Carmen Valero

Valero was best known for representing Spain at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal.^[6] Valero was the only woman in the Spanish track and field squad for the Montreal Games, and became the first female athlete to ever represent the country at the Summer Olympic Games.^[7]

Valero won two women's races at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships in 1976 and 1977,^[8][7][9] while also winning the bronze medal at the same competition in 1975.^[3]

In 1980, Valero announced her retirement,^[2][9] after having multiple injuries^[5] and her decision to take care of her family.^[2] She also did not approve how female athletes were underpaid and mistreated by Spanish sports organizations.^[2][5] However, two years later, she returned.^[2][5]

Valero officially retired from running competitions in 1987. Apart of her two world cross country titles,^[8] she also won twenty-five Spanish national titles in cross country.^[7]

She also won multiple titles at the Catalan Championships, seven of which in cross country. She held the Spanish records for the 800, 1500 and 3000 metres,^[1] and represented Spain internationally twenty-five times.^[1]

Valero died from problems caused by a stroke on 2 January 2024 in Sabadell, Spain at the age of 68.^[8][10]