SWIMMERS from Spain

Top 6

The following people are considered by Pantheon to be the most legendary Spanish Swimmers of all time. This list of famous Spanish Swimmers is sorted by HPI (Historical Popularity Index), a metric that aggregates information on a biography’s online popularity.

1. Gemma Mengual (1977 - )

With an HPI of 36.50, Gemma Mengual is the most famous Spanish Swimmer.  Her biography has been translated into 17 different languages on wikipedia.

Gemma Mengual Civil (born 12 April 1977 in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain) is a Spanish synchronised swimmer. She has competed at the 2000, 2004 and 2008 Summer Olympics. On 15 February 2012 she announced her retirement. After retiring she became involved with coaching the national synchronised swimming team. However in June 2015 Mengual announced that she would return to competition with the aim of competing at the 2015 World Aquatics Championships in Kazan, Russia, in the mixed duet with Pau Ribas, whom she had previously coached. Although she had previously indicated that she would not compete beyond the World Championships, in September of that year she confirmed via social media that she would compete in the duet in the 2016 Summer Olympics with Ona Carbonell. During the 2020 Olympic Games (celebrated in 2021 due to COVID) she collaborated in the broadcast for the swimming-pool and floor events giving technical insight and expert opinion on the Olympian sport women.

2. Mireia Belmonte (1990 - )

With an HPI of 34.78, Mireia Belmonte is the 2nd most famous Spanish Swimmer.  Her biography has been translated into 28 different languages.

Mireia Belmonte García (born 10 November 1990) is a Spanish Olympic, world, and European champion swimmer. She is the world record holder in the short course 200 metre butterfly and 400 metre individual medley. Formerly, she held the world record in the short course 400 metre freestyle, 800 metre freestyle, and 1500 metre freestyle. She was the first Spanish woman to win a gold medal in swimming at an Olympic Games and is widely considered to be the greatest Spanish swimmer of all time. At the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro she became Olympic champion in the 200-metre butterfly, and also won the bronze medal in the 400-metre individual medley. She previously competed at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, where she debuted at 17 years old, and at 2012 London, where she won two silver medals, one in the 200 metre butterfly with a time of 2:05.25 and one in the 800-metre freestyle with a time of 8:18.76.

3. Andrea Fuentes (1983 - )

With an HPI of 27.89, Andrea Fuentes is the 3rd most famous Spanish Swimmer.  Her biography has been translated into 16 different languages.

Andrea Fuentes Fache (born 7 April 1983 in Valls, Tarragona) is a Spanish swimming coach and former synchronised swimmer. She is the most decorated swimmer in the history of the Spanish national team, with four Olympic, 16 World Championship and 11 European Championship medals: her four Olympic medals also make her the most decorated Spanish female Olympian of all time, alongside Arantxa Sánchez Vicario and Mireia Belmonte.

4. Ona Carbonell (1990 - )

With an HPI of 26.63, Ona Carbonell is the 4th most famous Spanish Swimmer.  Her biography has been translated into 22 different languages.

Ona Carbonell Ballestero (born 5 June 1990) is a Spanish synchronized swimmer. Carbonell competed at the 2012 Summer Olympics, where she won the silver medal in the women's duet, with Andrea Fuentes, and a bronze medal in the team event. She competed in the women's duet at the 2016 Summer Olympics, with Gemma Mengual, finishing in fourth place. During her preparation for the 2020 Summer Olympics, Carbonell gave birth in August 2020. Despite medical advice not to train for six months, Carbonell returned in four weeks and competed at the Olympics, where she came seventh in the team event. A documentary, Starting Over, was made of her grappling with the roles of mother and athlete. In December 2022 she was honored as one of the BBC 100 Women.

5. Rafael Muñoz (1988 - )

With an HPI of 24.52, Rafael Muñoz is the 5th most famous Spanish Swimmer.  His biography has been translated into 16 different languages.

Rafael "Rafa" Múñoz Pérez (born 3 March 1988) is an Olympic swimmer from Spain. He competed for the Spanish Olympic team at the 2008 Olympic Games. He was born in Córdoba. On April 5, 2009, at the 2009 Spanish Championships, he swam a 22.43 in the long-course 50 butterfly, going under the existing World Record of 22.96 by South Africa's Roland Schoeman. This time, however, was not recognized as the world record until 22 June, when the governing body of aquatic sports, FINA, finally accepted the controversial swimsuit he and many other swimmers had been wearing as they achieved such times. His world record was broken by Andriy Govorov in July 2018. He was coached by Romain Barnier in France, as part of the Cercle des Nageurs de Marseille team.

6. Erika Villaécija (1984 - )

With an HPI of 23.96, Erika Villaécija is the 6th most famous Spanish Swimmer.  Her biography has been translated into 15 different languages.

Erika Villaécija García (born 2 June 1984 in Barcelona, Spain), known as Erika Villaécija, is a three-time Olympic swimmer from Spain. She swam at the 2004, 2008 and 2012 Olympic team. And she has qualified for the 2016 Olympic team. As of June 2009, she holds the Spanish Records in the long course 400, 800 and 1500 freestyles.