Maria Luisa Cabañero Sanchez de Leon Talks On WOWSA Live
Courtesy of KAATSU Global, Huntington Beach, California.
Maria Luisa Cabañero Sanchez de Leon is a Spanish swimmer – and her country’s first female firefighter – who was inducted in the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame in 2009 as an Honor Swimmer.
In addition to her many swimming achievements, she also became Spain’s first female firefighter, starting in 1987 in a profession that she loves for saving people’s lives and helping others.
Just as she succeeded in the water with a strong mindset racing in Mexico, Canada, Italy, and Brazil, Maria Luisa knows how to be a great firefighter where she has had to deal with many difficult situations. She also became a pilot of hot air balloons in 2000, a sport where she has received more sponsorship than as a swimmer during her open water swimming career.
She spoke with Antonio Argüelles on the January 3rd edition of WOWSA Live [shown above] where she talks about her fundamental mission of “Si quieres, puedes” (if you want, you can).
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Southern California native, born 1962, is the creator of the WOWSA Awards, Oceans Seven, Openwaterpedia, Citrus Corps, World Open Water Swimming Association, Daily News of Open Water Swimming, Global Open Water Swimming Conference. He is Chief Executive Officer of KAATSU Global and KAATSU Research Institute. Inductee in the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Swimmer, Class of 2001) and Ice Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Contributor – Media, Class of 2019), recipient of the International Swimming Hall of Fame’s Poseidon Award (2016), International Swimming Hall of Fame’s Irving Davids-Captain Roger Wheeler Memorial Award (2010), USA Swimming’s Glen S. Hummer Award (2007, 2010) and Harvard University’s John B. Imrie Award (1984). Served on the FINA Technical Open Water Swimming Committee and as Technical Delegate with the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games, and 9-time USA Swimming coaching staff.