- The Paralympic athlete and Ambassador for the Toyota Spain Team shares her story of overcoming adversity and adapting in a documentary where diversity not only exists, but adds value and brings about change.
- Toyota Spain has a close relationship with sport and the values it conveys, with Desirée Vila serving as a source of inspiration who paves the way for a more inclusive society.
- Desirée Vila staunchly champions causes she considers essential, aware that she has become a role model for millions of girls and young women around the world, highlighting perseverance, overcoming adversity, equality, and the fight against online bullying.
- The film directed by Juan Manuel Montilla, “El Langui”, premiered on 12 March at the Málaga Film Festival, with appearances by other figures from the worlds of culture and sport, including Dani Rovira, Irene Villa and Vicente del Bosque.
The documentary tells the inspiring story of Desirée Vila, a Paralympic athlete and Toyota Spain Team Ambassador since 2023, whose story perfectly embodies Toyota Spain’s values of hard work, perseverance and adaptability. Through her personal and sporting journey, the film invites viewers to reflect on the importance of facing every change and challenge with resilience and determination. The screening took place at 6.30 pm at the Echegaray Theatre in the city of Málaga.
A leading figure in adapted sport, Desirée Vila is renowned for her successes on the track, including being crowned Spanish Senior Champion between 2018 and 2023 and setting national records in her category for the 60m and 100m sprints and the long jump. In 2025, she also reached a new international milestone by finishing sixth at the Paralympic Athletics World Championships in India, where she set a Spanish record in the final.
The documentary tells the inspiring story of Desirée Vila, a Paralympic athlete and Toyota Spain Team Ambassador since 2023, whose story perfectly embodies Toyota Spain’s values of hard work, perseverance and adaptability. Through her personal and sporting journey, the film invites viewers to reflect on the importance of facing every change and challenge with resilience and determination. The screening took place at 6.30 pm at the Echegaray Theatre in the city of Málaga.
A leading figure in adapted sport, Desirée Vila is renowned for her successes on the track, including being crowned Spanish Senior Champion between 2018 and 2023 and setting national records in her category for the 60m and 100m sprints and the long jump. In 2025, she also reached a new international milestone by finishing sixth at the Paralympic Athletics World Championships in India, where she set a Spanish record in the final.
Furthermore, Desirée shines outside the sports arena thanks to her ability to inspire others with her story of personal triumph. At the age of 16, when she was the Spanish champion in acrobatic gymnastics, she suffered a serious injury that led to the amputation of her right leg due to medical negligence. Far from giving up, Desirée Vila found a new passion in athletics, and in just one year she was crowned Spanish champion in the 100 metres and the long jump. Since then, she has broken numerous national records and earned an Olympic diploma at the Tokyo Paralympic Games, finishing ninth at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, whilst establishing herself as one of the most influential advocates for personal resilience, inclusion and equality.
Drawing on Desirée Vila’s story of overcoming adversity, “Ganas de vivir” highlights the capacity for reinvention and adaptation in the face of adversity, a message reinforced by the participation of other figures from the worlds of culture and sport, such as Dani Rovira, Irene Villa and former national football manager Vicente del Bosque.
A project promoting diversity and inclusion
Desirée Vila highlights the documentary “Ganas de vivir”: “The fact that they wanted to join me in this documentary moves me deeply, because each of these people brings a unique and necessary perspective to demonstrate that diversity not only exists, but adds value and transforms,” she explains.
Athletics restored her energy, and her prominence in “Ganas de vivir” sums up her current philosophy: “No matter how well supported you are, everyone has to look within themselves for that strength that restores the ability to get back on your feet. The only thing that cannot be cured is the will to live,” she concludes.
Toyota supporting sport
Toyota’s involvement in sport stems from the brand’s commitment to building a better world for the future. Sport and the way athletes face and overcome obstacles to achieve their goals are a source of inspiration, and point the way towards a more inclusive and sustainable society.
Toyota has agreements with other federations and committees, such as the official sponsorship agreement with the ACB basketball league and all the competitions it encompasses: the Liga Endesa, the Supercopa Endesa, the Copa del Rey and the Minicopa Endesa. With Special Olympics, the aim is to jointly develop initiatives for the inclusion of children and adults with disabilities, helping thousands of athletes with intellectual disabilities to integrate.
A Morena Films production
“Ganas de vivir” is a production by Morena Films and Morena Docs. It features the participation of RTVE, Telemadrid and Movistar Plus+, with funding from Madrid City Council, the social commitment of the Adecco Foundation, sponsorship from Valladolid City Council – Valladolid Film Commission (UNESCO Creative City of Film) and the collaboration of the Spanish Paralympic Committee and Canary Islands Film – Government of the Canary Islands.
Let’s Go Beyond by Toyota
Toyota, with its Toyota and Lexus brands, is a world leader in the sale of electrified models, with over 25 million electrified cars sold worldwide and more than half a million units in Spain since 1997. Toyota’s electrification roadmap, with its sights set on a CO2-emission-free society, began over 25 years ago with the advent of hybrid technology, and we have been working towards that goal ever since. This demonstrates the brand’s commitment to helping achieve sustainable mobility through the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions (CO2) to help actively combat climate change, and a reduction in emissions of polluting gases (NOx and particulates) that directly affect people’s health. In fact, NOx emissions are 95% below the limit set by current legislation; for example, in the Corolla Touring Sports, nitrogen oxide emissions are just 6 mg/km, compared to the expected limit of 60 mg/km for Euro 6 petrol cars and 80 mg/km for Euro 6 diesel cars. Taking action to tackle climate change is an urgent matter worldwide, and the promotion of sustainable, low-carbon energy has long been a major objective. That is why the company is taking a further step to address environmental challenges, placing hydrogen-based technologies at the forefront and striving to make them the primary energy source for tomorrow’s society. A future society in which there will not only be zero emissions, but where we will go even further, connecting people, buildings and vehicles within a single ecosystem, leading to a better society centred on mobility for all – a form of mobility that goes beyond cars and is about overcoming challenges and making dreams a reality.
Toyota Spain (TES) distributes, markets and provides after-sales service for Toyota and Lexus vehicles from its headquarters in Alcobendas (Madrid), supported by a network of 74 Toyota dealerships, operating across 160 Toyota sales outlets and 177 Toyota service centres. Vehicle distribution is handled from the Sagunto Logistics Centre (Valencia) and spare parts distribution from the Central Warehouse in Illescas (Toledo). Furthermore, Toyota Spain has a Training Centre in Alcobendas (Madrid). In the 2025 financial year, Toyota sales in Spain reached 105,424 registered units and Lexus sales 9,200 units.
Source: Communications Department, TOYOTA SPAIN