Miriam Blasco - Spain

Miriam Guadalupe Blasco Soto was born on December 12, 1963, in Valladolid, Spain.

She was the first Spanish athlete to win a medal – gold – at the country's home Summer Olympics in Barcelona in 1992, when she triumphed in the 57 kilograms division.

In 1991, she became European champion in Prague and world champion in Barcelona.

When her sports career came to an end, Blasco took up the role of commentator for Spanish television in Sydney before entering politics in 2000.

Blasco was elected to the Spanish senate, representing Alicante, in the general elections of 2000, 2004 and 2008, and was an MP from 2011 to 2015.

She was a member of the Women's Committee of the Spanish Olympic Committee and President of the "Special Commission on the Status of Athletes at the End of their Sports Careers" for several years.

She maintains her commitment to the advancement of women in sport.