“Gallur is our favorite track”

Quique Llopis and Lorea Ibarzabal agree at the presentation of the World Indoor Tour Gold Madrid 2025

The CDM Gallur (Madrid) is now ready to host the World Indoor Tour Gold Madrid 2025, which will be held on February 28 and will culminate the prestigious World Indoor Tour Gold circuit of World Athletics. As a prelude, this Thursday, Sarah Mitton, Quique Llopis and Lorea Ibarzabal attended the official presentation of the event, together with the Councillor for Sports of the Madrid City Council, Sonia Cea.

Councilwoman Sonia Cea highlighted the joint work between the Madrid City Council, the Royal Spanish Athletics Federation and the Madrid Athletics Federation, stressing the importance of creating a solid foundation for the future of athletics.Madrid is the great capital of athletics, and we are working together with clubs and schools to promote sport from the grassroots. What we are achieving is the result of this shared effort.", said Cea. She also expressed her enthusiasm for the facility of Gallur, with a new track this winter that has already proven to be a great space for competition, as evidenced by the recent Spanish Short Track Championship: "Gallur has a symbolic value, not only for its infrastructure, but for the vibrant atmosphere that exists within it and the affection that Madrid residents have for sport.", she added. Cea also highlighted the importance of events of this calibre to position Madrid as the world capital of sport: "We want to be the world capital of sport, and that means that major events are held in Madrid. We have been waiting for a long time for a major event in this city and athletics is key to that strategy. It will come with the European Team Championships, which will be the celebration of athletics in our city.", she concluded, inviting all Madrid residents to enjoy both events.

The athletes shared their emotions and goals for the season. World indoor shot put champion, Sarah Mitton, fondly recalled her victory at this same Meeting two years ago and the closeness of the public, which gave her a unique energy: «The Gallur track is special for us, as the proximity of the public gives us an extra boost. This year, the shot put is at its best, with three women over 20 metres, something that has never happened before indoors in the same season.” She also spoke about the technical evolution that this discipline has had in recent years: “Female throwers are starting to get attention in the shot put. We have started to use the rotation technique more and progress can already be seen in the results. In two years I have changed and grown in this technique and the adjustments this season are already bringing me closer to 21 meters.” She concluded by making it clear that her her goal for this winter is to defend her world championship title in Nanjing.

Lorea Ibarzabal, the Madrid-born Olympian in Paris 2024 and Spanish 800m Short Track champion, also shared her expectations for her event: «I am trying to get close to my personal best and, why not, lower it. So far I have run in more tactical meetings but in Gallur, as there are not so many athletes, it helps a lot to make the race cleaner, since in races with 11-12 athletes the times are complicated. In addition, Gallur has a special point, I run at home and I notice that the public pushes me”, said Ibarzabal, who also highlighted the arrival of new generations such as the young under-20 Marta Mitjans, who is already pushing hard from behind, considering it important for the continued rise in the level of the Spanish women's 800m. In addition, Lorea explained her motivation for being at the indoor world championships in Nanjing: “This year the outdoor world championships in Tokyo are in September, which is quite far away, and although I am going to prepare for the European Team Championships in Madrid, which I am particularly looking forward to, there is time from the end of March to the end of June to do proper preparation. I am at a point in my life when I don't feel like giving up international championships and, if I get into the top list, why not go? I will evaluate everything with my coach Uriel when the European Indoor Championships are over, but I would love to be in Nanjing."

For its part, Quique Llopis, co-national record holder in the 60m hurdles, expressed his motivation to compete again in Gallur, where he has achieved great achievements, including his Spanish record of 7.48.It's my favourite indoor track, and I'm really looking forward to breaking the 7.50m barrier. The atmosphere in the stands is incredible and that motivates us to give our best. This Meeting will be a good test for the European Championships in Apeldoorn. I know where I stand, we've done a very good job, we're in the running for a medal at the European Championships, but there are many variables and hopefully on the day everything will work out.", commented Llopis, who also underlined the strength of his rivals like Abel Jordán: "I think Abel is amazing, he is an athlete who will bring a lot of joy to Spanish athletics. This weekend, when I came out of the hurdles and saw that Abel was two metres ahead of me at the second hurdle, I saw it as difficult, I won as he could have done. Tomorrow he will have his revenge and I hope we put on a good show. With this level you have to keep chipping away and working because you know that they are coming up very strong from behind.".

The World Indoor Tour Gold Madrid 2025 is shaping up to be an exciting competition of world-class quality, with athletes ready to give it their all on the Madrid track at Gallur. The people of Madrid and all athletics fans have an appointment this Friday to enjoy a day of high-level and exciting sporting spectacle, which can be followed live in Spain on Teledeporte.

In addition, this event not only offers the opportunity to compete for the $10,000 prize money for the winners of the World Indoor Tour, but also grants a Wild Card for the 2025 World Indoor Championships in Nanjing, which will be held at the end of March, making it a key event for athletes looking for the final victory that will give them a direct ticket to the great Chinese event.