Pilar Domenech (born 10 May 1966) is a former Spanish rhythmic gymnast, member of the national group. She won a European bronze medal in 1984.

Career

Pilar entered the national team in 1982, training at the Moscardó Gymnasium in Madrid under the orders of Emilia Boneva and the group coach, Ana Roncero. Georgi Neykov was the team's choreographer and Violeta Portaska was the pianist in charge of providing live music for the routines. In 1982, she participated as a substitute along María Fernández, María Martín and Sonia Somoza and the main quintet Mónica Alcaraz,

Elena García Elena may refer to: People * Elena (given name), including a list of people and characters with this name * Joan Ignasi Elena (born 1968), Catalan politician * Francine Elena (born 1986), British poet Geography * Elena (town), a town in Velik ...

, Isabel García,

Victoria García Victoria most commonly refers to: * Victoria (Australia), a state of the Commonwealth of Australia * Victoria, British Columbia, provincial capital of British Columbia, Canada * Victoria (mythology), Roman goddess of Victory * Victoria, Seych ...

and Dolores Tamariz, in the

European Championships The European Championships is a multi-sport tournament which brings together the existing European Championships of some of the continent's leading sports every four years. The inaugural edition in 2018 was staged by the host cities of Berlin, ...

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, where Spain placed 4th. In 1983 she was again a substitute in the World Cup Final in

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, where the group finished 4th. In the second half of the year Elena Garcia and Victoria Garcia retired, Pilar then made the starting five, competing in the World Championships in

Strasbourg Strasbourg (, , ; german: Straßburg ; gsw, label=Bas Rhin Alsatian, Strossburi , gsw, label=Haut Rhin Alsatian, Strossburig ) is the prefecture and largest city of the Grand Est region of eastern France and the official seat of the Eu ...

along Pino Díaz, María Fernández Ostolaza, Isabel García,

Virginia Manzanera Virginia Manzanera (born 26 March 1965) is a former Spanish Rhythmic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnast and coach. She won a European bronze medal in 1984. Biography Virginia began practicing rhythmic gymnastics when she was 9 years old at the Club ...

and Sonia Somoza with Dolores Tamariz as the alternate getting 5th place. In 1984 Domenech was part of the Spanish group that won bronze at the European Championship in Vienna. The members of the group were Pilar,

, María Fernández Ostolaza ,

Eva Obalat Eva Obalat Mangrané (born 5 July 1969) is retired Spanish rhythmic gymnast and chief executive officer. As a gymnast she's a double European bronze medalist. Biography Eva took up gymnastics at the age of 6, later joining the Zaragoza Rhythm ...

Nancy Usero Nancy Usero is a retired Spanish rhythmic gymnast, member of the national group. She was also national head coach from 1998 to 2001. Biography Usero took up the sport at Escuela de Gimnasia Rítmica of Zaragoza. In 1982 she won bronze in the ...

and

Graciela Yanes Graciela (August 23, 1915 – April 7, 2010)
Accessed April 2010 was a Cuban-born American singer of Cuban music and ...

, in addition to

Rocío Ducay Rocío is a Spanish female name, literally meaning " dew". Notable people with the name include: * Rocío Banquells (1958), Mexican pop singer and actress * Rocío Carrasco, Rociíto (1977), Spanish TV presenter and business woman *Rocío Comba (19 ...

and

Ofelia Rodríguez Ophelia () is a character in William Shakespeare's drama '' Hamlet'' (1599–1601). She is a young noblewoman of Denmark, the daughter of Polonius, sister of Laertes and potential wife of Prince Hamlet, who, due to Hamlet's actions, ends ...

as substitutes. After this achievement, they were all awarded the Medal of Gymnastic Merit of 1984 from the Royal Spanish Gymnastics Federation that was given to them in 1985 in a ceremony presided over by Alfonso de Borbón y Dampierre, Duke of Cádiz, then president of the COE. In the World Championships in Valladolid in 1985, along María Fernández,

and

Graciela Yanes Graciela (August 23, 1915 – April 7, 2010)
Accessed April 2010 was a Cuban-born American singer of Cuban music and ...

, with Ester Domínguez,

Laura Manzanera Laura may refer to: People * Laura (given name) * Laura, the British code name for the World War I Belgian spy Marthe Cnockaert Places Australia * Laura, Queensland, a town on the Cape York Peninsula * Laura, South Australia * Laura Bay, a bay ...

and

Estela Martín Estela may refer to: * Estela (Póvoa de Varzim), Portugal * Estela, Buenos Aires, Argentina * CD Estela, a Spanish basketball team People with the given name * Estela Perlas-Bernabe (born 1952), Philippine jurist * Estela de Carlotto (born 1 ...

as substitutes, Spain was 7th in the All-Around. After her retirement in 1986 she started working as a coach of the national team in 1988. After Emilia Boneva's death on 20 September 2019, María and other former national gymnasts gathered to pay tribute to her during the Euskalgym held on 16 November 2019, the event took place before 8,500 attendees at the Bilbao Exhibition Center de Baracaldo and was followed by a dinner in her honor.

Legacy and influence

The bronze medal at the European Championships in Vienna in 1984 was the first for the Spanish group since 1975, and then began a long period of winning international medals. In an interview in 2016, María Fernández Ostolaza highlighted the importance of that medal for Spanish rhythmic gymnastics:

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Domenech, Pilar 1966 births Living people Spanish rhythmic gymnasts Medalists at the Rhythmic Gymnastics European Championships Gymnasts from Madrid