Cover photo: ISA

Argentine two-time ISA world champion Santiago Muñíz confirmed that he will return to competition for the Ballito Pro, QS 10.000, which takes place between July 1 and 7 in South Africa, after six months without using a competition lycra due to a period of stress.

According to the statement sent by his press manager, in February, when he was preparing for the first competitions of the year, the Argentine underwent some routine medical check-ups and they did not come out well.

"The medical examination reached the psychological and emotional aspects and revealed marked stress in the competitor born in Mar del Plata," the note states.

“I have been competing at the highest level for many years, pushing myself to the limit, and sometimes my body and mind say enough, let’s stop here,” said Santiago, adding: “Being out of the circuit, out of the water, out of the competition, was difficult for me at first. Little by little I improved and I understood that it was the best thing, that my whole body needed a rest.”

After that, a month ago he was already seen training at his home in Bombinhas and now he says he is ready to beat anyone: “Why not? It is true that it is not easy to return after six months without competing, but I have felt very good in the water and I have recovered the desire, the energy. I have enough to compete on equal terms with anyone.”

Santiago is now traveling from Lima (where he trained for 10 days with the Argentine team) to South Africa and then returning home to Santa Catarina and then traveling to Argentina to make the final adjustments for Lima 2019, where one of the 16 competitors will qualify for Tokyo 2020.