The Tokyo 2020 Olympics are soon approaching, and the world is waiting with bated breath to view top athletes from their home countries compete on an international stage for an Olympic gold. Spain has a long history at this game, starting with their first delegation in 1900, and over the years Spaniards have won 155 medals for their nation. Household names like Rafael Nadal and Pau Gasol have medaled for Spain, but many lesser-known athletes in sports like sailing, judo, handball, and canoeing have been the backbone of Spain’s medal count. In next week’s games, Gracenote predicts an increase in five medals for Spain over the 2016 games in Rio de Janeiro and a spot in the top 15 countries by total medal count.
This year, almost 30 years after Barcelona hosted in 1992, Spain is yet again a contender. Let’s see some of the events and athletes that might bring Spain the gold.
110 Meter Hurdles
Winner of the silver medal in 2016, this year Orlando has another shot at the gold medal. In 2019, he placed in 3rd at the World Championships and 3rd at the European Championships in 2018. With a personal best of 12.94 seconds, it could be a photo finish with Ortega and American Grant Holloway.
Shooting
Shooting was one of the original nine events at the first Olympic games in Athens in 1896. This year, Spaniards Fátima Gálvez and Alberto Fernández are contenders for the golds in the Trap event. Trap shooting is distinguished from skeet and sport shooting by the locations from which targets are launched, and this shooting event is performed with a shotgun as opposed to a pistol or rifle.
Men’s Basketball
The United States and Spain went head-to-head for the gold medal in 1984, 2008, and 2012. Current Spanish NBA players Marc Gasol, Willy Hernangomez, and Ricky Rubio will face off against Americans Kevin Durant, Damian Lillard, Bradley Beal and others. Will Spain finally get the gold?
Sailing and Canoeing
Sailing is the sport that has earned Spain the most medals out of any other sport, and in the most recent Olympic games, canoeing produced the most golds for the Spanish team. In 2021, Spain’s Silvia Mas and Patricia Cantero are Gracenote’s prediction for the gold medal in the 470 dinghy after winning the World Championship this year.
Karate and Judo
Karate and judo are both martial arts that originated in what is now Japan, this year’s host country for the Olympic games. However, a Spaniard is a likely contender for gold in both sports. Sandra Sánchez, from Talavera de la Reina, has won the World Championships and the European Championships in the individual kata karate event. 2021World Championship winner Nikoloz Sherazadishvili, born in Georgia, has had Spanish citizenship since 2014 and now competes under the Spanish flag in the men’s 90kg competition for judo.
