“The 22 medals in Barcelona (13 gold, seven silver, two bronze) are a necessary challenge,” he says. Alexander Whiteso optimistic, so satisfied the president of the Olympic Committee with what is already an achievement to be proud of. 382 Spanish athletes are at the Games, almost as many as in Barcelona (420), although then, as the host country, everything was a matter of qualifying privileges. And, also to be proud of, there is a majority of women (192 to 190). But that figure is like a burden that Spanish sport cannot shake off. It challenges itself with the achievement of Barcelona every four years and every four years reality imposes calm.
Is the hope realistic this time? “The forecasts invite optimism,” Blanco continues, aware that the national sporting scene, after years of being stable below 20 medals (there were 17 in Tokyo, the same as in Rio, although with only three golds), has broadened its expectations. This Thursday in Paris, two days before the Games, some of the candidates were parading through the press room of the Olympic Village. The ecstatic Hugo Gonzalez the judoka Fran Garrigós (which can debut the counter, this very Saturday), the women’s water polo team, the rowers, who for the first time are coming with five boats – “we won silver in the last World Cup. We come with real options to get a medal,” he says. Javier Garcia couple of Jaime Canalejo– y Carolina Marin hopeful about herself and her possibilities, but cautious about the collective: “I don’t like to talk about numbers. It creates pressure. There are expectations. We will try to win as many medals as possible.”
But yes, there are reasons for optimism. And there are names (and 10 teams qualified, with football and water polo this time at the head of the podium ambitions) who have no qualms about thinking that in the French capital Spain can be in a similar position to that of 32 years ago. And that is despite the fact that, for example, the disappearance of karate from the programme deprives it of two almost certain successes with Sandra Sanchez and Damian Quintero.
Hugo González, who says he will face his challenge “with passion”, was world champion in the 200-metre backstroke in February and will also take on the 100-metre and 200-metre medley events. A little earlier, the race walkers were the champions (twice in Budapest). Maria Perez and Alvaro Martinwhose options in Paris are also multiplied by the novelty of the mixed relay. Fatima Galvez in shooting, Adriana Cerezo and Adrian Vicente is taekwondo, Teresa Portela the K4, Antía Jacomé and María Corbera in canoeing, Jordi Xammar and Nora Brugman in sailing…, specialties in which there are always several options and which are the ones that rarely fail in Spanish sport.
A stroll through the Olympic Village in Paris: pétanque, cardboard beds and, for the first time, a breastfeeding room
A stroll through the Olympic Village in Paris: pétanque, cardboard beds and, for the first time, a breastfeeding room
Sergio Scariolo: “In Spanish sport there has been a before and after the Gasol generation”
Sergio Scariolo: “In Spanish sport there has been a before and after the Gasol generation”
Paris has another powerful novelty, the resurgence of athletics (despite the setback of the serious injury of Maria Vicente) and not only with the marchers. The recent exhibitions of Ana Peleteiro (which will not have the opposition of her training partner Yulimar Rojasinjured), of the naturalized jumper Jordan Diaz (European champion in Rome with an impressive mark of 18.18 metres) or Moss Attaoui (1:42.04 in the 800) makes one dream of the top, also in the splendor of the City of Counts, those four medals of Fermin Cacho, Daniel Plaza, Manolo Peñalver and Javier Garcia Chico.
Judo needs focus after years of bad luck with Fran Garrigos, Niko Shera, Ai Tsunoda… Gymnastics (Ray Zapata), climbing with the gold Alberto Ginesof course Carolina Marín and Maialen Chorraut (at his fifth Games at 41 years old), boxing…
Finally, some media figures with Olympic ambitions. In golf, Jon Rahmdespite his bad streak, who will be accompanied in Paris by David Puig, Carlota Ciganda and Azahara Muñoz.
And, obviously, tennis, another of the historical fishing grounds, a huge focus of the Spanish delegation with Carlos Alcaraz and Rafa NadalTogether, in this legendary double, they will have options, although it will depend on the physical condition of the most veteran and their rapport, without having ever played together. In the individual tournament, Alcaraz is the big favorite. Absent Jannik Sinner Spain, who suffered from a last-minute appendicitis, was given a smoother path by yesterday’s draw. After winning Roland Garros and Wimbledon back-to-back, Olympic gold would be the perfect finishing touch. On the Roland Garros courts, Spain will also have other chances to triumph, with the doubles between Marcel Granollers and Pablo Carreno and, above all, in the mixed doubles of Granollers and Sarah Smileswho with only two victories will already be fighting for medals.