[1] In October 1994, although as a substitute, she participated in her first international competition, the World Championships in Paris, winning silver in the All-Around and two bronzes in the 6 ropes and the 4 hoops & 2 clubs finals.

[3] From the end of 1994 to the beginning of 1995, gymnasts such as Dilayla Romeo, Estíbaliz Martínez, Tania Lamarca and Nuria Cabanillas joined the group, with María, Estela Giménez, Marta Baldó and Maider Esparza remaining.

Due to this poor performance, María Fernández and Emilia Boneva made some modifications in the rooster, placing Tania as a starter instead of Maider Esparza.

[4][5] In late September Pardo joined Marta Baldó, Nuria Cabanillas, Estela Giménez, Tania Lamarca, Estíbaliz Martínez and Maider Esparza as the substitute at the World Championships in Vienna, where they took the silver medal in the All-Around and with 5 hoops, and gold with 3 balls and 2 ribbons.

The groups members stopped going to their school, the private Nuestra Señora de Altagracia center, to concentrate on the preparation of the Olympic event.

In early May they received at the Moscardó Gym the visit of the prestigious Cuban dancer and choreographer Alicia Alonso, who taught them in a master class.

That same month, shortly after the tournament in Corbeil in which she decided not to participate, Maria left the national team because, according to her words, she couldn't stand the pressure to which she was subjected at that time.

[12] Months later, in October, after the win of the gold medal by the Spanish group in Atlanta, Maria made some statements in the newspaper El País in which she said that the then coach Emilia Boneva was extremely hard with food and training.

[18] The official act of imposing the name took place on 12 February 2016, Maria discovered a commemorative plaque in the presence of family, friends, compañeras and students of the Sports School, and personalities such as the mayor of Torrelavega José Manuel Cruz, the Councillor for Sports Jesús Sánchez, Jesús Carballo president of the Royal Spanish Gymnastics Federation and Africa Alvarez, president of the Cantabrian Gymnastics Federation.