Paco Aritmendi

At the Leapardstown race track, Dublin, in 1964, Paco Aritmendi made history as the first Spaniard to win the International Cross Country Championship (now the World Cross Country Championship). He crossed the line ahead of three Englishmen, Ron Hill, John Cooke and Gerry North and, at the time of his death in 2020, Aritmendi remained the only Spaniard to win the title.

Aritmendi started his career as a successful junior athlete before graduating to the athletics section of Real Madrid. While doing military service in Zaragoza in 1962, he competed in his first International Cross Country Championships, finishing 33rd, but did win silver in the team competition. After completing his military service Aritmendi joined the athletic section of Barcelona FC and in 1963 was runner-up to Mariano Haro in the Spanish Cross Country Championships. The following year, however, was the greatest of Aritmendi’s career. It started with him winning the first of two consecutive Spanish cross country titles, followed by that world title and then an Olympic appearance. Unfortunately, he only finished fourth in his 5,000 metres heat in Tokyo and missed out on a place in the final. Also in 1964, at Berlin, Aritmendi became the first Spaniard to run the 5,000 in under 14 minutes (13:53.4).

Aritmendi retained his national cross country title in 1965 and also set a Spanish 3,000 metres record of 8:22.2 on the wooden indoor track at Madrid. In addition to his two national cross country titles, Aritmendi won a third national title, at 10,000 metres in 1966. Disappointed with Barcelona, he then joined their rivals RCD Español in 1967 before eventually retiring from the sport at the age of 29. He represented Spain internationally on 14 occasions between 1962-68. After retiring, Aritmendi worked as a bricklayer and gardener to support his wife and family, and during a period of hardship was forced to sell his world championship gold medal.

A street in Guadalajara, where Aritmendi lived for many years, was named in his honour and called Paseo de Francisco Aritmendi. Also, in 2010, his hometown of Málaga del Fresno named the municipal sports complex in his honour. In 1997 he received the gold medal for sports merit from the community board of Castiila-la Mancha and in 2007 received the bronze Order of Sports Merit, one of the highest awards in Spanish sport.

After his 1964 triumph in Dublin, the Spanish National Sports Delegate José Antonio Elola-Olaso, promised Aritmendi he would be given a house following the victory. When General Franco received Aritmendi at a reception in Madrid, the athlete did not hesitate asking the dictator: “When will I get the house?” He did not get a reply.

Personal Best: 5000 – 13:53.4 (1964).