María José Rienda facts for kids
| Alpine skier | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Disciplines | Technical events | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Born | María José Rienda Contreras 29 June 1975 Granada, Spain |
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| World Cup debut | 1994 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Retired | 2011 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Olympics | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Teams | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Medals | 6th Giant slalom (2002) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| World Championships | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Teams | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Medals | 9th Giant slalom (1997, 2005) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| World Cup | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Seasons | 17 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wins | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Podiums | 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Discipline titles | 2nd Giant slalom (2006) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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María José Rienda Contreras (born June 29, 1975) is a famous former alpine ski racer from Spain. She used to compete in the World Cup, which is a big international skiing competition. After her skiing career, she even became a top sports leader in Spain. She was the Secretary of State for Sports from June 2018 to January 2020.
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María José Rienda's Skiing Journey
María José Rienda Contreras won six World Cup races. All of her victories were in a type of skiing called giant slalom. Her wins in 2005 were very special. They were the first World Cup victories for a Spanish skier since Blanca Fernández Ochoa won in 1991. María José also proudly represented Spain in five Winter Olympic Games.
How She Started Skiing
Her love for skiing began when she was young. Her father started working at the Sierra Nevada ski station in Spain. By the age of nine, María José already had her first pair of skis. She quickly showed great talent. After winning some national competitions, she joined the Spanish national team when she was just 14 years old.
Her First Big Wins
On October 25, 2003, María José Rienda achieved her first World Cup podium finish. She came in third place in the giant slalom race in Sölden, Austria. That season, she earned two more podium finishes. She ended up ranking third overall in the giant slalom World Cup standings for that year.
The next season, 2004–2005, started just as well. She again placed third in Sölden. Later, she earned another third-place finish in St. Moritz, Switzerland. Then, on February 20, 2005, María José Rienda Contreras won her very first World Cup race! This big victory happened in the giant slalom in Åre, Sweden. She then won another race in Lenzerheide, Switzerland. She finished that season ranked third in the giant slalom World Cup standings again.
After Skiing: A New Role
After she stopped competing as a skier, María José became involved in managing sports. In June 2018, she was chosen for an important job. She became the Secretary of State for Sports for the Spanish government. This meant she was a top leader helping to guide sports in Spain.
María José Rienda's World Cup Victories
| Date | Location | Country | Discipline |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 February 2005 | Åre |  Sweden |
Giant slalom |
| 13 March 2005 | Lenzerheide |  Switzerland |
Giant slalom |
| 10 December 2005 | Aspen |  United States |
Giant slalom |
| 3 February 2006 | Ofterschwang |  Germany |
Giant slalom |
| 4 February 2006 | Ofterschwang | Germany |
Giant slalom |
| 5 March 2006 | Hafjell |  Norway |
Giant slalom |
See also
In Spanish: María José Rienda para niños
