Mariano García (28) delivered a stunning and unforgettable victory in the men’s 1,500-meter final at the 2026 World Athletics Indoor Championships, overpowering his rivals and further elevating Spain’s performance in Torun, Poland.
Crossing the line in 3:39.63, the Murcian etched his name into the sport’s history by adding this gold to the one he claimed in 2022—also at a world indoor level—in the 800-meter event. This unprecedented achievement places him among the elite in athletics, as no male Spanish runner has ever won world indoor titles in two different distances.
Portugal’s Isaac Nader finished second, while Australia’s Adam Spencer took the bronze medal. Sweden’s Samuel Pihlström faded after a strong start, and Spain’s Carlos Sáez could only manage eighth place, just ahead of France’s Titouan Le Grix.
Before García’s heroics, Spain had already secured two well-deserved silver medals: one in the mixed 4×400 relay (featuring Markel Fernández, Paula Sevilla, David García, and Blanca Hervás) and another in the 60-meter hurdles, where the experienced Quique Llopis was beaten only by Poland’s Jakub Szymański.
After his brilliant performance, García spoke to the official RFEA media and, with his usual humor, remarked that the interview was tougher than the race itself. He also joked that he was already looking forward to watching the motor racing Grand Prix in Brazil, where his compatriots Acosta and Aldeguer would compete—a light-hearted nod to his interest beyond the track.