Luis del Olmo was the most absent guest at the Golden Antennas 2023 presentation gala. Despite the buzz he felt hours before the event, the legendary broadcaster could not receive his award because of a home accident. He stands as a pioneer of radio, joining notable professionals such as José María García, Iñaki Gabilondo, Mari Carmen García Vela, and Natalia Figueroa.
“He fell in the bathtub and it was unclear whether his ankle or foot was broken,” stated Juan Ignacio Ocaña, president of the Spanish Federation of Radio and Television Associations, which organizes the awards each year, on Saturday.
Three days later, Del Olmo reappeared on a program called Better Late and described his feelings after the home mishap: “Now I just came back from the doctor, and the news is that I was very lucky.”
“I spent the entire morning at the clinic yesterday, and the doctors marveled at my resilience. They told me, you are a bull, Ponferradans like that,” he told veteran anchors Iñaki López and Cristina Pardo, eager to share his experience with viewers.
Surprise from Josep Pedrerol
The show also prepared a special moment for the broadcaster with a few words from Josep Pedrerol, his colleague during his Punto Radio years: “I became a journalist because of Luis del Olmo. We used to listen to him on RNE when I was a teenager. I later had the chance to celebrate the 10,000th Heroes program in Zaragoza. I have fond memories of him. I learned a lot. Good morning Spain is part of the sound of our lives. It is a great pleasure to know that Luis is well. He deserves every award.”
“I’m not sure if I’m transversal or not, but I have spent 60 years saying good morning to Spain. I worked with prominent figures in journalism, with homemakers and ordinary citizens who shared the excitement. It felt worthwhile. It gave me health, strength, a constant smile, and above all, the sense that radio is the most important medium there is. When you say good morning and people listen, it is not limited to your own city, but reaches Ponferrada’s soul and even Europe or the world. If I were born a thousand times, I would repeat what I did,” the announcer explained when asked why he is beloved by so many people.