MADRID, 10 Feb. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The former swimmer, former water polo player and former Spanish coach Joan Fortuny died on Friday at the age of 77, the Royal Spanish Swimming Federation (RFEN) has confirmed.
Born in Barcelona on May 12, 1946, Fortuny trained at the Barceloneta Swimming Club and showed his abilities by winning the Barcelona Harbor Crossing in 1962, which led him to enter the Blume Residence the following year.
As a swimmer, he competed until 1969 and established 57 Spanish records, both in short and 50 meter pools, in all styles except backstroke. In addition, he participated with the Spanish team in the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games and the 1968 Mexico Olympic Games, as well as the 1963 and 1967 Mediterranean Games and the 1966 European Championship.
In 1968, the then Spanish water polo coach, Bandy Zolyomy, asked him to join the team, with which he played 37 games until his retirement in 1971.
That same year, he began his career as a coach at CN Palma, where he trained, among others, Rafael Escalas. Later he was coach of CAR de Málaga (1981), CN Montjuïc (1984) and CAR de Sant Cugat (1988). Figures such as David Meca, Erika Villaécija and Rafael Muñoz passed through his training sessions.
The Higher Sports Council mourned the death of the former athlete. “The CSD wants to express its most sincere condolences for the death of Joan Fortuny. Swimmer and water polo player, Olympian in Tokyo '64 and Mexico '68, he also stood out in his role as a coach. In these difficult times, we accompany his family and loved ones. dear ones,” he said on the social network X.