He has narrated nine Summer Olympics and seven Winter Olympics as presenter. The first were those of Seoul in 1988 and always on the public channel. Journalist Paloma del Río (Madrid, 63 years old) retires with the broadcast of the 2023 World Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships in Valencia, broadcast by RTVE Play from Wednesday to Sunday, August 27.
This sporting event qualifies for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. All tests will be moderated by Paloma del Río along with Almudena Cid, the only rhythmic gymnast to have competed in four Olympic finals and has been her partner in these broadcasts since 2011.
Over the years, the voice of Del Río has explained the most important gymnastics, ice skating and equestrian events, including at World and European Championships. She is one of the pioneers of sports journalism in Spain and has established herself as a great advocate for women’s and minority sports. He has also held positions in RTVE’s sports directorate, the public body explains in a statement.
In addition to working in television, Paloma del Río has also been a contributor to Radio Nacional de España and has published several books, including Más que olímpicas (Cúpula). His latest project, which I no longer want to hide, is an original RTVE Play production analyzing the LGTBI+ reality in sport in Spain.
As a young woman, the Madrid native didn’t know whether to study psychology or journalism. He chose the second option and financed his studies at the Complutense by working as a clinical assistant at the UVI of the private clinic Ruber. In an interview with this newspaper in the summer of 2021, he already dreamed of his life after retirement: “I will have fulfilled everything I wanted to do beyond my expectations.” I did not think that it would be so much fun, to cover the Olympic Games and that I would enjoy my work so much. I will have more time to attend conferences and speaking engagements, to which I am often called. I would think about writing another book if you asked me. I could devote more time to the Spanish Sports Advisory Council, where we meet to selflessly give away keys and help the sport grow. And I will have time to finish my mosaics, I really like making crafts. Whatever comes and live, above all live,” he commented.
Accolades for his career include silver and gold medals from the Higher Sports Council’s Royal Order of Sports Merit, two Ondas Awards, the Television Academy’s Talent Award, recognition from the International Association of Sports Journalists and the Juan Manuel Gozalo Award of the… Spanish Olympic Committee, Critics Iris Prize and many others.
“A certain nostalgia is inevitable: there is a day you start and another day you stop and now I look back and see everything I’ve done, the hours of broadcasting many sports, those with mine Voice remain in the archive and I freeze typing. We’ll see how I do on Sunday the 27th, but I’m grateful and happy with everything I’ve carried in my backpack for almost four decades,” the journalist commented these days to RTVE.
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