He has always been a special athlete. Bruno Hortelano (32 years old, national record holder in 100, 200 and 400 meters) always surprises with his changes in life, training methods, goals, competition distances, philosophy, attitude to life. After an irrelevant year, he suddenly appeared a few days ago in La Nucía and achieved a great time in the 400 meters (46.28), when he came from nowhere and no longer had time to chase the Olympic dream. He will not compete in Paris. But he seems happy.
-You are always a mystery.
-I was finally able to get something out of the good training I did this year.
-He looks like a Guadiana athlete…
-Yes. I will tell you my circumstance. All my preparations were going well until I was struck by Covid on January 2, which completely shortened my winter season. I wanted to run 100 and 200, but this infection made me very depressed. I was sick for two weeks and when I went back to training, I was not the same. He was very weak and had a lot of pain in his body.
-When will you recover?
-In March. That month I trained really well, but really, really well. He did sets of 200 meters in 20 seconds and a few tenths. I was very excited and thought that I would run under 20 seconds this summer. That was my goal for the Olympics. I didn't think it was that crazy.
-He competed in Tenerife in May, but not so well.
-The problem is that I got sick again in April and was sick again for six weeks. It looked like allergic bronchitis. And then there was an injury to the Achilles tendon in my right leg. I went to Tenerife with a lot of uncertainty. And competing with uncertainty is not good at all. I rode a bad race (21.25 in the 200) and then we re-evaluated everything. We decided to go for the 400 meters, a test with less physical strain for me. I was looking for the Olympic minimum: 45.00.
But he fought little…
-I was supposed to compete in Guadalajara in June. When I arrived at the track it was already late: the 400 meters were about to start. They had changed the schedule, moved it forward an hour and we had a communication problem. I was really angry. I think about it now and it seems surreal to me.
-That's a beginner.
-Honestly, yes. It had never happened to me before.
-Why didn't you compete in the Nationals?
-Because I didn't qualify. The top 24 of the Spanish ranking came in and I was 25th! It's curious. I wanted to qualify for the Games, but I didn't even qualify for the Spanish championships. I couldn't even imagine this! I had a lot of frustration and demotivation.
-But then he improved with a good race on July 7.
-Yes. I ran well, I passed the 300 in 32.3 and this left a good taste in my mouth. I finished the season with a good feeling and very supported by my family. My wife Eveline and my one-year-old daughter Vega changed my life, they put my feet back on the ground.
-Are you not continuing the season?
-No. And the truth is that there are no more opportunities. I still have the desire to do a good 200, so I'm going to do it for me in a test, training. And it's over.
-What is your balance?
-Well, I know I've been good in training, but I haven't achieved that in the competition.
-This concludes the Olympic cycle. A frustrating cycle, isn't it?
-Yes. I saw that it had great potential, but it wasn't possible. I didn't run enough.
– Do you think your traffic accident in 2016 affected the development of your sports career?
-Mentally, no. In motivation and preparation, no.
-Where is the Gardener from 10.06 and 20.04? Are you not the same anymore?
-Let me think about this answer. (Very long silence) There is one aspect in which the traffic accident has affected me greatly. My ability to stay healthy has decreased greatly over time. I have been injured much more often and more often since the accident. And I have been looking for other training methods, with less intensity and less stress. In terms of health, this has been a very long journey: it does not fit into this interview.
-What are your plans for 2025?
-I have no plans for next year.
-Because?
-Because my daughter was born a year ago. My wife and I have three children at home. My priority now is to find a sustainable way for my family to be fine, in all respects. At this moment I cannot call myself a professional athlete. Now I want to look for a job. And the remaining time I will spend with my family. And if there is still time left, time for athletics.
-What kind of job are you considering looking for?
– I don't know. I really liked the conferences I gave, very focused on motivation, I enjoyed it. I can concentrate there. I believe I have knowledge and experiences to contribute. I like to explore my own horizon. The path opens up by itself.
-You may consider doing more amateur athletics from now on, with less dedication.
-No. Never. I'm very competitive.
-You've always shown a very spiritual side. Are you still interested in Taoism?
-No, I'm not here anymore. They are texts that I have analyzed a lot, they have touched me. What I found useful, I have integrated. Now I touch land, in the most earthly phase possible. I have a daughter and a family. The focus has changed: that spiritual side is now taking a back seat. My daughter has given me a lot of perspective, she has taught me how important it is to appreciate when things are going well for you. My daughter has also freed me from the pressure of athletics. I have talked about this with Adel Mechaal. When this is all over, the medals go in the cupboard and you forget about them. But your family, your people, love… that is real. It is what is important. In life you have to invest in that.
-How would it be defined from a religious point of view?
-I am not religious. I do not follow any dogma. I have sought proof of my reason for living, with my own experience, with the experience of others and the search for wisdom through my own hands. I am not dogmatic in any religion. I am spiritual.
-What do you miss from when you lived in the United States?
-Autumn. That colorful autumn in New York.
-Are you going to the Games?
-Obviously! I like athletics and I want to enjoy it. I want to see the Spanish. In reality, those who compete there represent those of us who wanted to qualify for Paris. We did the Olympic cycle, the Olympiad, but we had problems and we didn't manage to get there. I didn't see the Tokyo one because I was very frustrated because I couldn't go either.
-What happened to the documentary they were filming about his life?
-They've been recording me for five years. It premieres on the 31st on Movistar+.