Grupo Miguel Vergara, a Spanish company specializing in bovine breeding and meat production, is sending a message of solidarity while challenging Spanish swimmers racing in Tokyo next summer.
The company has committed to donating up to 1,000 kilograms (approximately 2,200 lbs) of food, which would then be distributed across soup kitchens nationwide.
The donations translate to 200 kilos for every Olympic gold medal earned by Spanish swimmers, divers, water polo players, synchronized swimmers, or open water swimmers in Tokyo, while silver medals will earn 150 kilos and bronze medals will drive 100 kilos.
“This action is intended to help others, collaborating with the environment and corporate social responsibility with which we feel deeply committed,” said CEO Miguel Vergara Zamora, according to a press release published on the Royal Spanish Swimming Federation‘s (RFEN) website. “There is nothing that makes us prouder than to motivate and help, through sport, people who need it“.
In response, RFEN president Fernando Carpena indicated that RFEN will take up the torch.
“For our institution, this agreement with Grupo Miguel Vergara brings us closer to one of the most successful and attractive segments, such as gastronomy. We are delighted by this and of course, we pick up the torch in this solidarity challenge because we share defined values,” Carpena said in response.
As of now, a total of five Spanish swimmers have qualified for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games based on their results at last December’s 2020 Open Castalia Castellón Trophy.
Spanish Qualifiers for the 2020 Olympic Games Through The 2020 Open Castalia Castellón Trophy:
- Mireia Belmonte – 800m/1500m free
- Hugo Gonzalez – 100m back, 200m IM
- Jessica Vall – 200m breast
- Africa Zamorano – 200m back
- Nicolas Garcia Saiz – 200m back
Additionally, Alberto Martinez Murcia qualified for Tokyo in marathon swimming after placing eighth in the 10-kilometer event at the 2019 FINA World Championships last summer.
Per RFEN’s Tokyo 2020 selection criteria, Spanish swimmers will be able to hit the qualifying standards at two more meets:
- Campeonato de España Absoluto Open de Primavera – Sabadell, March 24-28.
- 2021 European Aquatics Championships – Budapest (HUN), May 17-23.
At the Rio 2016 Olympics, Spain was represented by 24 pool swimmers, bringing two medals home; Mireia Belmonte‘s bronze in the 400-meter IM and 200-meter butterfly gold. The country also had top 5 finishes in the artistic swimming duet competition and in women’s water polo.
This would have resulted in a 300 kilogram (661 pound) donation under this scheme.
WOMEN (2016 Olympic Roster – Swimming)
- Mireia Belmonte
- Melani Costa
- Duane Da Rocha
- Jessica Vall
- Africa Zamorano
- Maria Vilas
- Judit Ignacio
- Marta Gonzalez
- Fatima Gallardo
- Patricia Castro
- Erika Villaecija
MEN (2016 Olympic Roster – Swimming)
- Miguel Duran
- Hugo Gonzalez
- Eduardo Solaeche
- Joan Lluis Pons
- Carlos Peralta
- Antonio Arroyo
- Victor Martin
- Albert Puig
- Marc Sanchez
- Markel Alberdi
- Miguel Ortiz-Cañavate
- Bruno Ortiz-Cañavate
- Aitor Martinez
