{"id":34380,"date":"2025-03-26T10:13:57","date_gmt":"2025-03-26T09:13:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/juanmata8.com\/noticia\/from-mata-to-mata-10-years-on\/"},"modified":"2025-09-15T14:58:00","modified_gmt":"2025-09-15T12:58:00","slug":"from-mata-to-mata-10-years-on","status":"publish","type":"noticia","link":"https:\/\/juanmata8.com\/en\/new\/from-mata-to-mata-10-years-on\/","title":{"rendered":"From Mata to Mata, 10 Years On"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Ten years ago, Dar\u00edo Mata suffered a cardiac arrest while training with his team, Balonmano Antequera in the Silver Honor Division. During his recovery, the Malaga native found support from many people involved in sports, including Juan Mata. The Spanish footballer, who shares his last name, sent him a shirt and a loving message, which Dar\u00edo deeply appreciated<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n

Ten years later, the former handball player\u2014who has since become a European Beach Handball champion\u2014has reflected on that life-changing moment. He shared his emotional story at a special event for the sports programme \u2018El deporte va por barrios<\/strong>\u2018 (Sport Goes Neighbourhood to Neighbourhood), held in M\u00e1laga\u2019s Olletas district. Addressing over a hundred spectators, Dar\u00edo admitted: \u201c From day one, I knew returning to elite handball would be tough. But beach handball changed everything\u2014less contact, a different rhythm\u2014and I rediscovered myself as an athlete there. Now, as fitness coach<\/strong> for Trops M\u00e1laga, I\u2019m embracing a new chapter\u2014and loving it <\/em>\u201d. <\/p>\n\n

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“My total respect and admiration. It’s incredible to see you still thriving in sport.”<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The event delivered several touching surprises. The Down Trops M\u00e1laga-Fundaci\u00f3n Victoria<\/strong> team made a special appearance after receiving an invitation to mark International Down Syndrome Day.<\/strong> Also in attendance was Paco Garc\u00eda, the quick-thinking caretaker of Antequera\u2019s Fernando Arg\u00fcelles sports hall, whose first aid helped save Dar\u00edo\u2019s life a decade earlier. But the most significant moment came when a video message from Juan Mata lit up the screen. Speaking from Australia, the former Chelsea and Manchester United star sent \u201c a huge hug to Dar\u00edo\u2014my total respect and admiration. It\u2019s incredible to see you still thriving in sport <\/em>.\u201d The room erupted in applause as Dar\u00edo, visibly moved, watched on.\u201d, provocando el aplaudo de la sala y la emoci\u00f3n del malague\u00f1o. <\/p>\n\n

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\u2018El deporte va por barrios’\u2014a social and sporting initiative by M\u00e1laga’s Sports Journalists’ Association and Fundaci\u00f3n Caixa\u2014has toured 13 underprivileged neighbourhoods in the city<\/strong>. This time, it inspired the heart of Olletas, proving once again how sport can unite, heal, and uplift. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Juan Mata sent “a huge hug to Dar\u00edo Mata” and his “total respect and admiration”. A decade ago, Dar\u00edo suffered a cardiac arrest during training with his team, Balonmano Antequera. He shared his emotional story at a special event for the sports programme ‘El deporte va por barrios’ held in M\u00e1laga. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":34378,"menu_order":0,"template":"","format":"standard","categoria-noticia":[],"class_list":["post-34380","noticia","type-noticia","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"yoast_head":"\nFrom Mata to Mata, 10 Years On - Juan Mata<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"A decade ago, Dar\u00edo Mata suffered a cardiac arrest during training with his team, Balonmano Antequera, in Spain's Divisi\u00f3n de Honor Plata. 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