Meet
Ma. De Los Angeles

I will never apologize for being a powerful fucking woman.

Hi, I’m María de los Ángeles, born in Ecuador . Since I was a child, physical activity and sports have always been a part of my life. I come from a big family, so games and friendly competitions were part of our daily routine — I grew up with it. Honestly, I can say I had a wonderful childhood, surrounded by nature and open spaces: running, jumping, climbing trees, inventing games, competing…

If there was a basketball court, I played basketball. If there was a soccer field, I played soccer. There was no baseball field, but I still played baseball. There was no time to be bored. Inside the house, we weren’t allowed to play with balls, so we used stuffed animals instead. TV was only allowed on weekends and at specific times. It was a different time!

At school, I stood out in basketball and track & field — I was really good. But whenever it came to competing in other sports, I went for it too. As a kid, I never questioned if I could do something or not — I just did it. I had a natural athletic ability, always the tallest in class, with coordination, strength, and agility. That’s why I loved PE so much.

If you keep reading, you’ll see how it all started, everything I’ve tried, my achievements, the pain, the lessons… and hopefully you’ll find a little push to get yourself moving too.

My First Steps

After Michael Jordan, my biggest inspiration was my older sister, Mónica. She was the sporty one in the family, always organizing games and competitions. She was fun but very serious when it came to teaching — and she was the one who pushed me to face my fear of the pool.

I remember clearly the day she left me in an Olympic-size pool — I was terrified — and just let me go. I had to make it to the stairs somehow. I even grabbed a little boy’s hair to keep myself from sinking. Poor kid! (laughs) To this day, swimming is one of the few sports I don’t really enjoy.

Key Moments

Before I started training for rowing, I gave handball a try just for fun — and that’s where my first big achievement came: I was called up for the national pre-selection, and then officially selected to join the national handball team.

That was such an intense and exciting time in my life — hard training, great friendships, some of which still last today. I never had any serious injuries — a few broken fingers, which is normal in handball — but I’ve always been tough: I’d fix my pinky and keep playing.

One of the most painful moments was during a beach handball pre-selection game. The sand was burning hot, and I got a huge blister on the sole of my foot. During a break, I popped it, bandaged it up, and went back in.

I’ve changed disciplines many times because I genuinely love trying everything. After handball came rowing, badminton, fixed-seat rowing, softball, gym training, crossfit, powerlifting… and now rugby. I love the physical challenge, but also the adventure of playing in other countries, in different languages. Just imagine: rugby in Switzerland, with the team speaking German. A challenge both on and off the field.

But if there’s one thing that’s helped me overcome obstacles, it’s been sports themselves. When you’re clear about where you’re going, there’s no time for excuses. You wipe your tears, drink some water, stand up and keep going. Attitude, personality, character… they all matter, but if your goal is clear, you go for it with no apologies.

My Present

Right now, my fitness life is heavily focused on bodybuilding. Nutrition is the foundation of everything — but even more so in this sport. It’s a real challenge: specific training, nutrition planning, full-on discipline. I love the wellness categories — legs and glutes — and with my height (182 cm), I know it’s harder to build muscle, but I’m making progress.

I also play rugby — we just moved up to the LNFB league, can you imagine the excitement? I took a tennis course in my free time, and now I want to try boxing. I’m always looking to learn something new.

At this moment (July 2025), I’m in a bulking phase: I consume between 200–220g of protein, 220–260g of carbohydrates, and 70–80g of healthy fats. I drink around 3 liters of water a day. Since I don’t eat seafood or fish, I supplement with flaxseed oil for omega-3 (even though I really don’t like it).

I also have hypothyroidism, so I have to be very careful and keep everything in balance.

Whenever someone asks me, I share my experience. I’ve read a lot, learned from great coaches, and discovered what works for me and what doesn’t. My advice is: listen, try, adapt. What works for me might not work for you. Every body is different.

My Goals and Vision

If you ask me what dream I still have, I’d say I would’ve loved to go to the Olympics… but it’s too late for that now. I’ve already been part of national teams and that makes me proud.

Now, with this rugby team I’ve played with for two seasons — and helped promote to a higher league — I feel fulfilled. My goal is to keep doing what makes me happy and to keep competing. Always competing.

I want to inspire others to move, to do something. Sports aren’t just about moving your body — they move your entire life. They give you discipline, focus, and help build your best self.

Thanks to sports, I’ve never tried drugs or cigarettes, and I barely drink alcohol. Sure, I had my party phase — got drunk a couple of times like anyone — but waking up with a hangover feels like wasting a whole day. That’s not for me anymore. These days, I want to live fully and with a clear mind.

What’s next? Rugby. And more rugby.