Daniela García Tena

European Champion | Middle-Distance Star | Spain

Daniela García Tena is one of Spain’s most accomplished middle-distance runners, representing her country with distinction on the international stage. A European U23 Champion and World University Games medalist, García has established herself as a force in the 800 metres while demonstrating versatility across multiple middle-distance events.

Athletic Achievements

Major Championship Success

García’s competitive resume showcases her ability to perform on the biggest stages:

European U23 Championships (Espoo 2023)

• Gold Medal in the 800 metres with a time of 2:02.96, capturing Spain’s first gold of the championships
• Strategically took command with 250 metres remaining and pulled away from the field to secure victory

World University Games

• Bronze Medal in the 800 metres, demonstrating her excellence in international collegiate competition

Ibero-American Championships

• Silver Medal in the 800 metres, further cementing her status among the elite middle-distance runners in the Spanish-speaking world

European U20 Championships (Borås, Sweden 2019)

• 6th place finish in the 800 metres final
• Competed in three consecutive days of racing, showcasing exceptional endurance and mental fortitude
• Achieved a personal best at the time while competing against Europe’s finest junior talent

National Championships

• Spanish U20 Champion in the 800 metres (outdoor)
• Spanish U20 Runner-up in the 800 metres (indoor)
• Spanish U18 Runner-up in the 800 metres
• Spanish Cadet Champion in the 600 metres (indoor)

Personal Bests & World Rankings

García has continuously improved her performances, reaching world-class standards:

• 800 Metres: 2:00.05 (July 2025) – breaking the 2-minute barrier and placing her among Europe’s elite
• 1500 Metres: 4:09.27 (April 2024)
• 1000 Metres: 2:38.90 (May 2023)
• Current World Ranking: #52 in the women’s 800 metres

Her progression from a 2:05.43 personal best in 2019 to breaking 2:01 in 2025 demonstrates consistent development and dedication to her craft. This improvement of over 5 seconds represents one of the most impressive developmental trajectories in Spanish middle-distance running.

Competitive Range

García competes across multiple middle-distance events, showcasing her versatility:

• 800 Metres (primary event)
• 1500 Metres
• 1000 Metres
• 800 Metres Short Track (indoor)
• 1500 Metres Short Track (indoor)
• Mile Road
• 4×400 Metres Relay

Training & Development

Athletic Background

García began her athletics journey at age 12 after winning a school race against all competitors, catching the attention of coaches who recognized her natural talent. Originally competing in the 600m and 1000m as a cadet athlete, she naturally transitioned to the 800 metres—a distance that perfectly suits her combination of speed and endurance.

Coaching & Club

García represents Playas de Castellón and trains under the guidance of Coach Carlos Ruíz Pomar. Originally from the Balearic Islands, she has developed into an international competitor while maintaining strong ties to her home region. Her coach has been instrumental in her development, providing both technical expertise and mental support through the challenging moments of elite training.

Training Philosophy

García approaches her training with optimism and dedication, viewing her afternoon training sessions as opportunities to clear her mind and pursue her passion. She particularly excels in 200-metre interval sessions, which have become her favorite training component as they develop the speed and rhythm essential for 800-metre racing.

Her training regimen balances the demands of speed work with endurance development. While she finds long intervals and distance runs challenging, she approaches these sessions with mental toughness, understanding that difficult training translates to confident racing. The satisfaction of completing demanding training sessions fuels her continued progression.

Academic Pursuits & Career Aspirations

Educational Background

García exemplifies the student-athlete ideal, successfully balancing elite athletic training with academic excellence. She completed her bachillerato (Spanish secondary education) with outstanding grades, demonstrating that high-level athletics and academic achievement can coexist with proper time management and dedication.

University Studies

Following her secondary education, García pursued a degree in Economics, taught in English, at the university level. Her academic interests center on mathematics applied to economics, reflecting her analytical mindset and strategic thinking—qualities that also serve her well in race tactics and training planning.

García chose to study in English specifically to expand her future career opportunities, demonstrating foresight and international ambition beyond athletics. She aspires to become an economist, recognizing the importance of preparing for a career beyond competitive running.

Balancing Athletics & Academics

García has proven adept at managing the dual demands of elite athletics and university studies. She views her training sessions not as an additional burden, but as a mental release from academic work—eagerly anticipating each afternoon’s opportunity to leave her studies and focus on running. This healthy balance has allowed her to excel in both arenas without compromising either pursuit.

Personal Philosophy & Character

Competitive Mindset

García approaches competition with strategic intelligence, adapting her racing style to the situation. In championships where qualification is by placement, she stays close to the leaders until the final 60-70 metres before unleashing her finishing speed. When pursuing fast times, she’s not afraid to lead from the front, challenging competitors to keep pace.

Her mental strength extends beyond race day. She maintains a positive outlook even when training sessions don’t go as planned, quickly moving past disappointments and focusing on the next opportunity. This resilience has been crucial to her development as an elite athlete.

Values & Outlook

García represents the values of fair competition and equal opportunity in sport. She believes that equality is fundamental to athletic competition and has thoughtfully engaged with complex issues facing international athletics.

Her optimism and genuine love for the sport shine through in everything she does. She has never seriously questioned her commitment to athletics, viewing training not as an obligation but as a chosen passion that brings joy to her daily life. She maintains that she will continue in the sport as long as it makes her happy, prioritizing personal fulfillment alongside competitive success.

International Experience

García’s participation in international competitions has shaped her perspective on athletics and life. Her first European Championship experience taught her valuable lessons about managing nerves and performing under pressure. She credits her coaches and teammates with creating a supportive environment that allowed her to thrive on the international stage.

Future Aspirations

García continues to train at the highest level while pursuing her economics degree, embodying the modern student-athlete who prepares for life both inside and outside of sport. Her coach and others in Spanish athletics believe she has the potential to transition successfully to the 1500 metres in the future, though she remains focused on the 800 metres for now.

With her combination of championship experience, consistent improvement, academic achievement, and love for the sport, García represents the future of Spanish middle-distance running. She aims to follow in the footsteps of legendary Spanish 800m runners like Mayte Martínez, Esther Desviat, and Mayte Zúñiga, already ranking among the top eight Spanish 800m runners in history.

As she continues to break personal barriers—literally and figuratively—García remains grounded in her values: work hard, compete fairly, enjoy the journey, and prepare for a successful future beyond the track.

Recognition

García is registered with World Athletics and currently ranks as one of the top 60 women’s 800m runners in the world. Her achievements have earned her selection for Spanish national teams at youth, U23, and senior levels, representing her country with pride at championships across Europe and beyond.

Daniela García Tena represents the ideal modern athlete: competitive excellence combined with academic achievement, strategic intelligence paired with genuine passion, and international success grounded in strong personal values. As she continues her journey in both athletics and economics, she embodies the principle that dedication, balance, and love for what you do can lead to extraordinary achievements.

Go Daniela!