Mario García (runner) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Mario García

Personal information
Nickname(s)	"The Rocket"
Born	(1999-06-29) 29 June 1999 (age 26) Salamanca, Spain
Height	183 cm
Weight	64 kg
Sport
Country	Spain
Sport	Middle-distance running
Event(s)	1500 metres
University team	Ole Miss Rebels
Club	On Athletics Club
Turned pro	2022
Coached by	Dathan Ritzenhein
Medal record Men's athletics Representing  Spain European Championships Bronze 2022 Munich 1500 m European U23 Championships Silver 2021 Tallinn 1500 m

Mario García Romo, born on June 29, 1999, is a talented Spanish runner. He is known for his speed in middle-distance races, especially the 1500 metres. In 2022, he became the national champion in this event. He also represented Spain at the 2022 and 2023 World Championships, where he finished fourth and sixth.

Before becoming a professional, Mario ran for the University of Mississippi. There, he won a national title in the mile race at the 2022 NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships. After finishing college in 2022, he joined the On Athletics Club to run professionally for On Running.

Mario's Early Life and College Running

Mario García grew up in Villar de Gallimazo, a small town in Spain with about 200 people. In 2018, he moved to the United States to study chemistry at the University of Mississippi. While at the university, he competed in the NCAA, which is a big sports organization for college students. His older brother, Jamie, also ran in NCAA sports for Eastern Kentucky University.

During his time at the University of Mississippi, Mario was a very successful athlete. He was named an NCAA Division I All-American seven times and won six Southeastern Conference championships in cross country and track. He won a national title in the indoor mile race at the 2022 NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships. He finished the race in 4 minutes and 7.54 seconds, just barely beating another runner named Morgan Beadlescomb. He also finished second in the 1500 m race at the 2022 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. While still a student, Mario also won a silver medal in the 1500 m at the 2021 European Athletics U23 Championships.

Mario's Professional Running Career

After graduating from college, Mario moved to Boulder, Colorado. There, he began training with coach Dathan Ritzenhein as part of the On Athletics Club.

2022 Season Highlights

At the Spanish National Championships, Mario won the 1500 meters race with a time of 3 minutes and 35.52 seconds. This win helped him qualify for the 2022 World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon. He performed very well there, finishing fourth in the final race. Later that year, he earned a bronze medal in the 1500 m at the European Athletics Championships.

Mario García (second from right) competing in the 1500 m at the 2022 European Athletics Championships.

2023 Season Highlights

On June 15, Mario set a new personal best time of 3 minutes and 29.18 seconds in the 1500 m at the Bislett Games, finishing fifth. The next month, he placed third at the Spanish Championships. This qualified him for the 2023 World Championships in Budapest. On August 23, he finished sixth in the 1500 final at these championships, with a time of 3 minutes and 30.26 seconds.

The following month, on September 8, Mario set a new national record for Spain in the 2000 m race, finishing in 4 minutes and 49.85 seconds. He ran his last track race of the year at the Prefontaine Classic, where he competed in the mile. He finished fourth in that race with a time of 3 minutes and 47.69 seconds.

2024 Season Highlights

In 2024, Mario continued to compete at a high level. He participated in the World Indoor Championships in Glasgow, United Kingdom, where he finished 11th in the 1500 m. He also competed at the European Championships in Rome, Italy, and the Olympic Games in Paris, France, where he finished 11th in his repechage heat for the 1500 m.

Mario's Achievements and Best Times

All the information below comes from Mario's official World Athletics profile.

International Competitions

Mario has represented Spain in many important international races:

Year	Competition	Venue	Position	Event	Time
Representing  Spain
2017	European U20 Championships	Grosseto, Italy	9th	1500 m	3:58.89
2018	World U20 Championships	Tampere, Finland	22nd (h)	1500 m	3:52.70
2021	European U23 Championships	Tallinn, Estonia	2nd	1500 m	3:40.11
2022	World Championships	Eugene, United States	4th	1500 m	3:30.20
	European Championships	Munich, Germany	3rd	1500 m	3:34.88
2023	World Championships	Budapest, Hungary	6th	1500 m	3:30.26
2024	World Indoor Championships	Glasgow, United Kingdom	11th	1500 m	3:40.48
	European Championships	Rome, Italy	19th (h)	1500 m	3:44.30
	Olympic Games	Paris, France	11th (repechage)	1500 m	3:37.01

Personal Best Times

These are Mario's fastest times in different races:

Outdoor Races

• 800 m: 1:46.90 (Oxford, MS 2022)
• 1500 m: 3:29.18 (Oslo 2023)
• Mile: 3:47.69 (Eugene, OR 2023)
• 2000 m: 4:49.85 (Brussels, Belgium 2023) NR (This is a new national record for Spain!)
• 3000 m: 7:47.56 (Nashville 2022)
• 5000 m: 13:56.69 (Memphis 2020)

Indoor Races

• 1500 m: 3:35.98 (New York City 2023)
• Mile: 3:51.79 (New York 2023) NR (Another national record for Spain!)
• 3000 m: 7:34.74 (Boston, MA 2023)

NCAA College Achievements

Here are some of Mario's top achievements while running for the Ole Miss Rebels in college:

See also

In Spanish: Mario García Romo para niños