Sports · Other Sports · 4 hrs ago
Paula Leitón uses her platform to challenge body-shaming
Paula Leitón is a Spanish water polo player who has been part of the national team since she was 15.
She won silver at the Tokyo 2021 Olympics and gold in Paris in 2024.
After becoming widely known, she faced online insults about her body and the way it looks.
In her book, *XXL: From Olympic Gold to the Fight Against Fatphobia*, she argues for greater acceptance of different bodies.
This matters because her public profile gives her a way to speak to people who face discrimination or mockery over their appearance.
For the new season, she has moved from Club Natació Sabadell to Club Natació Atlètic-Barceloneta and says she is learning in both sport and life.
Paula Leitón, an Olympic water polo champion with Spain, has faced online abuse targeting her body.
She is using her public profile and a book to challenge body-shaming and defend body diversity.
Leitón won silver at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 and gold at the Paris Olympics in 2024.
She is 190 centimetres tall and plays as a centre forward.
This year, she changed clubs from Club Natació Sabadell to Club Natació Atlètic-Barceloneta.
- Who
- Paula Leitón, a Spanish water polo player and Olympic champion.
- What
- She is speaking out against body-shaming and promoting body diversity through her platform and her book.
- When
- The article was published on 16 October 2026.
- Where
- Spain. The article also describes her spending the summer in Higuera de Vargas, Badajoz.
- Why
- She has faced insults and humiliation online because her body does not fit conventional beauty standards.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Leitón won a silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics.
She won gold at the Paris Olympics.
She changed clubs, moving from Club Natació Sabadell to Club Natació Atlètic-Barceloneta.
- Olympic gold
- Paris 2024
- Olympic silver
- Tokyo 2021
- Height
- 190 centimetres
- Book
- XXL: Del oro olímpico a la lucha contra la gordofobia
- New club
- Club Natació Atlètic-Barceloneta
1 source
What people are saying
I would tell you that I’m at a very good moment, learning a lot both athletically and personally.
It isn’t Olympic-sized, but it’s 25 metres, so for me it’s great for swimming.
I go at that time when there are only two or three ladies getting their feet wet. So I have the whole pool to myself.