Feb 21 • 21:52 UTC 🇪🇸 Spain El Mundo

The fine line that almost left Spain without bronze and a tense wait: "It was my fault"

Ana Alonso faced disappointment after a near-failure, but her teammate Oriol Cardona's performance secured Spain a bronze medal in the mixed relay at the Milan-Cortina Olympics.

Ana Alonso was devastated after her final run in the mixed relay of mountain skiing at the Milan-Cortina Olympics, believing she had ruined Spain's chances of winning a medal due to a critical mistake. Exhausted and recovering from a serious accident just five months prior, she fell to fifth place and committed a major infraction by crossing the transition line two meters past the designated spot, which put the team in jeopardy. Despite her struggles, she remained hopeful as her teammate Oriol Cardona took over and made an impressive comeback to secure a bronze for Spain.

After Cardona's remarkable performance, both athletes were left in suspense about whether they had indeed secured a medal, as they crossed the finish line uncertain of their fate. Unlike typical celebrations, they stood in front of the scoreboard, anxiously awaiting the results. The atmosphere was tense, and the few seconds spent checking the score felt like an eternity, as both seemed caught in a moment of disbelief and anticipation.

When the confirmation finally arrived that Spain had claimed the bronze, Alonso erupted in joy, exclaiming, "It says three seconds!" This moment encapsulated the emotions both athletes experienced — relief for the medal achievement despite the rocky road to it, underscoring the intense pressure and unpredictability of competitive sports, especially in high-stakes events like the Olympics.

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