Spain, New World Champion of Stand Up Paddle

Spain's participation in the Stand Up Paddle World Championship could not have ended with a better outcome for the nationals. After having claimed the world runner-up title three times, they have made history and finally secured the world crown.

The national team won its first Gold Medal for Teams on an exciting final day of competition at the ISA 2024 SUP and Paddleboard World Championship. A total of 14 medals, including 4 golds, 8 silvers, and 2 bronzes, elevate the national team to the heights of Denmark, overcoming past disappointments and defeating the French team to become the new world champions.

In the Junior Women's Technical SUP Race, young Alexia Soto took home the silver medal and was crowned world runner-up. In the men's category, Lluis Peroti from the Port Adriano Mar Balear SUP Center team achieved the same feat as his teammate, also earning the silver medal as world runner-up.

In the SUP technical race, Spain showcased its full potential, accumulating a total of three medals: two silvers and one gold. In the men's category, Aarón Sánchez from the Port Adriano Mar Balear SUP Center team, who maintained the lead for much of the race, finished in second place to secure the silver medal and the world runner-up title.

In the women's category, gold medalist of the 2022 SUP Distance Race and also from the Port Adriano Mar Balear SUP Center team, Duna Gordillo, achieved her first medal in the SUP Technical Race. The 21-year-old fought for medals alongside her teammate Esperanza Barreras. The race was closely contested throughout, involving both of them along with Puerto Rican Marie Carmen Rivera. However, Gordillo managed to make a decisive move in the final stretch, gaining a 3-second lead over Barreras, the defending champion; ultimately, the Spanish competitors finished first and second, with Spain claiming a world championship and a runner-up title. Additionally, Gordillo also secured bronze in the long-distance race.

"I can't believe it," said Gordillo. "With Espe (Barreras), we always compete together, and in the final, the one who wins takes it all. I really enjoy competing with Espe; she's a very strong competitor."