Máquina is a Senegalese, whom everybody has met or heard about in Guinea-Bissau, but no one knows his name. They nick-named him “Máquina” because he spends six hours running every day.
Although he doesn’t stand a chance to become part of the athletic team of Senegal, because of his age; neither the one from Guinea-Bissau, since he isn’t from there; Máquina carries on training, in the hope that he might be considered some day. Thus, he must be ready.
His boundless and excessive training hours account for him being called a “madman” by the locals. “You run too much. You should stop,” they tell him. Instead of disputing the locals Máquina just says “it’s normal” because “they aren’t acquainted with the sport”.