The host nation enjoyed most success on the opening day of the European Bodybuilding and Fitness Championships in the Spanish municipality Santa Susanna as home competitors claimed seven gold medals.

It was another spectacular display of prowess in the iconic Auditori del Parc Colomer in the city’s Florida Park Hotel, venue for this International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness event on the last seven occasions.

With over 40 countries represented in the latest Championships, Spain made their mark across the board at the inaugural session, where classic bodybuilding was the main discipline, along with master bodybuilding.

Among the seven Spanish golds were those awarded for the overall titles in Classic Bodybuilding and Master Classic Bodybuilding to Patricio Martín and Manuel Sánchez, respectively.

Spain's overall Classic Bodybuilding European Champion Patricio Martin, with IFBB President Rafael Santonja, left ©IFBB
Spain's overall Classic Bodybuilding European Champion Patricio Martin, with IFBB President Rafael Santonja, left ©IFBB

In the Classic Bodybuilding category, the winners were: Junior Open: Volodymyr Andreishyn, Ukraine; Master 40-44 Open: Manuel Sánchez, Spain; Master 45-49 Open: Stephan Bris, Spain

Master +50 (Open): Eduardo López, Spain; Games Classic Open: Alexandr Barbashin, Russia; Short Class, up to 171 cm: Claudio Adam, Portugal; Middle Class, up to 175 cm: Josep Mayoral, Spain;  Tall Class, up to 180 cm: Patricio Martín, Spain;  Super Tall Class, over 180 cm: Pavel Konoshevich, Russia.

Overall Master CBB: Manuel Sánchez, Spain; Overall CBB: Patricio Martín, Spain.

In the Bodybuilding category, the winners were: Master 50-54, up to 80kg: Francisco Quintana, Spain; Master 50-54. over 80 kg: Pedro Villa, Spain; Master +55, up to 75 kg: Gunnar Paasche, Germany; Master +55, over 75 kg: Roberto Massagli, Italy; Mixed Pairs: Sonia Semedo & Claudio Adam (Portugal).