In a showcase of their supremacy in beach kata, Spain completed an impressive performance in karate with the title of male kata at the 3rd Mediterranean Beach Games in Heraklion.

Following Paola Garcia Lothano’s victory in the women’s event, Spain also won the gold medal in the men’s event on Monday September 11^th, with Raul Romero Martín, scoring 25.2 points.
The European under-21 bronze medalist beat Morocco’s Salah Eddine El Mansoury in the final, leaving him win the silver medal with 24.4.

Tokyo Olympic silver medalist, Damian Quintero, competed for the bronze medal in the men’s beach kata. The 39-year-old karateka scored 24.9 to 24.1 for Algerian, Saber Benmakhlouf.

The second bronze medal was won by Italy’s Guido Polsinelli, who beat his fellow Italian, Vicenzo Pappalardo, with a score of 24.6 to 24.3.

Medalists’ quotes:

Raul Martín Romero: “I am very happy for the gold medal. But the best of all the athletes is Damian Quintero. I feel him as my teacher and as my big brother. I have learned a lot from him”.

Damian Quintero: “The truth is that I also feel Raul like a little brother and I care about his progress. At the Worlds I will compete in the individual event, although what saddens me is that karate will no longer be in the Olympics. That makes my medal historic”.

Guido Polsinelli: “It’s great to have the Mediterranean Games in Greece. The level of the athletes is very high. The medal is the reward for my efforts of the whole team and the people who support us. I worked a lot for this result. I would call it a “sweat medal”!

Salah Eddine El Mansouri: “I am sad despite the medal because of what has happened in my country. I dedicate it to the victims of the earthquake. However, I have a reason to be happy as this is the first silver medal in Morocco’s history at the Mediterranean Beach Games. The secret of my success is the double lunch and dinner. I eat pasta with french fries. You don’t need to have abs to win”.