Juanin Ojeda

Everything we do in life matters. Every hello. Every smile. Even the simple act of spending time with someone.

Juanin Ojeda understands this deeply. He stands firm in his commitment to giving back, using his love for the sport to create meaningful moments for others. Through his efforts, Juanin has found ways to share croquet with the elderly and has even opened a school dedicated to the game.

By teaching croquet, a sport rooted deeply in his heart, Juanin is giving more than lessons. He’s giving memories, connection, and joy that will last far beyond the field.

Q: Juanin tell us about where you’re from and what it was like growing up there. 

I’m from Gijón a city in the north of Spain. I grew up there with my parents and six brothers, until I was fourteen, when I had to move to Ireland to study.

Our house was right next to my uncle’s house, where my five cousins lived. One of them is my age and we were always together. Those years were the happiest of my life, and I still look back on them with great fondness.

Q: What is your favorite childhood Memory?

Now that my father passed away last year, I’ve realized that my happiest memories are those

afternoons in Gijón, when my cousin and I would sit by the croquet field, waiting for our

parents and their friends to finish their game so we could have our turn. On some days, we

even prayed that one of the players wouldn’t show up so we could join the grown-ups. We had such a wonderful time playing with them.

Q: What’s the passion or work that really lights you up, and how did you find it?

Although I’ve worked in several places, last year I started a project that became very special to me. I began visiting nursing homes to play croquet with the residents — I called the project A Hoop, A Smile. Seeing the faces of the elderly light up when I arrived with the mallets was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.

Unfortunately, due to Spain’s absurd regulations, I had to stop.

Now, I not only continue to play, but I’ve also opened a croquet school. Sharing my passion

with others and watching them find the same joy in the game has been the most fulfilling thing I’ve ever done.

Q: Can you share the story of how Croquet first came into your life?

Croquet has always been a part of my life. The first croquet field in Spain was actually in my

family’s home — it was brought there by one of my relatives in 1926. Since then, the game has been passed down from generation to generation, becoming a cherished tradition in our family.

Q: When did Croquet shift from being something you played to something you

truly loved?

There were two moments in my life when I realized that croquet was my true passion.

The first was the day I won a championship alongside my father, who was ninety years

old at the time. Playing by his side, as teammates, was something beyond victory.

The second was the day he passed away. That day, I made a promise to myself: I would

dedicate my life to this game and keep my father’s memory alive through it.

Even now, whenever I find myself in a difficult moment during a match, I look up to the

sky and ask my father to give me strength—to help me move forward.

Q: If you could pass on one message or gift to the next generation of Croquet

players, what would it be?

The first message I’d share is for the parents: Don’t force your child to play a sport just because you hope they’ll become famous one day. Let them try as many sports as they can, and most importantly let them enjoy the

experience.

And to the children, my message is simple: Play, have fun, and make friends. That’s what truly matters.

You can keep up with Juanin by following her on Instagram @juanojedaayesta