At the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, more than 300 athletes represented Spain. Seventeen medals were won (three gold, eight silver and six bronze), equalling the medal tally they achieved in Rio 2016. However, less than half of the golds were won this time around, putting Spain in 22nd place on the Olympic medal table. Find out which performances stood out the most, earning gold and silver medals in Olympics 2020: Top 5 Spanish Highlights from this Year’s Games!
1. Sandra Sánchez: Karate
Sandra won her gold medal in another new discipline represented for the first time, karate (kata), by beating her biggest rival the no.2-ranked Kiyou Shimizu. This medal was achieved thanks to her 28.06 score compared to her Japanese rival’s 27.88.
2. Fátima Gálve & Alberto Fernández: Shooting
These two medallists stand out because they were able to compete together incorporating the mixed pit test. After failing in the individual contest and with just two misses out of 150 shots, they scored a gold in Olympic shooting for these mixed teams.
3. Alberto Gines Lopez: Climbing
At just 18 years-old, this climber won a gold medal at The Urban Sports Park in Aomi. He scored 28 points, being the best among the 8 finalists in boulder, lead and speed – the three disciplines of the new Olympic sport combined.
4. Women’s Water Polo Team
This great team finished the Tokyo Olympics with a silver medal after losing to the United States. The players competed with a very powerful team, triple consecutive Olympic champions, but still put on a great showing.
5. Ray Zapata: Artistic Gymnastics
This Spanish athlete of Dominican origin won a silver medal in artistic gymnastics (floor exercise). He is an athlete that’s been competing at a high level for 7 years and is a specialist in ground sports.
Zapata’s score was the same as that of the Israeli, Artem Dolgopyat (14,933). However, when there is equality in the execution (8.433), the valid criteria to tie the tie becomes the level difficulty. Dolgopyat’s exercise had one more pinch (6,600 by 6,500).
It’s interesting to note that for the last five Olympic Games, silver has been the most common medal to feature in the Spanish medal table with the sole exception of Rio 2016. Similarly in Tokyo 2020, Spain achieved their best crop of diplomas since Athens 2004, with 42 athletes or teams classified between fourth and eighth in their respective competitions.
With these Games postponed a year due to the pandemic – it has meant that this time, due to stress – there was more of a subdued emotional control, so we think each Olympian’s victory should be applauded all the more. Which country’s teams and athletes did you enjoy watching the most from the Tokyo 2020 Olympics? Let us know in the comments below, and join in the conversation on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram!
