Rodríguez Uribes considers the results achieved at the World Aquatics Championships in Doha to be “stratospheric” | K.S.D.
The CSD President was received by a delegation that completed a historic performance at the last FINA World Championships, winning 10 medals in five Olympic disciplines.
The event was attended by world champion Hugo Gonzalez de Oliveira and bronze medalists Adrian Abadia and Nicholas Garcia Boissier.
Madrid, February 21, 2024 – The President of the Supreme Sports Council (CSS), José Manuel Rodríguez Uribes, received this Wednesday at the headquarters of the organization some of the medalists of the World Aquatics Championships, held from 2 to 18 February in Doha (Qatar).
The Spanish delegation won 10 medals – one gold, five silver and four bronze – the third best result at the World Championships after twelve in Barcelona in 2013 and eleven in Rome in 2009. A historic milestone was achieved in Doha: stepping on the podium for the first time in five different sports, all of them Olympic, such as roller swimming, artistic swimming, diving, open water and water polo.
In addition, Spain won a total of 19 new Olympic places in eight events at this World Championships: duet and team free skating in artistic swimming, open water, 3-meter springboard synchronized diving, 100-meter backstroke, 100-meter butterfly, relay. . and 800 m free.
Rodríguez Uribes described the successes as “cosmic, already on the way to the Olympic Games” achieved by the Spanish team in Doha, and expressed gratitude “on behalf of the Spanish government to the Minister of Education, Vocational Training and Sports.” and all citizens of our country.”
In addition to the “efforts accompanied by the talent and preparation” of the athletes, Rodriguez Uribes recalled the CSD’s desire to “take care of our athletes.”
The Supreme Sports Council supported the development of aquatics between 2022 and 2024 with an investment of almost 5 million euros, adding contributions to Olympic training scholarships and assistance from the Spanish national team program.
The total volume of this innovation program will be almost 50 million euros over three years – 2022, 2023 and 2024. In the case of RFEN, this program promotes the hiring of technical specialists, the use of big data or the holding of concentrations outside Spain.
“Thank you for making us happy,” concluded the SDG President.
In turn, the president of the Royal Spanish Swimming Federation (RFEN), Fernando Carpena, called the Doha results “historic”, since “they received medals in all specialties.”
Speaking about the promotion of CSD, Carpena explained that “it is fair to recognize that the preparation of the teams that represent us at the international level is based on your support,” and highlighted the Spanish national team program “which helps our athletes and technical specialists so that they have the best means.”
During the event, Hugo Gonzalez de Oliveira, world champion in the 200-meter backstroke and silver medalist in the 100-meter backstroke, also spoke on behalf of the entire Spanish delegation. The swimmers said they were “very proud and grateful to be here” and that “the results of many years of dedication and effort” were recognised.
Gonzalez de Oliveira also wanted to acknowledge the work of everyone in the Spanish delegation at the World Championships in Doha, regardless of the results: “We were lucky to walk away with a medal, but our teammates put in the same effort.” .
Finally, the swimmer confirmed his desire to “continue to strive to leave our team, our federations and everyone in Spain supporting us at the top of the Olympic Games.”
Also present at the event were divers Nicholas Garcia Boissier and Adrian Abadia, who won a historic bronze medal in the 3m synchronized diving and the Olympic classification.