“This sport has taken a lot from me, but it has given me everything.” This is one of the phrases with which Lydia Valentin The video began where he announced his retirement. The end of the journey for the triple Olympic medalist, gold in London 2012, silver in Beijing 2008 and bronze in Rio 2016.
During the event that took place at the COE headquarters, the first to speak was Constantine Iglesias, president of the Royal Spanish Weightlifting Federation. “It’s a happy day, but a sad one for me,” the president began, visibly moved. “Lydia is one of the great athletes of this country. She is a fighter and everything she has achieved she has done cleanly,” he said about the athlete.
“There will be no other Lydia like her. He has been the example on and off the stage and there will be no other like it. I wish you the best in your new reality,” the president of the Federation thanked him.
It was the turn of the speech for the protagonist of the event, who seemed nervous, even though she assured that she had already visualized herself giving that speech. The first thing she did was thank everyone who has supported her during these two decades.
“Today is the day I announce my farewell,” he began by saying. But she did not want this decision to be sad, so she did not hesitate to add that she was leaving “happy, full and very grateful.” “I have put my sport at the top of the world and I have made history in my country.” There was no better way to sum up her career.