medalists
Spain delivered a powerful showing across the European Championships in Munich, a tournament that underscored the country’s steady rise in track and field. The Spanish team finished with a notable haul of medals, achieved a high number of finalists, and secured a top-five position in the overall medal table. The performance echoed Barcelona’s best era since 2010, signaling a new high watermark for Spanish athletics in continental competition.
Before heading to Munich, the Royal Spanish Athletics Federation set an ambitious target: to surpass the ten medals and 26 finals achieved in Berlin 2018 and to finish among the top five nations on the medals leaderboard. The federation’s president, Raúl Chapado, expressed this plan to EFE, highlighting the hope that the team would push for a repeat of strong results on German soil. Munich’s tally reflected a robust return for Spain, with 15 medals overall and six golds solidifying its position in the ranks, while historical benchmarks from Goteborg 2006 and Barcelona 2010 served as motivators for the current generation.
Spain’s point-based ranking placed the team fourth, tallying 132 points and trailing only Germany, Great Britain, and Italy. It stood as the best result since Barcelona 2010 and marked the fourth-best finish in the history of the European Championships. This showing reinforced the idea that the Spanish program, increasingly anchored by depth and consistency, could sustain high performance across sprint, distance, and field events.
In the post-event reflections, the team’s momentum was framed as a reflection of growing competitiveness. Álvaro, a standout in the race walk, claimed a second consecutive European title in the 20km event, part of a broader European narrative around endurance disciplines in the meet. The triumph was celebrated as a symbol of the team’s perseverance and its habit of delivering when it matters most, even as coaches and athletes acknowledged the occasional gap between expectations and results.
Coach José Peiró summarized the sentiment: the balance was highly positive. He highlighted the elevated level of competition and the consistent performance across multiple athletes. While some results did not meet early forecasts, they were in line with statistical norms for a championship setting, and no major disappointments clouded the overall picture. The collective sense was one of steady progress and a strong foundation for future campaigns.
For the sixth European Championship in which Spain reached the podium in the marathon and race-walking events, the delegation demonstrated breadth and resilience. The women’s team, featuring Marta Galimany, Elena Loyo, Irene Pelayo, and Laura Méndez, earned silver and bronze in the team event, while the men’s squad—Ayad Lamdassem, Dani Mateo, Abdelaziz Merzougui, Yago Rojo, and Jorge Blanco—helped secure a high team placement. The race walks continued to be a strong backbone for Spain, contributing four medals, including golds for Miguel Ángel López (35 km) and Álvaro Martín (20 km), a silver for Raquel González (35 km), and a bronze for Diego García Carrera (20 km). The results underscored a disciplined and well-rounded approach to endurance events, building on Prague’s breakthrough and setting a positive trajectory for future European campaigns.
Mariano García emerged as a highlight in the 800 meters, returning to the European podium after becoming world champion in Belgrade. With a personal best of 1:44.85, the Murcia-born athlete powered to the front of a blistering field, edging out the world champion Jake Wightman in a championship-worthy display of speed and tactical acumen.
Asier Martínez etched his name in the record books by claiming a historic gold in the 110-meter hurdles—decisively winning by a thousandth of a second. The victory capped a breakthrough season that also saw a bronze at the World Championships in Eugene, mirroring the elite form of his teammate Mohammed Katir, who had a similar summer and challenged the world’s best in the 5,000 meters. The Munich performance reinforced Martínez’s status as a rising star and provided a strong sign of continued progress for Spanish sprint hurdles across major events.
Mario García Romo added to the medal haul with a bronze in the 1,500 meters, sharing the stage with Jakob Ingebrigtsen in a dramatic contest that highlighted Spain’s mid-distance strength. This milestone mirrored his recent fourth-place finish at the World Championships and reinforced his ambition to challenge Europe’s top figures in the coming seasons. “To become a legend, you have to beat the legends,” he stated, signaling a clear focus on elevating his level against the best in the sport.
One of the meet’s most uplifting narratives came from Barcelona, where Sara Gallego placed fourth in the 400-meter hurdles at only 21 years old. Her result stands as the best by a Spaniard in this competitive discipline at a continental championship. The same weekend, Pol Retamal delivered a promising sixth place in the 200 meters during his first European Championship, while walkers Alberto Amezcua and Manuel Bermúdez, along with Daniel Arce in the 3,000 meters steeplechase, showed Spanish depth by finishing just shy of the medals. Their performances suggested bright futures for the national team in sprint and distance events alike.
In the field events, Eusebio Cáceres remained in contention with a near-miss at eight meters in Moscow’s earlier campaigns, a reminder of the tough path athletes navigate between near-misses and breakout moments. The relay squads also had moments of progress, with the men’s 4×400 relay led by Samuel García, Lucas Búa, Oscar Husillos, Iñaki Cañal, and Manuel Guijarro taking fourth place, while the women’s 4×100 relay team—Sonia Molina-Prados, Jäel Bestué, Paula Sevilla, and Maribel Pérez—also delivered a fourth-fastest time in the history of the national program.
In a broader context, the European Championships showcased Spain’s growth across disciplines, from sprint to endurance, and from track to field. The performances highlighted a generation of athletes hungry for success, blending talent with hard-won experience on the continental stage. The event served not only as a celebration but as a catalyst for the development of Spanish athletics in the years ahead, amplifying the sense of national pride and the promise of continued international impact.
International stars left their mark as well. The Norwegian Jakob Ingebrigtsen asserted his status by conquering both the 1,500 and 5,000 meters within 48 hours, reinforcing his position as a modern track-and-field icon. Dutch sprint phenom Femke Bol completed a historic triple, sweeping the 400 meters, 400-meter hurdles, and the 4×400 relay. The Munich track stood as a testament to a new era where Europe’s best repeatedly push each other to perform at the highest level, day after day.
Duplantis delivered another masterclass in pole vaulting, breaking the championships record with a vault of 6.06 meters. The gathering also highlighted Marcel Jacobs as a premier European sprinter, and Gina Lückenkemper emerged as a premier European speedster, signaling a bright future for continental competition in the years to come.
Overall, Munich 2022 reinforced the resilience and growth of European athletics. For Spain, the championships were not just about medals but about building a durable program, cultivating young talent, and setting a clear course for future success. The performances stood as a source of inspiration for athletes, coaches, and supporters across the nation, reinforcing the enduring appeal and competitive spirit of the sport.