Sandra Sanchez receives the MARCA legend: “The people who buried me managed to make me take root, and when I blossomed, I made them stronger”
Karateka Sandra Sanchez, a Tokyo 2020 Olympic gold medalist and two-time world champion (2018 and 2021), received the MARCA Leyenda Award on Wednesday, with which she becomes the first martial arts athlete and eighth woman to receive the newspaper’s top honor. “I stay on the path, even despite the stones. If I had not fallen, if I had not realized that leaving was not an option, if I had not understood the value of family, to smile in pain… All this counts: “The people who buried me managed to force it to take root, and when it blossomed, I made it stronger,” Sanchez said after receiving the award.
The event, held at the Victoria Theater in her native Talavera de la Reina, served as a tribute to Sandra, “a benchmark and example in Spanish and women’s sport,” according to Sandra. Jose Manuel Rodriguez Uribes, Secretary of State for Sports. “Sandra personifies humility and greatness, simplicity and perfection, intimacy and success,” added the president of the Supreme Sports Council.
“It’s very nice that you love me so much. I want to thank you for thinking that I am MARCA Leyenda. Pinch me if you tell me that I have to go through something similar,” admitted the only karateka in history with a triple crown same year (2021).
“There is a seed in him”
director MARKA, Juan Ignacio GallardoNear Sergio CobosGeneral Director of Advertising at Unidad Editorial, and Jam Nunsbusiness director of the newspaper, received guests at the event, among whom, in addition to Rodriguez Uribes, the mayor of Talavera stood out, Jos Julin GregorioProvincial Delegate for Education, Culture and Sports of Toledo, Jose Gutirrez Muoz; President of the Provincial Council of Toledo, Maria Concepcion Zedilloand President of the Badminton Federation, Andoni Azurmendi.
“Sandra is a true and future legend because she holds the seed for many boys and girls who will follow the path of sport. She has made history and is more than deserving of this award,” commented Gregorio. “Today we are here to pay tribute to him for everything he has achieved in this sporting discipline, because gratitude must be shown in life,” emphasized the first mayor of the city of Toledo.
Since its inception in 1997, the MARCA Leyenda Award has been awarded to such prominent figures in world sports as Michael Jordan, Pel, Miguel Indurain, Carlos Sainz, Nadia Comaneci, Simone Biles, Diego Armando Maradona, Vicente del Bosque, Ronaldo Nazario, Luis Aragons, Zinedine Zidane, Cristiano Ronaldo, Luka Modric, Robert Lewandowski, Karim Benzema,Fernando Alonso, Pau Gasol, Rafael Nadal, Ruth Beitia or Sergio Scarioloamong the others.