The FEiE brings together Olympic women’s water polo champions
The Faculty of Economics and Business at the UAB hosted yesterday an outstanding academic event featuring eight Olympic champions from the Spanish women’s water polo team at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, all of them linked to the University as current students or alumni.
17/03/2026
The event, held in the Faculty’s auditorium, brought together a large number of students and members of the university community, who had the opportunity to hear first-hand the athletes’ experiences in a roundtable focused on leadership, performance and team culture.
Participants included Maica Garcia, Isabel Piralkova, Bea Ortiz, Laura Ester, Anna Espar, Elena Ruiz, Paula Leitón and Nona Pérez, all members of the team that achieved the Olympic gold medal in Paris 2024 after an outstanding performance throughout the competition.
During the session, key topics were discussed such as formal and informal leadership within teams, cohesion and conflict management, as well as decision-making and emotional regulation in high-pressure environments. The discussion also explored how the values and lessons from elite sports can be transferred to organisational and business contexts.
The event was introduced by the Dean of the Faculty, Alejandro Rialp, who participated alongside professor Joan Lluís Capelleres, within the framework of the Strategic Management II course. Attending students had the opportunity to interact with the athletes and ask questions during the session.
Prior to the roundtable, the documentary Eternas (Movistar+), directed by Luis Fermoso and José Luis de la Osa, was screened. The film traces the evolution of the Spanish women’s water polo team into one of the leading international teams, culminating in their Olympic gold medal in Paris.
The event was part of the International Women’s Day (March 8) initiatives and the Women in Motion at UAB week, organised by the UAB Sports Service. It was promoted by the Faculty of Economics and Business and the Tutoresport UAB Programme, which provides academic support to high-performance student-athletes, helping them balance their studies and sports careers.
Notably, eight of the participating athletes are part of this programme and are current or former UAB students, highlighting the University’s commitment to both academic and sporting excellence.
The event became a space for reflection and inspiration for students, highlighting the strong connection between elite sports values and professional development.