Ana Copado

'''Ana María Copado Amorós''' (born 31 March 1980), known as '''Ana Copado''', is a former Spanish water polo goalkeeper who played a key role in the Spain women's national water polo team, particularly helping secure a silver medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.^[1][2] Born in Terrassa, Spain, Copado represented Spain at the highest levels of international competition during a notable era for the national team.^[3] Her performance in goal contributed to the team's historic achievement at the 2012 Olympics, where Spain claimed its first Olympic medal in women's water polo with a silver in the tournament.^[1] She participated in major events under the auspices of World Aquatics.^[2]

Early life

Birth and family background

Ana María Copado Amorós, known professionally as Ana Copado, was born on 31 March 1980 in Terrassa, in the province of Barcelona, Spain.^[3] She stands 180 cm tall and weighs 70 kg.^[3] Terrassa has long served as a significant location for her early life, though specific details about her family background remain limited in available records.^[3] Some sources occasionally list her birthplace more broadly as Barcelona due to its provincial context.^[4]

Introduction to water polo

Ana Copado began playing water polo at the age of 14, after having started swimming through learn-to-swim courses at a younger age. ^[5] As a child and early teenager, she watched the Olympics and dreamed of participating one day, even though women's water polo was not yet an Olympic event. ^[5] Her older brother was already involved in the sport, which likely contributed to her initial exposure and interest. ^[5] She took up the sport competitively at Club Natació Rubí, where senior players at the club proposed forming a women's water polo team, marking the start of organized play for her. ^[6] Born in Terrassa, though raised in nearby Rubí, Copado specialized as a goalkeeper largely because she wanted to avoid the demanding early-morning swimming drills involved in other positions. ^[7] She later explained that long-distance swims at six in the morning felt overwhelmingly tiring, so she chose goalkeeping as a way to "slack off," while noting that the role still required enduring painful shots and a masochistic tolerance for them. ^[7] This decision positioned her in the role she would maintain throughout her career. ^[7]

Club career

Teams and domestic achievements

Ana Copado enjoyed a prolonged club career in the Spanish women's water polo leagues, primarily with Catalan teams. She began at Club Natació Rubí from 1994 to 2004, spending a decade with the club that launched her senior trajectory. ^[8] She subsequently played four years at CE Mediterrani, followed by two years at CN Montjuïc and three years at CN Sant Andreu. ^[8] In the later phase of her career, she joined CN Terrassa, where she competed from summer 2013 until her retirement in June 2017. ^[8] Her most notable domestic achievements came during her stints with CN Montjuïc and CN Sant Andreu, where she helped those teams finish as runners-up in both the Liga Española de Waterpolo Femenino and the Copa de la Reina. ^[8] At CN Terrassa, the team achieved its highest league placement to date under her tenure by finishing fifth in the 2016–17 season, though she cited narrowly missing the play-offs as a lingering disappointment. ^[8] As a veteran goalkeeper, Copado brought considerable experience to her clubs but did not secure league or cup titles in her domestic record. ^[8]

Role as goalkeeper

Ana Copado played as a goalkeeper in water polo. ^[8] She stood at 180 cm (5 ft 11 in) tall, a height that provided advantageous reach and presence in the goal area. ^[3] The water polo goal measures 3 meters wide by 90 cm high.

International career

National team selection and early tournaments

Ana Copado was selected to the Spain women's national water polo team ahead of the 2012 Summer Olympics. As a goalkeeper, she made her notable appearance with the senior national team at the 2011 FINA World Championships in Shanghai, where she was included in Spain's roster alongside teammates such as Blanca Gil, Ana Espar, and others.^[9] This participation in the 2011 World Championships served as a key early tournament for Copado and the team, providing valuable international experience ahead of their historic Olympic performance the following year.^[1]

Peak years and major competitions

Ana Copado's peak years with the Spain women's national water polo team occurred in the early 2010s, when she served as goalkeeper during key international tournaments. In 2011, she competed at the 14th FINA World Championships in Shanghai, where Spain placed 11th overall. That same year, the team finished 8th in the FINA Women's Water Polo World League Super Final. These events represented her involvement in major global competitions at the height of her international career, contributing to Spain's rising prominence in women's water polo.^[2] She was part of the Spain team at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, where she played as goalkeeper and helped the team secure the silver medal—the first Olympic medal for Spain in women's water polo.^[1]

