María José Poncell

María José was born in Santiago, daughter of the Spanish sailor, Antonio Poncell, and the Chilean sailor, Marissa Maurin (former president of the Chilean Sailing Federation). She studied law at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile.^[2] As a lawyer, she has worked as a legislative advisor and in the National Service for the Specialised Protection of Children and Adolescents in Chile.

Poncell is nicknamed "Coté".^[3]

She was introduced to sailing by her parents. She has participated in several competitions at national and international level, with Laser Radial (ILCA 6) her specialty.

She is 10-time national champion in the women's category in Laser Radial and had success at a number of international championships, including top 10 in the ISAF Junior World Championship, a gold medal in the 2016 Bolivarian Games,^[4] a bronze medal in the 2018 Odesur Games,^[5] and bronze medal in the 2023 Pan American Games.^[6]

She has been a national team member at the 2010 Youth Olympic Games,^[7] the 2015, 2019 and 2023 Pan American Games and the 2010, 2014, 2018 and 2022 Odesur Games.^[8]

Poncell was selected to represent Chile at the 2024 Summer Olympics, following in the footsteps of her mother who competed at the 1992 Games; they became the first mother-daughter Olympian duo in Chile's history.^[3]