Lorena Guréndez García (born 7 May 1981 in Vitoria) is a Spanish

rhythmic gymnast Rhythmic gymnastics is a sport in which gymnasts perform on a floor with an apparatus: hoop, ball, clubs, ribbon. The sport combines elements of gymnastics, dance and calisthenics; gymnasts must be strong, flexible, agile, dexterous and co ...

and Olympic Champion. She competed at the

1996 Summer Olympics The 1996 Summer Olympics (officially the Games of the XXVI Olympiad, also known as Atlanta 1996 and commonly referred to as the Centennial Olympic Games) were an international multi-sport event held from July 19 to August 4, 1996, in Atlanta, ...

in Atlanta, and won a gold medal with the Spanish group. The team was formed by Lorena,

Estela Giménez Estela Giménez Cid (born 29 March 1979 in Madrid, Spain) is a Spanish former rhythmic gymnast who won a gold medal at the 1996 Summer Olympics in the group all-around event. The team was formed by Giménez, Marta Baldó, Nuria Cabanillas, Lor ...

Marta Baldó Marta Baldó Marín (born 8 April 1979) is a Spanish rhythmic gymnast and Olympic Champion. She won a gold medal with the Spanish group at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. The team was formed by Marta, Estela Giménez, Nuria Cabanil ...

, Nuria Cabanillas,

Estíbaliz Martínez Estíbaliz Martínez Yerro (born 9 May 1980 in Vitoria) is a Spanish rhythmic gymnast and Olympic Champion. She competed at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, and won a gold medal with the Spanish group. The team was formed by Estíbaliz ...

and

Tania Lamarca Tania Lamarca Celada (born 30 April 1980 in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain) is a former Spanish rhythmic gymnast and Olympic medallist. She won a gold medal with the Spanish group at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. The team was formed by Tania, ...

. Also, she was twice world champion: one in 3 balls/2 ribbons and other in 3 ribbons/2 hoops. In 1995, she was the Spanish junior champion, individually and in teams with the Oskitxo Club. In 1996, she became part of the Spanish national rhythmic gymnastics team in the ensemble modality. Since then, all medals obtained in official competitions were obtained as a member of the Spanish ensemble. In 1996, she won her first world title in the final of three balls and two ribbons at the World Championship in

Budapest Budapest (, ; ) is the capital and most populous city of Hungary. It is the ninth-largest city in the European Union by population within city limits and the second-largest city on the Danube river; the city has an estimated population ...

, where she also won silver in the general competition. 1997, she was runner-up in Europe in 5 balls and bronze in 3 balls and 2 ribbons in the European Championship in Patras. In 1998, she won her second world title at the World Championship in

Seville Seville (; es, Sevilla, ) is the capital and largest city of the Spanish autonomous community of Andalusia and the province of Seville. It is situated on the lower reaches of the River Guadalquivir, in the southwest of the Iberian Peninsula ...

, this time in 3 ribbons and 2 rings, as well as winning silver in the general competition. In the European Championship of Budapest held in 1999 he was bronze medal in the competition of 3 ribbons and 2 rings. 2000, she participated in her second Olympic Games, finishing in tenth position in the team competition in

Sydney 2000 The 2000 Summer Olympics, officially the Games of the XXVII Olympiad and also known as Sydney 2000 (Dharug: ''Gadigal 2000''), the Millennium Olympic Games or the Games of the New Millennium, was an international multi-sport event held from 1 ...

. In 2013, the documentary Las Niñas de Oro (The Golden Girls) premiered on YouTube. It tells the story of the Olympic champion team in Atlanta through interviews with the gymnasts themselves, and in 2016, she attended the 20th Anniversary Gala of the Gold Medal in Atlanta '96 in Badajoz with the rest of the team. Conjunto español 1999 Budapest 04

She has received several awards, including the

Olympic Order The Olympic Order, established in 1975, is the highest award of the Olympic Movement. It is awarded for particularly distinguished contributions to the Olympic Movement, i.e. recognition of efforts worthy of merit in the cause of sport. Traditi ...

from the

Spanish Olympic Committee The Spanish Olympic Committee ( es, Comité Olímpico Español, COE) is responsible body for Spain's participation in the Olympic Games. Members of the committee are 35 sports federations, which elect the Executive Council composed of the pres ...

(1996), the Gold Plaque of the

Royal Order of Sports Merit The Royal Order of Sports Merit ( es, Real Orden del Mérito Deportivo) is a Spanish civil order of merit established in 18 June 1982. The order is indented to recognise distinguished service in sports, in teaching physical education, or the man ...

(1996), the Baron de Güell Cup at the National Sports Awards (1997), and the Gold Medal of the Royal Order of Sports Merit (2015). She is married to the artistic gymnast José Luis Fernández. Lorena is the youngest Spanish athlete to win an Olympic medal, doing so at the age of 15 years and 87 days.

References

1981 births Living people Spanish rhythmic gymnasts Olympic gold medalists for Spain Gymnasts at the 1996 Summer Olympics Olympic gymnasts of Spain Sportspeople from Vitoria-Gasteiz Olympic medalists in gymnastics Medalists at the 1996 Summer Olympics Gymnasts from the Basque Country (autonomous community) 20th-century Spanish women 21st-century Spanish women {{rhythmic-gymnastics-bio-stub

See also

References