From 0 to 5.8 – My Journey Back to the German Nationals

On Sunday, April 12th, 2026, I competed for the second time at the German Nationals (ODPS for IPSF) in Dessau, in the category Senior Masters 40+ Amateur.

For many people, competition day is only about those few minutes on stage. But for me, those few minutes represented nearly one full year of hard work, sacrifice, and support from the people around me.

Competition Day

At 8:45 AM, I started warming up backstage. Like every athlete before stepping on stage, I was nervous, excited, and trying to stay focused. My coach came to me and gave me emotional support, helping me stay calm and reminding me why I was there.

At 9:10 AM, the staff called me. It was time to get ready.

At 9:20 AM, I heard my name and walked onto the stage.

At 9:24 AM, my performance was finished, and I went directly to the Kiss & Cry area with my coach. That moment of waiting for the judges’ decision always feels much longer than it really is.

At 9:40 AM, the judges had made their decision, and the MC announced:

“Fernando Juan Palero Molina – 5.8 points.”

I was honestly surprised. Hearing that number meant much more to me than people might imagine.

What Does 5.8 Mean?

To explain that, I need to go back almost one year.

At my first Deutsche Meisterschaft in June last year, I received a score of 0 points.

The first thing someone might say is, “Well, you improved.”

And yes, that is true.

But improvement is never just about the final result—it is about everything that happens behind it.

After my first competition, I sat down with my coach and we talked honestly about what needed to change. We decided to focus on improving my strength, especially my grip strength, and also my flexibility.

From that moment, training became part of my daily life.

From Monday to Sunday, without rest, I followed the recommended training plan. Every other Sunday, I met with my coach and another training partner, and together we worked on preparing the choreography for the next Deutsche Meisterschaft.

My coach spent a lot of time finding the tricks that suited my style best and studying the IPSF Code of Points to make sure we were building the strongest routine possible.

My training partner was there for every difficult session, supporting me and helping me push through.

My girlfriend also supported me and understood how much this competition meant to me. Some weeks, I spent more time training on the pole than I did with her, and that is not always easy. But she understood and stayed by my side.

For nearly one year, this was my routine.

Training. Work. Life. Repeat.

And of course, life does not stop for training. Personal problems, daily stress, responsibilities—sometimes it was difficult to stay motivated. Some days, training felt harder mentally than physically.

But I kept going.

Back to Dessau

This year, I traveled to Dessau with my teammates, all of us excited and nervous for the competition.

During those three days together, we shared everything—the stress before performing, the happiness after stepping off stage, and the emotions that come with waiting for scores.

We supported each other through every moment.

Then, sitting in the Kiss & Cry area, I heard:

“Fernando Juan Palero Molina – 5.8 points.”

In that moment, I felt truly proud of myself.

Not only because of the number, but because I knew exactly how much work was behind it.

I knew the early mornings, the difficult training sessions, the moments of doubt, and the discipline it took to keep going.

This Was Never a One-Man Job

This result is not only mine.

It belongs to my coach, who believed in me and guided me.

It belongs to my teammates, who supported me during the entire journey.

It belongs to my training partner, who was there session after session.

It belongs to my girlfriend and my family, who gave me understanding, patience, and support.

Pole sport may look like an individual sport when you are alone on stage, but success is never achieved alone.

You need people around you who give you energy, heart, and strength when you feel like giving up.

That is what 5.8 points really means to me.

It is not just a score.

It is proof of growth.

Proof of discipline.

Proof that hard work pays off.

And for me, this is only the beginning.