Marbella launches 'Talentos Deportivos' series with Olympic boxing silver medallist Ayoub Ghadfa

Marbella's town hall is launching a new series that brings local elite athletes face to face with the public, and the first guest is boxer Ayoub Ghadfa, Olympic runner-up at Paris 2024. The opening session takes place on Friday 13 November at the Río Huelo sports centre, with free entry, and is open to all ages.

Key facts

• Date and time: Friday 13 November, 17:30 to 19:30, with doors opening at 16:30.
• Place: Río Huelo sports centre (polideportivo), Marbella.
• Entry: free until capacity is reached.
• Guest: Ayoub Ghadfa, boxing silver medallist at Paris 2024.
• Morning session: a talk of about two hours for pupils at the Río Verde secondary school.

What the series is about

The ayuntamiento (town hall) said the 'Talentos Deportivos de Marbella' series aims to bring residents closer to the experiences of local athletes who have reached the top of their sport. Sports councillor Lisandro Vieytes presented it alongside Marina Moreno, a technician in his department, at Río Huelo.

Vieytes said the goal is "to offer young people nearby role models who let them learn first-hand about the effort, consistency and capacity for self-improvement needed to reach the highest competitive level". He added that the series follows similar events with cyclist Luis Ángel Maté, golfer Ángel Hidalgo and swimmer Javier Mérida.

According to the councillor, the series will continue in the coming months and throughout 2027 with other prominent sportspeople from the municipality. The town hall did not name them in the source we reviewed.

Morning at Río Verde, afternoon at Río Huelo

The day starts at the Río Verde secondary school, where Ghadfa studied. The town hall said the boxer will talk to students about his beginnings, the difficulties of his career and the road to silver in Paris, with practical exercises and technical advice. Vieytes said the school was chosen because of Ghadfa's personal link to it, and thanked him for taking part given that he normally trains at the High Performance Centre in Madrid.

In the afternoon the event moves to Río Huelo. The first part is a talk and round table on Ghadfa's personal and professional path, including a question-and-answer turn. After that come individual and paired exercises and games based on boxing skills, adapted to different levels and with applications to other sports.

The town hall stressed that the session is not only for people who practise contact sports. Moreno encouraged families and young children to come, saying behind an Olympic medal "there is a very long journey, full of learning, obstacles and difficult moments that is also worth knowing about".

What to bring

Attendees can bring their own gloves or hand wraps for the practical part, Moreno said. They will also be able to see the Olympic medal up close, ask for autographs and have photos taken with the boxer.

Vieytes also thanked local boxing and combat-sport clubs for their involvement. Places are free but limited, so those planning to go with children may want to arrive when doors open at 16:30. Further details can be checked with the Ayuntamiento de Marbella.