Navas also highlights the growth of the Panamanian team and the emerging talent. «Panama has a very good, well-prepared team. We have girls ready for anything, so I really feel we are getting closer to arriving at the Olympic Games with a complete team,» she stated.
This year, Navas has no fixed competitions, but her main goal is to return to peak performance and bring results for her country. «It’s been two months of quality time with my family. It’s been a long time since I’ve spent so much time with them,» she concluded.
