A SPANISH swimming champion who sacrificed his medal chance to pay tribute to the victims of the Barcelona terrorist attack has been hailed as a hero.
Fernando Alvarez held a minute's silence on the blocks at the FINA Masters World Championships as his competitors competed in the 200-metre breaststroke final.
"I started a minute later," he told local media at the championships in Budapest, Hungary.
"But I do not mind, I have a feeling worth more than if I win all the gold medals in the world."
Alvarez, 71, told media he asked the organisers of the event whether a minute's silence could be held on Friday to honour the victims of the Barcelona terrorist attack that killed 14 and injured 130 but his request was declined.
"They told me that it was not possible [to have a minute's silence>[/embedp>
