Adrián Gavira announces his retirement from beach volleyball at 39

Adrián Gavira Collado, a beach volleyball player from Taraguilla, has announced his retirement from elite sport at the age of 39. He does so because of injuries and physical wear, after more than two decades of a career in which he has established himself as one of the greatest historical references of this sport in Spain, according to the San Roque City Council. Gavira's record includes gold at the European Championship in Klagenfurt in 2013, two continental bronzes (Sochi 2009 and The Hague 2018) and twelve Spanish Champion titles, an absolute record in the country. He was the world's best rookie (Rookie of the Year) of the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) in 2008 and added medals and victories on the World Tour and the Beach Pro Tour, such as the golds in Moscow 2015, Xiamen 2016 and La Paz 2023. In 2009 he joined his career to that of Pablo Herrera from Castellón, with whom he formed one of the longest-lasting and most stable pairs on the world circuit: they competed together for 16 seasons, until Herrera's retirement after Paris 2024. With him he took part in four consecutive Olympic Games (London 2012, Rio 2016, Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024). In his last appearance, in Paris, he achieved the Olympic diploma by finishing in fifth position. He won his last two Spanish championships consecutively partnering with Alejandro Huerta, which allowed him to beat the historical record of national titles. In his farewell on social media, Gavira explained that the decision has not been easy: «After two seasons of physical ups and downs and of constantly fighting against my body, I feel that the moment has come to leave». He also wanted to thank those who have helped him: «I leave happy, calm and proud of everything I have lived». The mayor of San Roque, Juan Carlos Ruiz Boix, has thanked the athlete for his 22 years in elite sport carrying the name of the municipality and of Taraguilla around the world. The councillor for Sports, Fernando Vega, has highlighted his role as an example for the child athletes of San Roque.