Sandra Sánchez
Written off as too old, then Olympic champion at 39
- Born
- September 16, 1981, Talavera de la Reina, Toledo, Spain
- Nationality
Spain- Height
- 154 cm (5′1″)
- Style
- Precise kata specialist
- Weight
- Kata
- Active
- 2012–2022
- Status
- Retired · age 45
The medals
Olympic gold (2020); 2 world titles
The story
andra Sánchez began karate at four in Talavera de la Reina but made her international debut only in 2012, and people told her she was too old to last. Coached by her husband, Jesús del Moral, she proved them wrong: in 2018 she won the world kata title in Madrid, ending Kiyou Shimizu's four-year reign on a 3-2 flag decision. At 39 she became karate's first Olympic champion at the Budokan in 2021, beating Shimizu 28.06 to 27.88, and three months later kept her world title in Dubai with Chatanyara Kushanku. She won seven straight European titles, and Guinness World Records recognized her 35 consecutive Premier League medals. She retired after winning the 2022 World Games, the only major title she had been missing.
- Olympic champion, kata (2020)
- World champion, kata (2018, 2021)
- European champion, kata (7 in a row, 2015–2022)
- European Games champion (2015, 2019); World Games champion (2022)
- Guinness World Records: most Karate 1-Premier League medals (35 in a row)
- Spain's flag bearer at the Tokyo 2020 closing ceremony
Defining matches
- 2017LOSSvs Kiyou Shimizu (World Games kata final, Wrocław, 1-4)
- 2018WINvs Kiyou Shimizu (World Championships kata final, Madrid, 3-2)
- 2021WINvs Kiyou Shimizu (Tokyo Olympic kata final, 28.06–27.88)
- 2021WINvs Hikaru Ono (World Championships kata final, Dubai, 28.46–27.42)
- 2022WINvs Hikaru Ono (World Games kata final, Birmingham; her last competition)
Compete with a list of kata, not one: in Dubai she scored with Kururunfa, Suparinpei and Papuren before winning the final with Chatanyara Kushanku. Train each form until you can hold a low, clean stance at full speed.
2014–now
