Hugo González wins gold in the 200 meters backstroke, completes the world double and heads towards the Paris Games

It smelled like victory, and it tasted like triumph. The scent and flavor of gold, reminiscent of the finest wine. Hugo González outperformed himself in the 200 backstroke, improving upon his already impressive silver medal in the 100. He swam with his characteristic technique, starting slow and steadily building up momentum. Even though he was in sixth place for the first 50 meters, we had no concerns. It was all part of his strategy. By the 100 mark, he had moved up to second place. Was he going too fast? Shouldn’t he have stayed in fourth or fifth? Impatience or a calculated move? Would his efforts pay off in the end?

At the 150 mark, he surged forward, securing third place. Excellent. He had conserved some energy for the final push, making sure to maintain a perfect balance. Countless hours of training and timing had prepared him for this moment. Swimming strokes synchronized with the ticking of a stopwatch, he was both an athlete and a machine. A man of passion and precision. Now, after the last turn, it was time to give it his all, without calculations or tactics. To push himself to the limit. To win.

And win he did. There was no doubt in the minds of the spectators at the world final in Doha. The gap between him and the other swimmers was noticeable and widening with each stroke. He was swimming. He was soaring. Gone were the concerns of the Spanish team and those watching the event on television. Anticipation and joy filled the air with every meter. The stopwatch, unbiased as always, displayed an exact time: 1:55.30, a new personal best for him, although it fell short of Aschwin Wildeboer’s laminated record (1:54.92). Trailing far behind was Swiss swimmer Roman Mityukov with a time of 1:55.40.

Hugo, who will be celebrating his 25th birthday on Monday, had already become the junior world champion in the same event at the age of 16. He now joins the ranks of the four Spanish gold medalists in swimming, alongside Martín López Zubero, Nina Zhivanevskaya, and Mireia Belmonte. This victory solidifies his position as a leader in Spanish swimming. Any doubts he once had, stemming from the lack of recognition for his hard work, seem to have vanished.

This gold medal carries more than just recognition. It symbolizes his dedication and sacrifices, which have not been in vain. It serves as a reminder of his potential for greatness. And let’s not forget, it is not just any medal, but gold, the most precious metal that surpasses the value of silver and bronze combined. We had missed this moment. We needed it. All that glitters is indeed gold.

It was a day of success for Spain, as their women’s water polo team secured the bronze medal, triumphing over Greece (10-9). Earlier in the day, the 4×200 free relay set a new Spanish record (7:10.63) in the semifinals. Luis Dominguez also claimed the individual record with a time of 1:47.02, surpassing César Castro’s time (1:47.13). However, Castro reclaimed the record later in the afternoon final with a time of 1:47.01, while the team finished eighth (7:11.65). Mario Mollà qualified for the final of the 100 butterfly, but unfortunately, Africa Zamorano did not advance in the women’s 200 backstroke event.