Ane Mintegi and the future

The big names last weekend Messi Y Donnarumma, Barty Y Djokovic, Pogacar Y Valverde, overshadowed other names not so great, but who aspire to be. The week was prolific in successes that project the future of Spanish sport. The quarry is alive. Ane Mintegi, a 17-year-old from Gipuzkoa, was proclaimed junior champion of Wimbledon. No other Spanish had done it until then, only Magüi Serna reached the final in 1996. The junior record of All England it does not guarantee anything, sometimes you reach the top and others not, but it is already a big step. The proof in favor was Mintegi just the day before, when Ashleigh barty, who had won that same title in 2011, was crowned on the sacred grass to establish himself as number one in the world.

It was not the only triumph of the athletes of the future, some already with a dazzling present. During those days, the Selection of athletics sub-23 added in Tallinn 15 medals, three of them gold: Eduardo Menacho, in 10,000 meters; Jose Manuel Perez, in 20 kilometers march, and Asier Martinez, in 110 meters hurdles. Asier, which has the second best Spanish brand ever after Orlando ortega, will be within a few dates in the Olympic Games. Other Selection, the U19 basketball team, also competed at a high level in its World Cup, which finished fifth, with the promising Juan Nuñez Y Ruben Dominguez at the reins. These results join other brilliant irruptions this year that confirm the hopeful horizon. The three clearest cases are those of Juan Ayuso, winner of Italy spin sub-23 with only 19 years; Pedro Acosta, who dominates in Moto3 with 16, with unprecedented performances, and Usman Garuba, which stands out in the Real Madrid and knocks on the doors of Tokyo. New names that give freshness to Spanish sport … and ensure tomorrow.