Alejandro Gómez (runner) facts for kids
Alejandro Gómez Cabral (born April 11, 1967, in Vigo, Pontevedra, Spain – died January 31, 2021) was a well-known Spanish long-distance runner. He was especially good at marathon races and cross-country running.
About Alejandro Gómez
Alejandro Gómez started running at a very young age. He quickly became a top athlete in Spain. He set national records for young runners in different distances. These included the 5,000 meters and 10,000 meters races. He also set records in the 3,000 meters steeplechase.
He won many national championships in Spain. He was a champion in cross-country running as a youth. He also won titles in the 5,000 meters and 3,000 meters steeplechase. As an adult, he became a Spanish champion many times. He won in the 10,000 meters, half marathon, and cross-country events.
International Races
Alejandro Gómez represented Spain in many big international competitions. He competed in the Olympic Games three times.
- In 1988, he ran the 5,000 meters in Seoul.
- In 1992, he ran the 10,000 meters in Barcelona.
- In 1996, he ran the 10,000 meters in Atlanta. He finished 15th in the final.
He also took part in the World Athletics Championships.
- In 1991, he was 9th in the 10,000 meters final in Tokyo.
- In 1995, he finished 16th in the 10,000 meters in Gothenburg.
- In 1999, he ran the marathon in Seville.
Alejandro Gómez came close to winning medals at the European Athletics Championships. He finished 5th in the marathon in Budapest in 1998. He was 6th in the marathon in Munich in 2002.
He often competed in the World Cross Country Championships. In 1989, his team won third place. He also won a silver medal at the European Cross Country Championship in 1995. His team became European champions that year.
In the World Half Marathon Championships, he finished 8th in Palma de Mallorca. His team also won second place. He was part of a strong Spanish marathon team in the late 1990s. He helped his team win second place in the European Cup in 1998.
Alejandro Gómez set a Spanish record for the marathon in 1997. He finished second in the Rotterdam marathon with a time of 2 hours, 7 minutes, and 54 seconds. This was a very fast time.
Sadly, Alejandro Gómez faced a serious health challenge in June 2020. He passed away on January 31, 2021.
Achievements
Here are some of Alejandro Gómez's top achievements in major competitions:
Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Event | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Representing ![]() |
|||||
1985 | European Junior Championships | Cottbus, East Germany | 13th | 3000 m | 8:18.42 |
World Cross Country Championships | Lisbon, Portugal | 16th | Junior race | 23:30 | |
1986 | World Junior Championships | Athens, Greece | 2nd | 5000 m | 13:55.94 |
World Cross Country Championships | Neuchatel, Switzerland | 8th | Junior race | 23:17 | |
1987 | World Cross Country Championships | Warsaw, Poland | 114th | Long race | 38:48 |
1988 | World Cross Country Championships | Auckland, New Zealand | 24th | Long race | 36:24 |
1989 | World Cross Country Championships | Stavanger, Norway | 6th | Long race | 40:29 |
5th | Team | 189 pts | |||
1990 | World Cross Country Championships | Aix-les-Bains, France | 32rd | Senior race (12.2 km) | 35:24 |
3rd | Team | 176 pts | |||
European Championships | Split, Yugoslavia | 10th | 10,000m | 28:16.06 | |
1991 | World Cross Country Championships | Antwerp, Belgium | 14th | Long race (11.764 km) | 34:36 |
3rd | Team | 198 pts | |||
1992 | World Half Marathon Championships | Newcastle, United Kingdom | 9th | Half marathon | 1:01:20 |
1995 | World Cross Country Championships | Durham, England | 28th | Senior race (12.02 km) | 35:30 |
3rd | Team | 120 pts | |||
1996 | Olympic Games | Atlanta, United States | 15th | 10,000 m | 28:39.11 |
World Half Marathon Championships | Palma de Mallorca, Spain | 8th | Half marathon | 1:02:47 | |
2nd | Team | 3:08:36 | |||
1998 | European Championships | Budapest, Hungary | 5th | Marathon | 2:13:23 |
1999 | World Championships | Seville, Spain | 40th | Marathon | 2:26:40 |
2002 | European Championships | Munich, Germany | 6th | Marathon | 2:13:40 |
2003 | World Championships | Paris, France | — | Marathon | DNF |
Personal Best Times
These are the fastest times Alejandro Gómez ran in different races:
- 1500 metres - 3 minutes, 39.18 seconds (1991)
- 3000 metres - 7 minutes, 47.7 seconds (1989)
- 3000 metres steeplechase - 8 minutes, 33.6 seconds (1989)
- 5000 metres - 13 minutes, 20.91 seconds (1989)
- 10,000 metres - 27 minutes, 39.38 seconds (1993)
- Half marathon - 1 hour, 1 minute, 20 seconds (1992)
- Marathon - 2 hours, 7 minutes, 54 seconds (1997)
See also
In Spanish: Alejandro Gómez (atleta) para niños