Valentí Massana facts for kids
Valentín Massana Gracia, born on July 5, 1970, in Viladecans, Spain, is a famous Spanish race walker. He is known for holding the Spanish national record in the men's 50-kilometer walk. He set this record on March 20, 1994, in Ourense, with an amazing time of 3 hours, 38 minutes, and 43 seconds. Race walking is a special sport where athletes walk very fast, but they must always keep one foot on the ground.
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Valentín Massana's Big Wins
Valentín Massana competed for Spain in many important events around the world. He won several medals and achieved great results in his career.
Early Career and First Medals
- 1988: At the World Junior Championships in Sudbury, Canada, Valentín won a silver medal in the 10,000-meter walk. This was a great start to his career.
- 1990: He earned another silver medal at the Ibero-American Championships in Manaus, Brazil, for the 20-kilometer walk.
- 1993: This was a fantastic year for Valentín. He won a silver medal at the World Race Walking Cup in Monterrey, Mexico. Later that year, he became a world champion! He won the gold medal in the 20-kilometer walk at the World Championships in Stuttgart, Germany. This was a huge achievement for him and for Spain.
More Medals and Olympic Success
- 1994: Valentín continued his success by winning a bronze medal at the European Championships in Helsinki, Finland, in the 20-kilometer walk.
- 1995: He won another silver medal at the World Championships in Gothenburg, Sweden, for the 20-kilometer walk.
- 1996: At the Olympic Games in Atlanta, United States, Valentín achieved an Olympic medal! He won a bronze medal in the very challenging 50-kilometer walk. This is one of the highest honors for an athlete.
Later Career Highlights
Valentín Massana continued to compete at a high level for many years. He showed great dedication to his sport.
- 1999: He finished 4th in the 50-kilometer walk at the World Championships in Seville, Spain.
- 2000: At the Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia, he again placed 4th in the 50-kilometer walk, showing his consistent performance.
- 2001: He finished 6th in the 50-kilometer walk at the World Championships in Edmonton, Canada.
Valentín Massana's career shows how hard work and talent can lead to great achievements in sports.
See also
In Spanish: Valentí Massana para niños
