Anatomy of Endurance: Marta García Rethinks Competitive Sports

Marta García is more than an exceptional runner. She brings a scientific approach to high-performance sport, combining medical knowledge with mental strength, and demonstrates that you don't have to choose between professional running and intellectual development. A portrait of discipline, curiosity - and an athlete who understands her sport to the core.

Words: Lukas Motschmann
Photos: Florian Kurrasch

Discipline, curiosity, and the courage to make decisions – that's Marta García. The 27-year-old Spaniard is one of the most exciting personalities in European middle- and long-distance running: a multiple Spanish champion, national record holder, and a doctor. Her career demonstrates that high-performance sport and academic ambition don't have to be mutually exclusive. On the contrary: For García, they are interdependent.

What seems so complete today was a balancing act for years. After graduating from high school, she decided to study medicine – and initially kept running more as a way to relax. "Without sport, I would have been drowning in the stress of studying," says the Spanish 5000m record holder (14:44.04 min) looking back. It wasn't until she graduated in 2022 that she made the big decision: clinical practice or a career on the track? She chose professional sport – but not against medicine.

Today, she trains at a world-class level with the On Athletics Club. But she's also completing a master's degree in sports medicine and specializing in high-performance endurance physiology - specifically in the field that's so closely related to running, but rarely covered in traditional medical studies. "I don't just want to run; I want to understand what's happening in the body - and further develop my knowledge," says García. Her goal: to become not only a top athlete, but, above all, an expert in high-performance endurance sports in the "life afterward," which many athletes almost fear.

She is supported in this by On's Athlete Compass program. It connects athletes with educational and coaching opportunities – and was a key element for García during her transition. There, she also met her current mental coach, who helped her find her own path. "Of course, my coaches wanted me to focus entirely on the sport – but that's not who I am," she admits openly. "I need more than just races and training plans."

This attitude makes her an exception in an often one-dimensional performance culture. On social media, she shares insights into her everyday life – between training sessions, master's seminars, and moments of reflection. Her message to young people is clear: "It's not about being perfect – it's about being consistent. If you're focused and believe in yourself, you can achieve both."

The next big step is the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo – a sporting highlight. But Marta seems quite relaxed: She's actively shaping a future in which knowledge, body awareness, and mental strength go hand in hand.