Barcelona, 8 August 1992, Games of the XXV Olympiad. Fermin CACHO RUIZ of Spain throws his arms in the air as he claims victory in the men's 1,500m final. He surprised everyone by winning in a time of 3:40.12 minutes in front of his home crowd. Credit: Getty Images/Bob MartinBorn: 16 February 1969
Birthplace: Agreda (Spain)
Nationality: Spain
Sport: Athletics
ATTENDANCE AT THE OLYMPIC GAMES
Barcelona 1992
Atlanta 1996
AWARDS
Olympic medals:
Gold: 1
Silver: 1
Other results:
World Championships
Silver: 2 (93, 97)
Quite unexpectedly
Fermin Cacho Ruiz of Spain was not one of the favourites in the 1,500m in Barcelona. However, the final was run at an unusually slow pace (the slowest in 36 years) and Cacho knew how to take advantage. With half a lap to go, he burst into the lead, opened a ten-metre gap and, with a delirious crowd screaming his name, held off a late sprint by Rachid El Bashir of Morocco. Cacho was the first Spanish runner ever to win a gold medal. Four years later, at the Atlanta Olympics, Cacho proved that his Barcelona victory was not a fluke by earning another medal, this time a silver. He is one of only three men to win two Olympic medals at 1,500m.
