Darío Villalba facts for kids

Darío Villalba Flórez (born February 22, 1939 – died June 16, 2018) was a talented person from Spain. He was known as a painter and a photographer. He was also a competitive figure skater. Darío even represented Spain in the 1956 Winter Olympics. He finished 14th in the skating competition.

Darío Villalba: Skater and Artist

Early Life and Skating Journey

Darío Villalba Flórez was born on February 22, 1939. His hometown was San Sebastián, Spain. He started figure skating when he was 11 years old. This was in Philadelphia, USA. His father worked there as the Spanish consul.

When Darío was 14, he moved back to Spain. The only ice rink in Spain was small and not very good. So, his parents sent him to Chamonix, France. There, he trained with a German coach named Thea Frenssen.

Competing in the Olympics

At just 16 years old, Darío represented Spain. He competed in the 1956 Winter Olympics. These games were held in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy. He took part in the men's singles figure skating event. Darío placed 14th out of 16 skaters.

After the Olympics, he competed again. He finished 15th at the 1956 World Figure Skating Championships. This event took place in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany.

Achievements in Art

Darío Villalba was not only a skater but also a famous artist. In 1983, he received a special award. It was Spain's National Award for Plastic Arts. This award celebrates great artists.

In 2002, Darío became a member of an important group. It was the Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando. This is a famous art academy in Spain.

Skating Competitions

Here are Darío Villalba's results from major international skating events:

See also

In Spanish: Darío Villalba para niños