Regino Hernandez

Regino Hernandez made history at PyeongChang 2018 by winning Spain’s first Olympic medal in snowboarding—a bronze in snowboard cross. His achievement broke through a barrier in Spanish winter sports, outpacing #10 Ana Peleteiro’s medal in a less winter-relevant sport. Hernandez’s bronze was earned against a field averaging 15 competitors per race, requiring three heats to reach the final. He competed in four World Cup seasons prior, with a best finish of 5th, before his Olympic breakthrough at age 33. His Beijing 2022 appearance, where he placed 10th, solidified his pioneering status. This medal remains Spain’s sole Winter Olympic snowboard podium, inspiring a generation of Spanish snowboarders who now pursue World Cup circuits with 20% more federation funding.