We know her as the gymnast who broke boundaries by becoming the first woman in history to compete in four Olympic Games, proving that her sport is not just for young girls, but for women too. Today, she is an actress and writer. But above all, she is a creator. She is Almudena Cid.
On 16 May, Almudena arrived in Bulgaria to present her recently published children's book, A Monster in a Minute and a Half. On the same day, the Slavia Cup, Bulgaria's most important international rhythmic gymnastics tournament, began in the Borisova Garden, a park in the heart of Sofia. It was there that the book presentation was held. Organised by the Mechenosets Publishing House and the Cervantes Institute, the event will undoubtedly be remembered by the hundreds of girls of all ages who went home with their own signed copy.
A Monster in a Minute and a Half is a picture book filled with colourful, metaphorical illustrations that instantly capture the reader's attention and captivate them with a powerful message: how to overcome our fears and turn them into our greatest advantage. Once we met the author, we realised that this is much more than a children's book. It’s a doorway to new journeys.
Almudena greets us with a smile. Surrounded by the bustle of competition day — busy girls with tightly wound buns and colourful leotards coming and going, music drifting from the hall — there’s a special, almost festive spirit in the air. It's quite extraordinary, in fact.
Our conversation begins with her connection to Bulgaria, inevitably leading to her relationship with the famous Bulgarian coach, Emilia Boneva. Was that where the idea to publish this book in Bulgarian originated?
"The Bulgarian translation happened thanks to Monica Boneva, Emilia’s daughter. When she saw this book and the others I had written, she exclaimed, ‘Almu, these books must be translated into Bulgarian!’ She contacted several publishers and took on the translation herself. To me, that was magical — Emilia gave me the opportunity to become an international gymnast, and now her daughter is giving me the chance to become an international author through this little book. I never imagined that one day I would be in Bulgaria presenting a book thanks to Emilia’s daughter!”
Almudena Cid shares what inspired her to start writing children’s books:
"When I was little, I didn’t have any books that reflected how I felt. There was always a gap, a kind of emptiness, because I couldn’t find the right stories to connect with. So I thought, ‘What if I write about my life as an athlete in the form of children's books? What if I adapt my experiences so that young girls can read stories that speak directly to them?” That was the reason."
"Children’s picture books often carry profound messages, but they’re written in a way that children can grasp — making those messages easier to digest," says Almudena. Her book tells the story of a young gymnast’s fears, but beyond the literal interpretation, it explores the insecurities we all carry to some degree — the fears that hold us back, and how we can learn to understand them rather than fight them. Ultimately, it’s about making peace with our fears — and with ourselves.
Why is it so important to talk about fear?
“For me, it was incredibly important to talk about fear, because when I had to face my first real crisis in gymnastics — around the year 2000 — I had to take the reins of my own career and keep going, despite all the talk that I was too old for this, or that I was too fat, because my body had changed. Gymnasts have always suffered from this: being rejected — or rejecting themselves — the moment their bodies start changing with age.
When I had to survive in a world that had grown hostile towards me, one where younger generations were constantly stepping in, fear presented itself in a completely new, unfamiliar way. I thought I wasn’t good enough, that all the other girls were better than me… But during that time I realised that if I could learn to work with my fear, it would actually reveal qualities in me I hadn’t even known were there. I noticed that in trying to defend myself from fear, it activated my own inventiveness. That’s when I understood — inventiveness is my greatest strength.”
But how did writing come into the picture? How did she come to realise that this might be the new path she wanted to follow?
"When I joined the national team and left my family, that's when I started keeping a diary. Gymnasts start competing at a very young age — I was only 14 when I arrived in Madrid, and I didn't feel like I belonged to the team. I started imitating the older girls in an attempt to be accepted by them, but I soon realised that I was not being true to myself this way. At the same time, I experienced a lot of turmoil in my friendships. My diary and letters to my family were full of these experiences."
During her first encounters with the challenges of professional sport and the contradictions of adolescence, Almudena discovered that writing was a form of therapy that helped her through difficult times. Years later, it even saved her. "Writing brought relief. It was as if, once I had written down my problems, they faded away and disappeared."
So, when she retired from gymnastics, she turned to writing again. "Through writing, I tried to make sense of everything I had been through. It was cathartic — a life-saving necessity."
Today, Almudena Cid's words heal not only her, but also many of her readers. A Monster in a Minute and a Half draws on the author's experience as a professional athlete. Since our conversation took place during the Slavia Cup tournament, we had to ask her a question about sport and children.
Why is sport so important for children, and what did sport teach her that helped her later in life?
"Sport teaches you values like mutual support, understanding your own limits, and respect for others… These are values deeply rooted in the world of sport. That’s why it’s so beneficial for children to take up a sport from an early age. Gymnastics, for example, taught me how to adapt — a skill that is absolutely essential in life. Even if we think our lives follow a straight path, change is inevitable, whether we want it or not."
Almudena Cid’s 21 years in sport were anything but a straight path. They showed her that sport is essential to a healthy mind — especially when life puts us to the test.
"Sooner or later, we all go through hard times. Life will stop each of us in our tracks, whether through unexpected loss, illness, setbacks in our careers, losing our jobs, being rejected or not being chosen. These are things that happen to everyone eventually. Depending on how strong the foundations we’ve built are, we’ll be able to face these moments more or less easily. I believe sport plays a vital role in building those foundations because it enables us to experience the challenges that life will throw at us later in a different form."
A Monster in a Minute and a Half ends with a full-page illustration — a vibrant, colourful poster in which the young gymnast stands tall in perfect harmony with her monster. She’s no longer afraid.
Few people can express their thoughts with such clarity and insight as Almudena Cid. Words only truly move us when they come from a place of truth, and here every word touches something deep and genuine — lived, felt, and fully understood.
Just thirty minutes with Almudena Cid is enough to be swept up in her passion and creative force. Just twenty pages of hers are enough to help someone conquer their fear.
Photos: Mechenosets Publishing House, Facebook/ SKHG ‘Slavia’ , Facebook/Dimitra Lefterova, Facebook/Almudena Cid, Alena Markova
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