Iñaki Urdangarin facts for kids
Urdangarin in 2010
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| Birth name | Iñaki Urdangarin Liebaert | ||||||||||
| Nationality | Spanish | ||||||||||
| Born | 15 January 1968 Zumárraga, Basque, Spain |
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| Sport | Handball | ||||||||||
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Medal record
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Iñaki Urdangarin Liebaert (born 15 January 1968) is a Spanish former handball player. He was once married to Infanta Cristina, who is the younger daughter of King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofía of Spain. This made him the brother-in-law of King Felipe VI. After his sports career, Iñaki Urdangarin became involved in business. He faced public scrutiny regarding how funds were managed by a foundation he was part of.
Contents
Early Life and Family
Iñaki Urdangarin was born on 15 January 1968. His birthplace was Zumárraga, a town in the Basque Country region of northern Spain. His father, Juan María Urdangarin Berriochoa, was an engineer and businessman. His mother, Claire Françoise Liebaert Courtain, was born in Antwerp, Belgium. She has both Spanish Basque and Belgian family roots.
Iñaki grew up with six brothers and sisters. His grandparents on his father's side also came from the small Basque village of Zumárraga. He later earned a master's degree in business administration.
Sports Career Highlights
At 18, Iñaki Urdangarin became a professional handball player. He joined the famous team FC Barcelona Handbol. He played for this team until he retired from the sport in 2000. While playing, he also studied business in Barcelona.
Olympic Achievements
Iñaki was a key member of the Spanish handball team. He played in three Olympic Games:
He was the team captain in the 2000 Olympics. The team won a bronze medal in both the 1996 and 2000 Games.
After Retirement from Handball
After retiring from professional handball, Iñaki Urdangarin remained involved in sports. He became a member of the Spanish Olympic Committee in 2001. He was later elected as the first deputy chairman in 2004. In 2001, he received a special award called the Grand Cross of the Royal Order of Sports Merit. This award recognizes great achievements in sports.
In September 2001, he took on a role in sports marketing. He became a director at a company called Octagon Esedos.
Personal Life
Iñaki Urdangarin met Infanta Cristina in 1996. They married in Barcelona on 4 October 1997. They had four children together:
- Juan (born 1999)
- Pablo (born 2000)
- Miguel (born 2002)
- Irene (born 2005)
The family lived in Barcelona for many years. From 2009 to 2011, they lived in Washington, D.C.. In 2013, Infanta Cristina and their children moved to Geneva, Switzerland. Iñaki remained in Barcelona. On 24 January 2022, Cristina and Iñaki announced their separation. They finalized their divorce in December 2023.
Titles and Honours
Titles Held
- 15 January 1968 – 4 October 1997: Iñaki Urdangarin Liebaert
- 4 October 1997 – 12 June 2015: The Most Excellent The Duke of Palma de Mallorca
- 12 June 2015 – present: The Most Excellent Iñaki Urdangarin Liebaert
Iñaki Urdangarin was known by the courtesy title of Duke of Palma de Mallorca. This was because he was married to Infanta Cristina, who held that title. She stopped using this title in 2015. However, Iñaki Urdangarin still holds the style of The Most Excellent. This is because he is a Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Order of Sports Merit.
Awards and Recognition
Iñaki Urdangarin has received several honours for his contributions.
Spanish Honour
Spain : Grand Cross of the Royal Order of the Sports Merit (awarded 30 November 2001).
Foreign Honours
Germany : Grand Cross 1st class of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (awarded 11 November 2002).
Luxembourg : Grand Cross of the Order of the Oak Crown (awarded 7 May 2001).
See also
In Spanish: Iñaki Urdangarin para niños
