Francisco Aritmendi

Francisco Aritmendi Criado (17 or 19 September 1938 – 12 April 2020) was a Spanish long-distance runner who competed mainly in cross country running competitions. He was the gold medallist at the 1964 International Cross Country Championships. He was a six-time competitor at the competition and also shared in a team silver in 1962. However, his failure to finish at the 1963 race drew great criticism as Spain missed the team title as a result.

Aritmendi also competed on the track and represented Spain at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics in the 5000 meters. He was the Spanish record holder in that event, having become the first Spaniard under fourteen minutes with his best of 13:53.4 minutes. He was a three-time national champion: twice in cross country and once in the 10,000 meters. He ran during the amateur era of athletics and ultimately sold his historic International Cross Country gold medal due to poverty. His achievements were recognized nationally in 2007 when he was given the bronze Royal Order of Sports Merit.

Career Early life and career Born during the height of the Spanish Civil War in Málaga del Fresno, a rural area near Madrid, he grew up in nearby Cogolludo. He took up running at school after being noted for his speed on the football pitch. In spite of his slight and small build (1.57 m), he performed well and quickly rose to win the national junior title in 1958, running with hemp shoes.

As he entered his twenties his running career was interrupted by military service and the passed from club to club, leaving Real Madrid in 1959 for SD Arenas. He began to make progress at the Spanish Cross Country Championships, coming 18th in 1961, then ninth in 1962. As a result of the latter performance he received his first international call-up for the 1962 International Cross Country Championships. He was signed up by FC Barcelona after this performance and began training under Gregorio Rojo. There were high hopes for his performance at the 1963 International Cross Country Championships, which was held on home turf in San Sebastián. However, this would prove to be the most denigrated outing of his career. Failing to run an even-paced race, he ran too quickly towards the end, aiming for individual honor, and despite being around the tenth place on the final lap he dropped out of the race. This decision cost the host nation the team title – with Aritmendi's finish the team would have been ten points clear of the eventual winners Belgium, but instead ended fifth in the rankings as the team score was greatly increased by 38th placed Iluminado Corcuera instead. He was greatly criticized by the press and his teammates and Spain never did win the team International Cross title. He was the first Spaniard to win this title, the direct predecessor to the cross-country world championships which were established in 1973. As a result of his win he was invited to meet both Francisco Franco and the prince-in-exile Juan Carlos I of Spain. In 1966 he enjoyed three high-profile wins in Spain, taking the Catalan cross country title, the national 10,000 metres title and the Jean Bouin race, but did not compete internationally. He had one more win at the Catalan race in 1967 and, after taking fifth at the nationals, finished 35th in a weakened Spanish team at the 1967 International Cross Country Championships. Having been an amateur, he ended his career in poverty and settled in Lasarte-Oria, the hometown of his wife, Conchita. The couple had four children, two girls, and two boys, and later moved to Guadalajara, Castilla-La Mancha. Still of humble means, Aritmendi suffered an injury and his family struggled. As a result, he sold his International Cross Country gold medal in order to buy food for his family. A street in Guadalajara was named in his honour – Paseo de Francisco Aritmendi – and in his hometown of Málaga del Fresno a sports centre was named after him.

Aritmendi died of pneumonia during the COVID-19 pandemic in Spain in April. At his death, he remained the only Spaniard to have won the world cross country title.

International competitions

National titles Spanish Cross Country Championships Long race: 1964, 1965 Spanish Athletics Championships 10,000 m: 1966