[Dream Team] Manuela & Valeria Cardenas, Revolution, Colombia
Credits : Jolie J Lang, Ultiphotos
Playing both world finals (WUGC 2016) and junior semi-finals (WJUC 2016) the same year is not common! But that’s part of the accomplishments of Cardenas twin sisters this year despite their young age.
How did you come to play ultimate?
We started playing ultimate at the age of 8 through the INDER program, a project that brings sports like ultimate to public schools in Medellin, Colombia, as a vehicle for social change. We were immediately fascinated by ultimate because of the fact that it was a non-contact sport and there were so many different ways that the disc could be thrown.
And how did you stick to the sport?
We began to train intensively and often stayed after class to throw on our free time. After seeing our passion for the sport, our coach encouraged us to try out for the competitive INDER team with which we could travel to various tournaments around the region.
At the age of 9, we started training with Revolution Ultimate Club. In 2010, at 11 years of age and with only three years of experience, we helped Revolution to a Colombian women’s national title.
What’s your best memory about ultimate?
Credits : Quentin Dupre Latour, Focus
We have a lot of very nice memories in ultimate, we reached great goals together, but I think our best memory is when we won the semi finals against Japan at WUGC, it was an incredible dream that we will never forget.
What’s your vision about the future of ultimate?
We think that ultimate we keep growing, and probably be at the olympic games, which would help for the recognition of our sport.
Something that brings us a lot of hope is the talent of the next generations we saw at WUJC. Here in our country we work a lot with the youth because it is the future of our sport.
We want to be part of an examplary sport, recognised worldwide without loosing the spirit of the game.
What’s you thoughts about ultimate frisbee cleats?
The first thing we look in cleats is the studs pattern, we think it is the most important part. We also appreciate comfort, we generally need 2 weeks before feeling really good in new shoes (so we don’t have blisters).
We are very happy to be part of a project of doing new cleats specially for our sport.
Credits : JFDA
Cardenas’ timeline
- 2007 – took part to the INDER program
- 2008 – Revolution ultimate, Medellin, Colombia
- 2010 – Revolution – women’s national 1st
- 2011 – Revolution – women’s national 1st
- 2012 – WJUC, Dublin, Ireland 1 st / women’s national 1st
- 2013 – U.S. Open, 5th – Revolution / women’s national 1st
- 2014 – WJUC / WUGC in Lecco, Italy / women’s national 1st
- 2015 – national champions with Revolution / Pan-American Championship
- 2016 – WUGC, Women 2nd / WJUC, women 3rd / women’s national 1st
