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Irene Baeza
Interview
SPORT & FASHION
Madrid-based basketball player Irene Baeza stars in our Athleisure Fan Club campaign, inspired by the sporty styles of the 70s. We spoke to her to find out first-hand what it's like to combine professional basketball with her job as a forensic scientist, and how the world of fashion is present in her day-to-day life.
Who is Irene Baeza?
I like to define myself as a cheerful, positive and smiling person. I love to see the positive side of things and I feel very lucky and grateful for everything I have.
Since I was a child, I have been very active, and sport has always been key in my life. At school and university, I combined studies, training and jobs as a model and event hostess. This sometimes makes it difficult for me to have a day without activities, although it is something I am constantly working on.
« In the mornings I am a forensic scientist, I work in a lab, and in the afternoons I train with my colleagues for about 3 hours a day. »
How did you start your career in professional sport?
Sport has been a constant part of my life since I was a child. I started playing basketball at the age of 7, almost dragged by my mother at first, because I wasn't enthusiastic about it. Then I started to see it more as a social activity with my friends and, although at the age of 14 several professional teams showed interest in me because of my height, I preferred to keep it as a hobby.
It was after university that I took the sport more seriously. As there was no senior women's team at my school, I joined another club and started to train more intensively and improve thanks to a great coach I had who later became a friend. While I was studying for my current job in a forensic laboratory, I was approached by Real Canoe to play professionally in the 2nd division. After thinking about it, I accepted, and it was one of the best decisions on a sporting level. I have been with Canoe for six years now, enjoying myself, growing professionally and fighting to get us into the finals for the playoffs.
« I have always played in school teams; coming to Real Canoe and playing in the 2nd division was something very exciting for me »
How do you combine your sporting career with your working life?
I passed my public exam and I work in a forensic lab as a state employee, which allows me to have a morning schedule. This makes it a little easier to combine it with training, which takes place in the afternoon and evening. I won't say it's not exhausting: we train until 10pm 6 days a week, and I get up early for work, which leaves little time to rest...
Every year it gets harder and harder, and in every game you realise it when you are up against girls who are exclusively dedicated to basketball and train 2 or even 3 times a day... but the team and I try to compensate with our strengths and despite the extreme tiredness, every season we continue to fight and stay competitive.
SPORTS & FASHION. HOW DO YOU LIVE IT?
Currently, I've had to leave fashion a bit to one side due to my other responsibilities, but I try to prioritise those jobs that I can combine, such as those that are at the weekend or that offer me a good opportunity.
I think sport and fashion have always gone very well together, but it's true that in recent years there has been an upward trend in which brands are looking to present a more fitness-oriented image, with a greater presence of all body types, and I think sport is an integral part of that image.
Also, since playing for a professional team, I've had a lot of sport-related opportunities come my way, from modelling to match commentating. It's something that I love, that I have a lot of fun doing, and I try to keep doing it whenever I can.
ATHLEISURE FAN CLUB
Discover the whole campaign starring Irene Baeza for our Vandra SS24 collection.
