Spanish swimmer dedicates Olympic medals to Virgin Mary
August 18, 2012: Spanish swimmer Mireia Belmonte offered her two silver medals from
the London 2012 Olympic Games to Our Lady of Monserrat in Barcelona.
The 21-year-old
– who won silver in the 800 meter free-style and the 200 meter butterfly – posed for
a picture before the image of Our Lady of Monserrat and posted the photo on her Twitter
account, which has grown from 7,000 followers to 56,000.
In an August 4 press
conference, Belmonte, the only Spanish swimmer to win two medals in London, said both
were of “equal value” to her.
“One cost a little bit more effort than the
other because it was a longer race,” she recalled. “But all of my rivals were very
tough and before it starts you don’t know what is going to happen because everyone
is very strong.”
Belmonte trains almost nine hours a day and said she plans
to work hard to prepare for the world championships next year.
“I have never
participated in such an important international competition here at home, and plus
my family will be able to be there, since this time they couldn’t make it,” she added.
The
swimmer was born in Badalona, Spain, in 1990. She began swimming at the age of four
at the recommendation of doctors to help correct her sclerosis.
In 2007 she
became the world champion in 400 meter free-style and the 400 meter medley, and she
also won both races in the European Juniors Championship.
Belmonte told Europa
Press she was not surprised by U.S. swimmer Katie Ledecky’s gold medal victory in
the 800-meter free-style, as American swimmers are more accustomed to competing before
large crowds and under greater pressure. Fifteen-year-old Ledecky also witnessed to
her faith at the Olympics, saying she prays the Hail Mary before each race.