Hundreds of athletes, including Olympic champions such as Saúl Craviotto, Teresa Perales and Lydia Valentín, pack the Temple of Los Jerónimos in celebration of the university’s 25th anniversary
Meetings, hugs, enthusiasm and lots of sport. The Los Jerónimos campus, the headquarters of UCAM, hit an Olympic rhythm this Friday thanks to the celebration of the Catholic University Sports Gala, which brought together hundreds of athletes of all ages, categories and disciplines to celebrate the latest achievements and the 25-year history of the institution chaired by José Luis Mendoza that supports and promotes sports. From the kids of the club bases to the great champions, they shone without distinction between individual and team sports, own and sponsored clubs, in men’s and women’s sports, Olympics and Paralympic Games. A sports celebration under the blue and gold colors that UCAM athletes wear with pride.
José Luis Mendoza, president of the university, was delighted «for the work history we have made together with the Spanish Olympic Committee, which is unprecedented worldwide. It is a great joy that we continue to work together so that athletes can train as they prepare for the next Games. Alejandro Blanco, president of the COE, commented that “this summer has been one of the most successful in our sport and we are very excited about what can be achieved in Paris 2024. And in all of this the UCAM plays a very important role with the work and the help it gives to athletes.The model of this university is an example for Europe and for the world».
On behalf of the athletes, Saúl Craviotto, flag bearer for Spain in Tokyo 20, emphasized that “for Spanish sport, the UCAM is already part of us and that is why it is very special for us to come together in this gala.” Regarding the gold medal he won with the K4 500 in the World Championship, he said that “the sensations couldn’t be better” and stated that “the idea is to try to go to Paris and fight for the medal, although the first thing is to qualify, which will be very difficult.”
The gala, held in the temple of the Jerónimos Monastery, awarded and recognized the great winners of the latest competitions: the medalists of the Spanish University Championships of 2022, in which UCAM broke all records, and all those who competed in the podium at the World and European Championships last summer in canoeing, athletics, taekwondo and table tennis. Among the canoeists were the members of the Spanish K4 500, who were world champions, with Saúl Craviotto (top Spanish Olympic medalist along with David Cal with five metals each), Marcus Cooper Walz (Olympic gold and silver), Carlos Arévalo (Silver Olympic) and Rodrigo Germade (Olympic silver). Teresa Portela deserves a separate chapter, silver in Tokyo and participant in six Olympic Games.
The athletes were also key players last summer and among them Mariano García (gold in 800 meters) was recognized, and the walkers Miguel Ángel López (gold), Raquel González (silver), Diego García (bronze) and Manu Bermúdez (4th). gala had a separate chapter that paid tribute to the UCAM athletes who received diplomas or medals at the Tokyo Games. Among the winners were Teresa Perales (27 Paralympic medals), Laura Gil (Olympic runner-up), Gerard Descarrega and his guide Guillermo Rojo (Paralympic champions) and Damián Quintero (Olympic runner-up).
The careers of some of the most distinguished athletes and technicians of the 25 years of UCAM sport were highlighted, such as Antonio Peñalver (Silver in Barcelona 92 and currently professor at the Faculty of Sport). And in addition, the six athletes of the university with the best Olympic and Paralympic record were honored: Teresa Perales (swimming, 27 medals), Saúl Craviotto and David Cal (canoeing, five medals), Lydia Valentín (weightlifting, three medals) , Gerard Descarrega (athletics – two medals) and Laura Gil (basketball – one medal). Together they have no fewer than fourteen Olympic medals and 29 Paralympic medals. The president of the UCAM asked for a round of applause for Mireia Belmonte who could not attend the gala and who would have been in this photo with her four Olympic medals.
In gratitude for this joint journey that both institutions have taken, José Luis Mendoza, President of UCAM, made a special gift to Alejandro Blanco as a symbol of the brotherly friendship that unites both for the benefit of Spanish sport. The chief executive of the COE returned this tribute with one of the big surprises of the day, as it gave way to a video of Pau Gasol, the legendary Spanish basketball player, in which he congratulated the UCAM: “Congratulations on your 25th anniversary and hearty thanks for working for the athletes along with the COE. I wish you all the best and continue to bring fun and opportunities for education, growth and training to athletes.”
Source: La Verdad
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