13-Year-Old Carla Soriano Wins Spanish Rhythmic Gymnastics National Title

Carla Soriano, a 13-year-old gymnast who trained in Andorra from a young age, has won the Spanish national rhythmic gymnastics title in the absolute category. The victory came at a competition in Castelló last November, where she competed against the country's top 4,000 gymnasts.

Born in Murcia, Soriano began the sport there after her mother enrolled her in a local club, drawn by her love of dancing. Two years later, the family moved to Encamp, and she continued training at Serradells before joining the more professional Club de Rítmica d’Escaldes-Engordany (GAEE). That switch allowed her to take part in competitions beyond Andorra, both individually and in teams, though her focus remains on solo routines.

Seeking further advancement, her mother signed her up for a training camp run by Club Mabel of Benicarló, one of Spain's leading clubs. Four years after arriving in Andorra, Soriano joined the team in 2024 and now lives there with her mother. Her training has intensified from 10 hours a week over four days to daily sessions from 5pm to 9pm, with Sundays off. "The change was big, but it hasn't affected me much because I'm very organised and I love what I do," she said.

The young athlete recently attended a talent scouting event for Spain's senior national team in Madrid, which went well, positioning her for a likely call-up next year. Her ultimate goal is Olympic selection. Despite her success, she balances gymnastics with studies and aspires to become a prosecutor after retiring from the sport, possibly transitioning to coaching to pass on her knowledge.