Defense Minister Margarita Robles chaired a meeting with 22 top military athletes of the Army in the Ambassadors’ Hall of the Army General Staff, publicly recognizing their efforts, discipline and results during the year 2025.
“When there is physical preparation, there is not only physical strength, but also intellectual, moral and human strength”Robles said in front of commanders and military personnel, in a message aligned with current operational training doctrine.
Why is sport essential in the army?
Physical preparation as an operational multiplier
| Element | military function |
|---|---|
| Operational physical education | Improves resilience, leadership under stress and unit cohesion |
| military competition | International projection and training for demanding scenarios |
Units such as the Central School of Physical Education (Toledo) play an essential role in this model, integrating high-level sport with real combat, deployment and survival needs.
Athletes who project the image of the country
- Modalities represented: skydiving, judo, athletics, climbing, sailing and golf
- Total number of winners: 22 active military personnel
- Scope: national and international military competitions
Robles emphasized that these athletes not only compete, but also act as ambassadors of Spain in international tournaments, thus strengthening the image of a modern and professional armed force.
GEJEME Trophy and excellence in units
The Legion, a reference in physical performance
One of the central moments of the event was the presentation of the GEJEME Trophya reward that the Army has awarded since 2010 to the unit having obtained the best results in competitions such as shooting, military pentathlon, orienteering or operational physical training.
In 2025, the price returned to Brigade of the Legion “King Alphonse XIII”. His boss, Colonel Fernando Sánchez Pérez, received from the hands of the Chief of Staff, General Amador Enseñat, the statue of the Greek goddess of victory, Nike.
Individual and collective recognition
- Best TCGF athletes: Corporal Paula Ramírez Parra and Corporal Daniel Gómez Otero
- Best unit in physical condition: VII Brigade
These recognitions reinforce a clear internal message: physical performance continues to be a pillar of the military career, with a direct impact on operations and command.
A fence with institutional projection
After the tribute, the minister attended the presentation of Military calendar 2026a communication tool that includes operational milestones, missions and values, and which aims to strengthen the relationship between the armed forces and society.
The message is clear: In a year marked by demands, losses and injuries, the Army is consolidating sport as a factor of resilience, cohesion and strategic projection.
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