Paris podium - Martin (bronze), Shaheen (gold) and Kemboi (silver) (© Getty Images)
Steeplechaser Eliseo Martin, 30 years of age, and women's middle distance runner Marta Dominguez, 28, have been named as Spanish athletes of the year for 2003.
The award is recognition of a brilliant last season for both which culminated in Martin winning the bronze medal in the World Championships held in Paris, while Dominguez went one step better, taking the silver medal in the women's 5000m event at the same championships.
Both were chosen by a poll carried out by the Spanish Athletics Federation, with Martin beating World Championships Marathon runner-up Julio Rey into second place with Francisco Fernandez, who took silver in the 20 km Race Walk in Paris, third.
Meanwhile Dominguez was elected ahead of high-jumper Ruth Beitia, who became the first Spanish women to jump 2 metres (26 July 2003) with sprint hurdler Glory Alozie completing the podium.
"This is a very special award for me and it has a special value because it will go down in the history books,'' said an emotional Martin. "It is the recognition of my companions in the World of Athletics, but there are others who deserve it more than I do."
