Judith Tortosa targets LA28 Paralympic debut as she returns to L’Hospitalet

Last year, Judith Tortosa travelled to Barcelona to compete at the Meeting of L’Hospitalet as part of her preparations for the World Para Athletics Championships in New Delhi – her third appearance at the Worlds. A month later, she learned she was also entering her first Paralympic cycle when the women’s 100m 72 was confirmed as part of the LA28 programme.

A three-time World Championships medallist in the event, the Spaniard returns to L’Hospitalet this weekend as one of the stars of the traditional meeting – now a key stop in her build-up towards qualification for her Paralympic debut in 2028. 

“Knowing that the T72 class will be at Los Angeles 2028 filled me with excitement and gave me even more motivation to keep training and improving every day,” Tortosa said. “It’s a dream come true to be able to compete at the Paralympic Games. For any athlete, it’s the most important event after the World Championships.”

The long-awaited news for Tortosa and the frame running community also meant adjusting the season’s strategy, with the focus no longer solely on the next World Para Athletics Championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan in 2027.

“Our preparation has certainly changed quite a bit, because now we’re not just focusing on the World Championships, but also on the road to the Paralympic Games. Everything is planned in greater detail, from training sessions to recovery and competitions. We’re working step by step to reach the highest possible level and keep improving every season,” added the Valencia-based athlete.

She also needs to balance her training and competition schedule with the everyday commitments of a 20-year-old.

“I try to balance sport and my studies as best I can. I’m doing an intermediate vocational training course in administration, and I train six days a week, mainly focusing on speed, endurance and physiotherapy sessions. It can be tricky to organise everything at times, but when you love what you do, you find a way,” said the Spaniard, who will head to Barcelona after class on Friday. 

Among the international stars also competing at the Meeting of L’Hospitalet this year are several of Tortosa’s Spanish teammates, including Alba Garcia Falagan, the world champion in the women’s long jump T11, as well as Paralympic champions such as Fleur Jong of the Netherlands. 

L’Hospitalet 2025 🫱🏽‍🫲🏾 New Records

🇳🇱Fleur Jong equals her own world record in the women's long jump T62, while 🇪🇸Judith Tortosa breaks the world record in the women's 400m T72 at 20th edition of the traditional Para athletics event in Spain.

Read More🔗https://t.co/T1JeQiGEWp pic.twitter.com/csupVsE6cN

— Para Athletics (@ParaAthletics) May 19, 2025

Jong is a familiar face at L’Hospitalet, where she broke the women’s long jump T62 world record last year (6.74m) – and has since extended it to 6.86m.

Tortosa also set a world record at the meeting last year, in the women’s 400m T72 (1:17.50), an event on the World Championships programme but not part of the Paralympic Games.

Other Paralympic medallists in action include Spain’s Adiaratou Iglesias (T13) in the women’s 100m and 200m, and Germany’s Leon Schaefer (T63) in the men’s 100m and long jump. 

“Having some of the world’s best athletes here in Spain is vital for the growth of Para athletics and also helps us compete at the highest level,” Tortosa said. “Competing at home is always something very special because you really feel the support of the crowd and those around you. My main goal for the Meeting is to keep improving my times, gain experience and enjoy the competition.”

The 21st edition of the Meeting of L’Hospitalet will be streamed live on YouTube. More information, schedule and results can be found here.