At a time when life felt heavy and uncertain, football offered Rubén Hernández Reales something more than distraction, it became a source of joy and the foundation for a healthier, more hopeful future.
“Football helped me enjoy myself and escape, especially during the weekends,” says Rubén, a proud player for Special Olympics Madrid. “Thanks to football and going to the gym, I lost 32 kilos.” His commitment to sport didn’t just improve his physical health; it helped him rediscover his motivation and sense of purpose.
“I was struggling with relationships and with being overweight. At Special Olympics, I found the right people to help me turn things around.”
A key figure throughout this journey has been Ana, his coach at Special Olympics Madrid. “Ana never lets go of our hands. She motivates us, on the field and in life. She takes care of us. She’s special to all of us,” Rubén says.
Originally from Fuenlabrada, a town south of Madrid, Rubén sees football not just as an elite, high-level sport, but as a shared experience played on neighborhood pitches, in Special Olympics tournaments, and most importantly, with his brother Juan Carlos, his greatest inspiration.
“My brother is my king,” Rubén says. “I got into football by going to watch him play.” Juan Carlos, also a Special Olympics Madrid footballer, was instrumental in sparking Rubén’s love for the game.
Rubén’s journey began on his brother’s team. Later, his father formed a local team for people with disabilities, which eventually led Rubén to Special Olympics. That connection with his brother was more than just support, it opened the door to a fuller, more meaningful life.
He’s since played in multiple competitions, including the Femaddi Indoor Football League, the Unified 7-a-side Football League, the Summer and Winter Cups, the Catalan Games in Granollers and Special Olympics European Football Week. Yet for Rubén, it’s not the trophies that matter most. “Every game is important, whether you win or lose,” he says. For him, football is a constant source of well-being.
Beyond the Pitch
Off the field, Rubén works at a car factory and holds on to big dreams: starting a family, owning a home, filling a garage with cars, and one day managing his own football team.
To anyone facing difficult times, his message is clear: “Fight. In life, things are achieved with perseverance. It’s not about the goal, it’s about the journey.”
Rubén doesn’t just play football. He lives it with passion, purpose, and pride. And through that love of sport, passed down from his brother and nurtured with dedication, he’s also learned how to live a better life.
