Centre of Excellence: Laureus sporting greats visit Comunidad of Madrid's stunning Puerta de Hierro facility

Former world tennis No.1 Garbiñe Muguruza: “I’ve never seen a facility like this before – the scope of it, and the fact that it is shared by everyone in the wider community, from elite athletes to the general public, using the same expertise and state-of-the-art equipment.

“This shows what can be achieved when sport is put at the heart of community – and it was also a lot of fun. Now that I am retired, this was a reminder that it’s good to try a wide range of different sports!”

Cafu, the eternal captain of the Brazilian men’s national soccer team, two-time World Cup champion, and the only athlete to play in three consecutive World Cup finals:

“I could have done better, I’m disappointed with my performance,” says Cafu, laughing. “I’m not surprised by Daniel Dias’ incredible archery performance. He is an amazing athlete, not to mention his incredible resilience.

"We only had a glimpse of the infrastructure that the Community of Madrid benefits from every day. The sheer number of people passing through Puerta de Hierro shows that it is transforming the community — in terms of fitness levels, living standards, and mental health. It’s an example that should be shared with all major cities around the world.”

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