Over the weekend in Australia, Brissa Málaga was crowned champion of the SPSC Circuit (Sydney Paddle Surfing Club), after winning all three stages of the tournament in the Open Women's category. The surfer announced this on her Instagram account, but also revealed that she had been removed from the Athlete Support Program (PAD) without even being notified.
In response to this, Natalia Málaga, Brissa's aunt, posted a reflection on her social media. "Just as we welcome athletes who want to represent us and change their nationality to do so - and I applaud and thank them for choosing the best country to represent because they had more opportunities than in their own - we also need to take more into account our national representatives," the post begins.
"You, Brissa Málaga, have dedicated your entire life to surfing since you set foot on a board, but it seems that the current leaders of your federation have not been supportive and don't recognize your efforts. What a shame. The request for inclusion in the PAD should be made by the president of your Federation. And if they don't recognize these championships, they should modify the manual in the Dinadaf and acknowledge your efforts, not just the names of the tournaments," it adds.
And it concludes as follows: "What does an athlete seek to improve? To have the greatest amount of national and international tournaments and to participate. That's what you, the surfers, do; that's why you have won many medals in the Lima 2019 Pan American Games and in other championships. It's thanks to the effort of each one when they enter the sea."
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