Antonio Páez

Antonio Páez Montero (born 5 September 1956 in Arenas del Rey) is a retired Spanish middle-distance runner. He is best known for winning two medals at the European Indoor Championships and for competing in the men's 800 metres at the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow.

Early life and career Páez was born in Arenas del Rey, in the province of Granada, Spain. He rose to prominence in Spanish athletics during the late 1970s, particularly in indoor middle-distance competitions.

International career Páez’s breakthrough came at the 1979 European Athletics Indoor Championships held in Vienna, where he won the gold medal in the men's 800 metres with a time of 1:47.4, setting a Spanish indoor record and becoming the first Spaniard to win a European indoor title in athletics.

He returned to the podium in the 1981 European Athletics Indoor Championships in Grenoble, earning the bronze medal in the same event.

Olympic Games Páez represented Spain at the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow, competing in the men's 800 metres. He finished 14th overall, missing out on the final round.

National career Domestically, Páez held multiple Spanish national records in the 800 metres and was a **repeated national champion** in both indoor and outdoor events during the late 1970s and early 1980s.

Legacy Antonio Páez is widely recognized as a pioneer of Spanish middle-distance running. His historic win in 1979 marked a turning point for Spain in international athletics. He is featured in the Royal Spanish Athletics Federation’s (RFEA) centennial book 100 años de una pasión, which highlights his contribution to the sport.

Achievements