Carmen Valero was a defining figure in Spanish athletics, a two-time world cross country champion who became the country’s first Olympic athlete in the sport. He passed away following complications from a stroke, after hospital care in the final week. The Royal Spanish Athletics Federation confirmed the news.
Valero died at age 68. He was born in Teruel, Castelserás, and left for Catalonia as a young man, settling in Sabadell where he later built his remarkable career. He once described himself as feeling both Catalan and smart, a reflection of a life lived across regions.
Valero began his athletics journey in 1969 with Joventut Atlètica de Sabadell under coach Josep Molins, who passed away in 2023. It was under this guidance that he began to achieve notable success.
Carmen Valero has passed away
Our pioneer and mother of our athletics, a woman who opened doors for generations of competitors.
Two-time cross country world champion and one of Spain’s premier athletes of the late 20th century. Gratitude remains for his enduring contributions. RIP.
[Citation: Royal Spanish Athletics Federation]
Valero represented Spain at the 1976 Montreal Olympic Games, competing in the 800 and 1500 meters. His legacy also includes fifteen Spanish track titles at distances such as 3000 and 5000 meters, and two world cross-country titles in Chepstow (1976) and Düsseldorf (1977). He held multiple national and international records in the 800, 1500, and 3000 meters across his career.
Our Pioneer
News of Carmen Valero’s passing was marked by tributes emphasizing his role as a trailblazer. The federation highlighted his impact as a pioneer, a mother of the sport, and a model for future generations of Spanish athletes.
Tributes on social networks celebrated his legacy, with calls to remember the path he paved for women in athletics and for the sport as a whole. The federation’s posts acknowledged his status as a historic figure who helped elevate Spanish track and field on the world stage.
One of Valero’s final public appearances occurred in May 2023 at the IV Miguel de la Quadra-Salcedo Memorial at the Complutense University of Madrid, where he was honored by the Spanish Association of Athletics Statisticians for his contributions and for being named among the greatest female athletes of the 20th century.
Today is a day of remembrance. The sport reflects on the evolution Carmen helped spark, especially for women who followed in his footsteps. His talent flourished despite barriers, and his impact continues to shape Spanish athletics. We carry his memory forward with respect and gratitude.
[Citation: Raul Chapado, President of the Royal Spanish Athletics Federation, on social media]