Francisco Aritmendi
Medal record | ||
---|---|---|
Men's athletics | ||
Representing Spain | ||
International Cross Country Championships | ||
1964 Dublin | Senior race | |
1962 Sheffield | Senior team |
Francisco Aritmendi Criado (17 or 19 September 1938 – 12 April 2020) was a Spanish
Aritmendi also competed on the
Career
Early life and career
Born during the height of the Spanish Civil War in Málaga del Fresno, a rural area near Madrid,[1] he grew up in nearby Cogolludo. He took up running at school after being noted for his speed on the football pitch. In spite of his slight and small build (1.57 m), he performed well and quickly rose to win the national junior title in 1958, running with hemp shoes.[2]
As he entered his twenties his running career was interrupted by military service and the passed from club to club, leaving
Failure and victory
At the start of the 1963 season he impressed with a win at the Championat de Catalunya de Cross and second place to Mariano Haro at the national championships.[5] There were high hopes for his performance at the 1963 International Cross Country Championships, which was held on home turf in San Sebastián. However, this would prove to be the most denigrated outing of his career. Failing to run an even-paced race, he ran too quickly towards the end, aiming for individual honor, and despite being around the tenth place on the final lap he dropped out of the race. This decision cost the host nation the team title – with Aritmendi's finish the team would have been ten points clear of the eventual winners Belgium, but instead ended fifth in the rankings as the team score was greatly increased by 38th placed Iluminado Corcuera instead. He was greatly criticized by the press and his teammates and Spain never did win the team International Cross title.[3][2]
He completely turned around his fortunes in the 1964 event. He started by defending his Catalan title then claimed his first national title at the Spanish Cross Country Championships.
Following his cross country win he began to receive support from the
Later career
He broke another Spanish record in February 1965, running 8:22.2 minutes for the indoor
His final international outing at the
In his later years, his achievements began to be recognized. He received the bronze Royal Order of Sports Merit in 2007.[10] A street in Guadalajara was named in his honour – Paseo de Francisco Aritmendi – and in his hometown of Málaga del Fresno a sports centre was named after him.[11][12]
Aritmendi died of pneumonia during the COVID-19 pandemic in Spain in April. At his death, he remained the only Spaniard to have won the world cross country title.[13]
International competitions
Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Event | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1962 | International Cross Country Championships | Sheffield, United Kingdom | 33rd | Senior race | 46:11 |
2nd | Senior team | 115 pts | |||
1963 | International Cross Country Championships | San Sebastián, Spain | — | Senior race | DNF |
1964 | International Cross Country Championships | Dublin, Ireland | 1st | Senior race | 40:33 |
5th | Senior team | 157 pts | |||
Olympic Games | Tokyo, Japan | 4th (q) | 5000 m | 14:05.0 | |
1965 | International Cross Country Championships | Ostend, Belgium | 23rd | Senior race | 37:51 |
5th | Senior team | 187 pts | |||
1967 | International Cross Country Championships | Barry, United Kingdom | 35th | Senior race | 37:44 |
7th | Senior team | 256 pts | |||
1968 | International Cross Country Championships | Tunis, Tunisia | 52nd | Senior race | 37:38.4 |
National titles
- Spanish Cross Country Championships
- Long race: 1964, 1965
- Spanish Athletics Championships
- 10,000 m: 1966
References
- ^ a b Francisco Aritmendi Archived March 24, 2016, at the Wayback Machine. Sports Reference. Retrieved on 2016-05-05.
- ^ Real Federación Española de Atletismo. Retrieved on 2016-05-05.
- ^ a b c d e Biosca, P. (2014-01-27). El campeón que tuvo que vender su medalla (in Spanish). ABC. Retrieved on 2016-05-05.
- ^ Magnusson, Tomas (2007-03-24). INTERNATIONAL CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS - 12.0km CC Men - Sheffield Graves Park Date: Saturday, March 24, 1962. Athchamps (archived). Retrieved on 2016-05-05.
- ^ a b c d e Francisco Arizmendi. Association of Road Racing Statisticians. Retrieved on 2016-05-05.
- ^ El Español Arizmendi Gano Ayer En Dublin El Cross De Naciones (in Spanish). ABC (1964-03-22). Retrieved on 2016-05-06.
- ^ El C.D. Guadalajara homenajeará este domingo a Francisco Aritmendi y a José Carlos de la Cruz. Deportivo Guadalajara (2014-09-18). Retrieved on 2016-05-08.
- ^ Magnusson, Tomas (2007-03-24). INTERNATIONAL CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS - 12.1km CC Men - Ostend Wellington Racecourse Date: Saturday, March 20, 1965. Athchamps (archived). Retrieved on 2016-05-06.
- ^ Athletes File International Cross Country Championships Francisco Aritmendi (1938.09.17). Athchamps (archived). Retrieved on 2016-05-06.
- ^ Francisco Aritmendi, medalla de bronce al mérito deportivo Archived 2017-02-02 at the Wayback Machine. La Cronica (2007-04-24). Retrieved on 2016-05-06.
- ^ Paseo Francisco Aritmendi (in Spanish). Callejero. Retrieved on 2016-05-06.
- ^ Pérez, M. (2010-12-04). Málaga del Fresno rinde homenaje Francisco Aritmendi (in Spanish). Nueva al Carria. Retrieved on 2016-05-06.
- ^ Francisco Aritmendi, único atleta español que ganó un Mundial de Cross[permanent dead link]. ABC (2020-04-12). Retrieved 2020-04-12.
Further reading
- Rodrigo Arribas, Ildefonso (2006). Campeón. Francisco Aritmendi, campeón del mundo de cross. Guadalajara: Gatoverde Editores.