Almudena Cid facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Almudena Cid
Cid in 2008
Personal information
Full name	Almudena Cid Tostado
Country represented	Spain
Born	(1980-06-15) June 15, 1980 (age 45) Vitoria, Spain
Height	167 cm (5 ft 6 in)
Discipline	Rhythmic gymnastics
Years on national team	1994~2008
Club	Beti Aurrera
Assistant coach(es)	Anna Baranova
Former coach(es)	Iratxe Aurrekoetxea
Eponymous skills	Cid Tostado Element (ball)
Retired	2008
Medal record Representing  Spain European Team Championships Bronze 2001 Riesa Team Mediterranean Games Gold 2005 Almería All-around

Almudena Cid Tostado (born 15 June 1980) is a famous Spanish rhythmic gymnast. She is known for being the only rhythmic gymnast in history to compete in four Olympic finals!

Almudena was the first Spanish gymnast to reach two Olympic finals. She then went on to make the finals at four Olympic Games in a row: Atlanta 1996, Sydney 2000, Athens 2004, and Beijing 2008.

She also won a gold medal at the 2005 Mediterranean Games. In 2009, she received the Royal Order of Sports Merit. This is a special award in Spain for people who achieve great things in sports.

In 2001, a special move she created with the ball was officially approved. It's called the "Cid Tostado Element." It involves rolling the ball over both legs while on one knee. After a 21-year career, Almudena retired from gymnastics on August 23, 2008. Today, she works as a sports commentator. She also writes children's books called "Olympia," sharing stories from her life as an athlete.

Starting Gymnastics

Cid at the 2003 European Championships

Almudena started rhythmic gymnastics when she was 7 years old. She trained at the Arabatxo club and then the Beti Aurrera club in Vitoria. Other important gymnasts, like Tania Lamarca, also trained there. Her coaches were Aurora Fernández del Valle and Iratxe Aurrekoetxea. One of Almudena's early inspirations was the Russian gymnast Oxana Kostina.

In May 1994, at age 13, she competed in her first international event. She won three medals: one gold and two bronze. Later that year, she was invited to join the Spanish national team. She moved to Madrid and trained for about 8 hours a day.

In 1995, Almudena became a top gymnast in Spain. She placed 12th at the European Cup in England.

Olympic Journey

Almudena competed in four Olympic Games. This is a record for rhythmic gymnasts!

Atlanta 1996

In 1996, Almudena went to her first Olympic Games in Atlanta. She was the youngest gymnast in the competition. She finished ninth in the individual final.

Sydney 2000

Almudena was chosen to represent Spain again at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. She once more achieved the ninth position. After these Games, she reconnected with her former coach, Iratxe. They moved to Barcelona and started working together again.

Athens 2004

Before the 2004 Athens Olympics, Almudena had to compete against another gymnast, Jennifer Colino. They had to show who was best to represent Spain. Almudena performed very well and earned her spot.

Almudena's worldwide debut in Vienna (1995)

Almudena Cid and Jennifer Colino in Granada (2002)

In Athens, she reached her third Olympic final. This was a new record for rhythmic gymnastics! She finished eighth and received an Olympic diploma.

Beijing 2008

Almudena was selected for her fourth and final Olympic Games in Beijing in 2008.

Almudena performing the Cid Tostado Element

Retirement

Almudena ended her amazing gymnastics career on August 23, 2008. This was the last day of the Beijing Olympics finals. She finished eighth and earned another Olympic diploma. Her very last performance was with the ribbon, set to the music "Nessun dorma." As a final goodbye, she drew a heart on the mat and kissed it.

Years later, Almudena talked about her retirement. She said it was hard to decide when to stop. But she chose the moment she wanted. She worked hard to show that age doesn't matter in gymnastics. She proved that at 28, she could still be a top athlete. She explained that rhythmic gymnastics is an art form. It's not just about flexibility, but also how you use the equipment. She fought against the idea that gymnasts have to retire very young.

Personal Life

In 2007, Almudena met TV presenter Christian Gálvez. They got married on August 7, 2010, in Torrelodones, Madrid. They later divorced in 2022.

Images for kids

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  Cid in the 'Kiss n Cry Area' at the 2003 European Championships

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  Almudena's worldwide debut in Viena (1995)

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  Almudena Cid and Jennifer Colino in a championship in Granada (2002)

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  Almudena doing the so-called Cid Tostado Element

See also

In Spanish: Almudena Cid para niños