2012 Summer Olympics

Selection and preparation

Ana Copado was included in the Spain women's national water polo team roster for the 2012 Summer Olympics as the reserve goalkeeper, serving behind starter Laura Ester. ^[10] The team had qualified for the Games by winning the Women's Water Polo Olympic Qualification Tournament held in Trieste, Italy, in April 2012, where they defeated host nation Italy 9-5 in the final to secure one of the available spots. ^[11] Copado had rejoined the national team in 2011 at the request of head coach Miguel Ángel Oca after previous periods in and out of the squad, and she secured her Olympic position through consistent merit and demonstrated value to the group. ^[10] To fully commit to preparations encompassing the qualification tournament, pre-Olympic training, and the London Games, she took an unpaid leave of absence from her job as an occupational risk prevention technician, enabling her to train seven hours daily despite the financial strain of living on a limited scholarship. ^[10] Coach Oca emphasized her earned inclusion, noting her contributions in mentoring the young starting goalkeeper Laura Ester and providing balance, calm, and maturity to an otherwise youthful squad. ^[10] Teammates and staff regarded her as an essential reference and stabilizing figure within the team, highlighting her professionalism, experience, and commitment to supporting younger players during the buildup to the Olympics. ^[7]

Performance and silver medal

Spain's women's national water polo team, with Ana Copado as reserve goalkeeper, captured the silver medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, marking the first Olympic medal in the history of Spanish women's water polo.^[12] This achievement came after a strong tournament performance where Spain finished second overall in the eight-team women's event, behind gold medalists United States and ahead of bronze medalists Australia.^[12] Copado was part of the squad as reserve to starting goalkeeper Laura Ester, with the team demonstrating resilience and defensive solidity throughout the knockout rounds.^[1] The silver medal represented a breakthrough moment for Spanish women's water polo on the Olympic stage, highlighting the team's rise as a competitive force in the sport.^[12]

Later career and retirement

Subsequent activities

After the 2012 Summer Olympics, Ana Copado continued her club career with Club Natació Terrassa, where she remained an active player for several more seasons in the Spanish league. ^[8] In June 2017, at the age of 37, she announced her retirement from professional water polo, bringing an end to her extensive career as a goalkeeper. ^[8] She explained that after many years in the sport, she had begun to feel its physical toll and decided to retire, although she had considered stepping away a year earlier before her coach, Xavi Pérez, persuaded her to play one additional season. ^[13] Following her retirement from competitive play, Copado has remained connected to water polo at a more recreational level, joining Club Natació Rubí where she continues to participate and enjoy the sport with enthusiasm at age 42. ^[14]

Post-playing involvement

Following her retirement from competitive water polo in June 2017, Ana Copado took on a coaching role at Club Natació Granollers. ^[15] She assumed responsibility for the club's women's water polo section in September 2017, directing both the senior women's team and the cadet team, with a focus on building a comprehensive female program from the grassroots level. ^[16] Copado emphasized attracting more girls to the sport in Granollers, stating her primary goal was "Volem que més nenes practiquin el waterpolo a Granollers." ^[16] She appreciated the club's lack of pressure for immediate sporting results, allowing her to prioritize long-term formation, player development, and creating a solid foundation rather than short-term achievements. ^[16] Although she had previously dismissed coaching as a career path and rejected other offers, she accepted this position because it echoed her own beginnings in the sport and provided an opportunity to grow as a coach while helping young players progress. ^[16]

Personal life

Personal details and interests

Ana Copado is a native of Terrassa, a city in the Catalonia region of Spain known for its prominent water polo culture. ^[17] She has lived and maintained her life in Spain throughout her career and beyond. ^[7] Public sources provide limited information on her personal interests, hobbies, or family life, suggesting she keeps these aspects private. ^[18] No detailed interviews or profiles elaborate on specific personal pursuits outside her professional involvement in water polo.

Honours

Team medals

Ana Copado won a team silver medal as goalkeeper for the Spanish women's water polo team at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. ^[1] The team reached the final after strong performances throughout the tournament but lost to the United States, securing Spain's first Olympic medal in women's water polo. ^[1] According to her official athlete profile on World Aquatics, her medal record in major AQUA and Olympic competitions consists of one silver medal from the Olympics, with no gold or bronze medals listed in those categories. ^[2] No other team medals from World Championships, European Championships, or similar events are documented in her primary records on the sport's governing body site. ^[19] Club-level honours for Copado are not detailed in the primary international sources consulted, though she played for prominent Spanish clubs during her career.

Individual recognitions

Ana Copado has been recognized individually for her performances as a goalkeeper in Spanish domestic water polo competitions. In the 2007 Spanish women's water polo championship final, she was named the best goalkeeper of the tournament while competing for C.E. Mediterrani. ^[20] She received a similar distinction in September 2010 at the XXII Campeonato de Waterpolo Ciudad de Dos Hermanas, a pre-season tournament held in Dos Hermanas, Spain, where she was awarded best goalkeeper as part of C.N. Sant Andreu's championship-winning team. ^[21] These honours highlight her standing in club-level play during her career. No major international individual awards, such as best goalkeeper designations from FINA or LEN events, are documented in available sources.