«IT HAS BEEN A TOUGH ROAD»

Crístofer Benítez (Santa Cruz de Tenerife, 1990) is a rhythmic gymnast and coach in the same sport at the Evangim club. His successes, which he has battled to achieve for many years, include runner-up in the Spanish championships at the 3rd Men’s Cup held in Santander last year and Canarian Rhythmic Gymnastics champion. However, his biggest battle has been for equality in his favourite sport, given that Crístofer has always had to contend with those who are opposed to boys competing in rhythmic gymnastics. Such opponents did not reckon on the Tenerife gymnast’s strength of character.

How did you begin in rhythmic gymnastics?

I had tried several sports previously. I started out in karate, basketball and ordinary gymnastics. In this last case, I would train next to rhythmic gymnasts and I was fascinated by their hoops, the twirling ribbons in the air … I went over, asked about it and then gave it a try.

I imagine the road has not been easy, particularly when you are a ground-breaker.

I was getting into a sport that was largely for women. It was tough at the beginning because if I was training or in an exhibition or competition, people would see me and say «a boy, how weird». Girls would typically watch me and whisper amongst themselves. Some coaches and federations accepted me while others didn’t. To tell the truth, some simply did not like me. But my family did not really mind as long as I was doing sport.

What went through your mind when you were competing?

When preparing routines I try and come up with something comfortable that I will enjoy when competing. The last controversy I was involved in was a performance in which I combined SloMo and Quédate, and it ended up on social media, which prompted criticism by a Russian ice skater. However, singer Chanel saw it and told me she loved it. I was delighted. It is very comforting when you use a song and the singer congratulates you. When I compete I think about enjoying myself despite the nerves and insecurity; rather than just be a robotic gymnast, I try and do something that touches the audience, gets them on board and gets them to react. I knew what effect the song by Quevedo [Quédate] would cause and it was lovely.

What achievement do you feel most proud of?

Nothing really, in particular. The best thing for me is to feel supported. During the course of my battle, I have always been led to feel that boys are no use at this sport and for many years that message is what you have inside your head, the constant «you’re no good at this». After the controversy with the Russian, it was really lovely to feel such love from so many people and appreciated for what I was fighting to achieve. Because, irrespective of whether I was liked or not, I was a boy who had been fighting for years to defend the participation of boys in this sport. The biggest rewards have come off the competition mat.

How did that battle begin?

When I started out at the age of fourteen, I had no idea of the struggle I would end up being involved in. As the years passed, I realised that it was not just a sport that I liked but that I had to fight for equality in sport, both men’s and women’s. I did that by not giving up, by hanging in there. Also, sharing exhibitions and my participations in competitions on social media to show that boys and girls can do any kind of sport. That became my goal as I grew older and more mature. When Samuel Luiz was killed because of his sexual orientation in 2021, I decided to put the pride flag on my gymnastics leotard and in recent years I have been fighting against LGTBIphobia in sport.

I know that, as well as competing in the sport, you coach and train. What do you try and get across to the youngsters?

I began as a gymnast and then started helping my coaches out until I ended up coaching myself. Like taking part in rhythmic gymnastics, being accepted as a coach was hard. As it is a sport that has always been more for girls than boys, things are not easy. I have always had that little “shadow” hanging over me. However, things have been much easier as a coach than as a gymnast, given that I can link my role more to that of a choreographer or ballet teacher. It was not that difficult but at the same time it has probably been a tough road. There are very few of us at national level and in the Canaries we number just three or four. -

Will rhythmic gymnastics eventually be recognised as an Olympic sport?

I think it will. A year ago, the only sports in which both sexes did not compete were synchronised swimming and artistic and rhythmic gymnastics. Synchronised swimming has now held its mixed European championships and qualifiers for the Olympics. Maybe in ten years we will see the same in rhythmic gymnastics. I hope so. It is difficult, particularly when Spain is the only country to hold championships in this sport. Gymnasts from other countries come here to compete.

Text by Francisco Javier Torres del Castillo* Illustrated by Ilustre Mario