10 Facts About Almudena Cid

Almudena Cid is the only rhythmic gymnast who has competed in four Olympic finals.

Almudena Cid became the first Spanish gymnast in history to have competed in two Olympic finals, Atlanta and Sydney, and she is the only rhythmic gymnast to make the finals at four consecutive Olympic Games: Atlanta 1996, Sydney 2000, Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008.

Almudena Cid won the gold medal in the XVth Mediterranean Games Almeria 2005 and she has been awarded many other national and international recognitions; among others, the gold medal in the Royal Order of Sports Merit in 2009, which is a Spanish civil Order of Merit intended to recognise yearly activities in the fields of sport and physical education.

Almudena Cid started practising rhythmic gymnastics at the age of 7.

Almudena Cid first went to Arabatxo club and then to Beti Aurrera club in Vitoria, in which other important gymnasts such as Tania Lamarca and Estibaliz Martinez were trained.

At the 1995 Spanish Individual Championships, Almudena Cid took the lead at a national level for the first time.

Almudena Cid achieved the fifth position in the preliminary round and the ninth position in the semi-final.

Once again, Almudena Cid was selected to represent Spain at 2008 Beijing Olympics, her fourth and last Olympic Games.

Almudena Cid's last exercise was with ribbon, accompanied by an adaptation of "Nessun dorma", which is an aria by Giacomo Puccini.

Some years later, Almudena Cid explained in an interview about her retirement and legacy in the field of rhythmic gymnastics:.