Abel Antón facts for kids
.jpg) Abel Antón, 6 June 2008 |
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| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Men's Athletics | ||
Representing  Spain |
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| World Championships | ||
| Gold | 1997 Athens | Marathon |
| Gold | 1999 Seville | Marathon |
| European Championships | ||
| Gold | 1994 Helsinki | 10,000 m |
| Bronze | 1994 Helsinki | 5000 m |
Abel Antón Rodrigo was born on October 24, 1962, in Ojuel, a small place in Soria, Spain. He is a famous Spanish athlete who used to run long distances. Abel Antón is especially known for winning two world championships in the marathon race, one after the other, in 1997 and 1999. He also served as a senator (a type of politician) for Spain from 2011 to 2015.
Contents
Abel Antón's Running Career
Starting as a Track Runner
Abel Antón began his sports journey as a track runner. This means he competed in races held on a running track, usually shorter distances than a marathon.
- Early Olympic Experience
He took part in the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona, Spain. He ran in the 5000-meter race and finished in 8th place in the final.
- European Championship Success
In 1994, Abel Antón competed in the European Championships held in Helsinki. He won a gold medal in the 10,000-meter race. At the same championships, he also earned a bronze medal in the 5000-meter race. Two years later, at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, he ran the 10,000 meters again, finishing 13th.
Moving to Marathon Running
In 1996, Abel Antón decided to try a much longer race: the marathon. A marathon is a very long-distance running race, about 42 kilometers (26 miles).
- Marathon Debut and First Big Win
He ran his first marathon in Berlin and won it! His time was 2 hours, 9 minutes, and 15 seconds. The very next year, in 1997, he won a gold medal in the marathon at the World Championships in Athens. He even finished ahead of his fellow countryman, Martín Fiz, who was the defending champion.
- London Marathon and World Title Defense
In 1998, Abel Antón made history by becoming the first Spanish runner to win the London Marathon. He ran his fastest marathon ever, finishing in 2 hours, 7 minutes, and 57 seconds. In 1999, he placed third in the London Marathon. Later that year, he won his second gold medal in the marathon at the World Championships in Seville. This made him the first person to win the marathon world title two times in a row!
- A Champion's Legacy
Winning these races meant he had a major marathon victory for four years in a row, from 1996 to 1999. Because of his amazing achievements, he was named the Spanish Sportsman of the Year in 1999.
End of His Running Career
After competing in the marathon at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Abel Antón decided to stop his professional running career in 2001. His last major race was the London Marathon, where he finished 8th.
Images for kids
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Abel Antón, 6 June 2008
Abel Antón at World AthleticsLua error in Module:EditAtWikidata at line 29: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). Abel Antón at OlympediaLua error in Module:EditAtWikidata at line 29: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). Abel Anton Rodrigo at Olympics.com (archived: OlympicChannel.com and Olympic.org) Abel Antón Rodrigo (and here) at Comité Olímpico Español
See also
In Spanish: Abel Antón para niños
