Yzabelle Bostyn
SPAIN is well known for its sporting prowess, but did you know many of its olympians come from an expat background?
After conquering first Wimbledon then Europe, Spain has now set its sights on a global sporting prize: this year’s Olympic games.
Their star studded roster includes athletes that have gone on to become household names, such as World Cup winner Jenni Hermoso and tennis legends Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz.
READ MORE: Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz WILL play doubles at the Olympics in dream pairing for Spain
Among the 382 athletes Spain will send to Paris this summer will be a new cohort of Spanish athletes, canoeists, swimmers and more whose roots extend beyond Iberia.
One will even carry the Spanish flag during the opening ceremony.
Marcus Cooper Walz, a sprint canoeist born in Oxford, UK, will represent Spain alongside Galician sailor, Tamara Echegoyen.
Although Walz grew up in Mallorca, he was born to a German-British mother and American father.
While speaking about the flag ceremony, he said: “I have English blood and a Spanish heart, all my successes have been for Spain.
“It’s the best flag of the best country in the world.”
He has competed for Spain since the early 2010s, and is one more the country’s most successful athletes, earning a gold medal at the 2016 Olympics and a silver medal in 2020 Olympics.
This year, he will take part in the K4-500 race and the K2-500 race on the River Seine.
Another expat-born athlete hoping to triumph – but this time in the water not on it – will be as swimmer Carmen Weiler.
Photo: Instagram
Weiler was born and raised in Singapore to a German father and Valencian mother.
At just 19-years-old, she has never taken part in the Olympics before but in June, she set a new Spanish record in the sport, securing her a spot on the squad.
She trains under Spain’s Olympic bronze medallist, Sergio Lopez, at Virginia Tech University, (United States).
She will compete in the women’s 100m backstroke category.
“When I touched the wall, I didn’t even know it was a record,” she said.
Spain’s expat population will also be represented in the dressage competition by Jose Daniel Martin Dockx.
The 50-year-old was born in Malaga to a Belgian mother.
Despite his heritage, he is clearly proud of his Spanish upbringing.
When he competed at the World Dressage Cup in 2023, he brought the only purebred Spanish horse, saying: “It’s our breed and as you can see, it’s got a lot of heart, is obedient and can compete…They are beautiful animals.”
He has previously competed at two Summer Olympics (2012, 2016), securing records of 7th place in team events and 29th place individually.
Finally, Florian Johannes Trittel Paul will represent Spain in the 49er sailing category.
Born in Switzerland, the 30-year-old has previously competed in the Nacra 17 event at the Summer Olympics, where his team placed 7th.
He was inspired to sail by his dad and grandfather, both keen on the water and began his sailing career in Spain.
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