A legend stepped onto the tatami mat for the final time on Saturday: Damian QuinteroThe 2021 Tokyo Olympics runner-up fell in the quarter-finals of the kata at the World Championships in Cairo in his last competition as a professional, thus representing a wonderful 22-year career in the elite, which he bid farewell with an emotional message on social media.
“The time has come. Today we had our last dance. It has been many years of work and sacrifice… An entire life dedicated to my passion“, winner of nine world and 27 European medals in the kata method, begins the note. “Many memories come to mind that are impossible to forget and many people to thank,” he recalls.
“On such a long road, it would be impossible to mention all of you,” explains the Spanish athlete, who makes special mention of his parents, wife and team: “CEach one of them made sure to receive support in difficult moments Which I needed; And in the good times they never lacked for celebration. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
“I didn’t want to say goodbye today, but unfortunately in our sport not everything is in our hands. I said I wouldn’t crawl across the tatami, and Even though I left without a medal from my last tournament, I do so with my dignity intact and my final kata as I always envisioned it.“I leave my soul feeling like I was a winner,” Quintero says.
“I will continue to fight, now off the field, so that our sport gets the respect it deserves,” the 42-year-old from Malaga concluded after putting the final touches on his sporting career. “It has been a great journey.” European champion three times, world runner-up four times On one occasion, he won an Olympic silver medal (Tokyo 2021).