Aragon will have a near-record representation at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. Nine athletes from the community will be present at the most important event in world sport, which will be held in the French capital between July 26 and August 11.
This is the largest presence of Aragonese athletes in Olympic history, along with Barcelona 92 and Moscow 80. Esther Briz (rowing), Begoña García (field hockey), Salma Paralluelo (women’s football), Luis Domínguez (swimming), Inés Bergua and Alba Bautista (rhythmic gymnastics), Pablo Abián (badminton), and Jaime Pradilla (basketball) will be the representatives of Aragon in Paris wearing the colors of Spain. In addition, we must include Christian Iguacel, an athlete born in Barbastro who left Aragon at the age of 3 and competes for Belgium.
This delegation already far surpasses that of Tokyo 2020, when Jesús Vallejo became the ninth medalist in the history of the territory, joining the list that until then included Andrea Blas, Esteban Celorrio, Fernando Arcega, Epi, Miguel García, the López Zubero brothers, and Conchita Martínez.
Participants
Despite the fact that the start of the season was turbulent for Abián, he will finally be in Paris. Abián is a part of badminton history, since in London 2012 he became the first Spanish male to win a match at the Olympics, and, after Beijing, Rio de Janeiro, and Tokyo, these will be his fifth consecutive Games, a figure within the reach of very few in any sport.
Jaime Pradilla, who was ruled out at the last minute for the last World Cup, has already confirmed his place, but he has had a great season with Valencia Basket and is a regular in Sergio Scariolo’s plans, in a team that has also included Carlos Alocén, another Aragonese who, in this case, was left out of the final call-up.
Ines Bergua and Alba Bautista
Bergua qualified thanks to Spain’s bronze at the 2022 World Championships in Sofia (Bulgaria) and then repeated her success (third place) in groups at the 2023 World Championships in Valencia, where her teammate Bautista earned another place for her eighth place in the ‘all-around’ modality, which is the sum of points from the element competitions: hoop, ball, ribbon, and clubs.
Both gymnasts will be making their debuts at the Games. As will the majority of Aragonese who, individually or collectively, have already reserved a place in an event in which more than 10,500 athletes from 32 disciplines will be seeking glory.
Accustomed to winning world championships, Salma Paralluelo will face her first Olympic experience as one of the leaders of the women’s football team; in the men’s team, Alejandro Francés has finally been left out of the team chosen by Santi Denia; and Luis Domínguez, called to make history in swimming, is also called to make his debut in the most important sporting competition in the world.
He earned it—along with the rest of the Spanish team—at the last World Championships in Doha, where he participated in the 4×100 and 4×200 freestyle events. Now he hopes to succeed the López Zubero brothers as the Aragonese symbol of swimming.
It is already the case, in this case, outside the water, for Esther Briz. The rower will go to Paris with Aina Cid after obtaining the pass through the so-called ‘b finals’ last September, with a time of 7:12:32, which did not earn them medals but did certify their ticket to the Games in the W-2 modality.
At 24 years old, she has a track record that includes world championships in rowing at sea (sprint or mixed sculls) and European championships, but no participation in an Olympics, which is why she faces the coming months with particular enthusiasm.
Finally, Christian Iguacel is a medal option in the 4×400 m. Of course, in the colors of Belgium. The athlete, born in Barbastro 27 years ago, moved with his mother at the age of 3 to Antwerp, where he has grown up without forgetting his Aragonese roots. The Belgian 4x400m relay team is the current European and world champions, so he has a chance of winning a medal.
You may also like:
