Alba Petisco

Alba Petisco de San Fulgencio (born 1 February 2003) is a Spanish artistic gymnast and represented Spain at the 2018 Youth Olympics where she was part of the Mixed NOC team who won gold in the mixed multi-discipline team competition. Additionally she is the 2020 Spanish National Champion.

Alba Petisco
Petisco at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games
Personal information
Full name	Alba Petisco de San Fulgencio
Born	1 February 2003 Sant Joan Despí, Spain
Hometown	Villarino de los Aires
Discipline	Women's artistic gymnastics
Level	Senior International Elite
Years on national team	2016–Present (ESP)
Club	Club Gimnástica Esplugues Les Moreres (ESP) Gym Flip Beaucarie-Tarascon (FRA)
Gym	CARD
Head coach(es)	Kati Zapata
Assistant coach(es)	Lucia Guisado
Medal record Artistic gymnastics Representing  Spain Representing Mixed-NOCs Youth Olympic Games 2018 Buenos Aires Mixed team

Early life

Alba Petisco was born in Sant Joan Despí, Catalonia, Spain on 1 February 2003 but was raised in Villarino de los Aires. She began training in gymnastics when she was 5 years old.[1] She trains at the Spanish gym Club Gimnástica Esplugues Les Moreres and the French club Gym Flip Beaucarie-Tarascon.[2]

Gymnastics career

2016–17

Petisco made her international debut at the Elite Gym Massilia in November 2016. She finished 53rd in the Open All-Around.[3] Later that month she competed at the Turnkunst International where she helped Spain finish fifth as a team and individually she finished 21st in the all-around.[4]

In 2017 Petisco competed at the Top 12 Championships in France where her team finished in 8th place and individually Petisco finished 25th in the all-around.[5] She next competed at the Spanish Cup where she placed 36th.[6] At the Spanish National Championships Petisco finished 14th.[7]

2018

2018 was a breakout year for Petisco. Early in the season she competed at various Spanish League competitions and recorded the highest all-around score at the second one held in April. In February she competed at the Mallorca Cup where she finished seventh in her division.[8] She competed at the Youth Olympic Qualifier where she placed 17th and qualified a spot for Spain.[9] Petisco next competed at the Spanish National Championships where she placed second in the all-around, behind Alba Asencio, as well as second on uneven bars and balance beam.[10] She next represented Spain at the European Championships. During qualifications she helped Spain finish 11th as a team and individually placed 36th in the all-around.[11]

In October Petisco represented Spain at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games.[12] She qualified to the all-around and was the third reserve for the vault final. Her mixed multi-discipline team, which was named after gymnastics legend Simone Biles, won the gold medal.[13] In the all-around final she placed 11th.[14]

Vault qualification

All-Around Final

Petisco and compatriot Robert Vilarasau with their mixed multi-discipline team medals

Petisco at the 2018 Youth Olympics

2019

Petisco turned senior in 2019. She made her senior international debut at the DTB Team Challenge where she helped Spain finish eighth as a team and individually she placed 14th in the all-around.[15] She competed at the European Championships but failed to qualify for any event finals. Petisco competed at the Flanders International Team Challenge in Ghent, Belgium where she helped Spain finish 6th and individually she finished 13th.[16] At the Spanish National Championships Petisco finished 6th in the all-around but won silver on floor exercise behind.[17] In September Petisco competed at the Szombathely World Cup where she qualified to the uneven bars final. During the final she finished in fifth place.[18] Petisco next competed at the 2nd Heerenveen Friendly where she helped Spain finish second behind the Netherlands and individually she placed 13th in the all-around.[19]

At the 2019 World Championships, Petisco, alongside teammates Cintia Rodríguez, Roxana Popa, Ana Pérez, and Marina González, finished 12th as a team during qualifications. Although they did not qualify to the team final, they qualified a team to the 2020 Olympics Games in Tokyo, giving Spain its first team berth at the Olympic Games since 2004.[20][21]

2020

Petisco competed at the American Cup, replacing teammate Roxana Popa. She finished in 12th place.[22] Petisco was scheduled to compete at the Stuttgart World Cup taking place in March;[23] however the event was later canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany.[24]

In December Petisco competed at the Spanish National Championships where she placed first in the all-around with a score of 52.100, ahead of Ana Pérez.[25][26]

Competitive history

Junior

Year	Event	Team	AA	VT	UB	BB	FX
2016	Elite Gym Massilia		53
	Turnkunst International	5	21
2017	Top 12 Championships	8	25
	Spanish Cup		36
	National Championships		14
2018	Mallorca Cup		7
	Youth Olympic Qualifier		17
	National Championships
	European Championships	11	36
	Youth Olympic Games	[lower-alpha 1]	11	R3

1. The teams were randomly assigned with gymnasts from different countries and disciplines

Senior

Year	Event	Team	AA	VT	UB	BB	FX
2019	DTB Team Challenge	8	14
	FIT Challenge	6	13
	National Championships		6
	Szombathely World Cup				5
	2nd Heerenveen Friendly		13
	World Championships	R4
2020	American Cup		12
	National Championships

References

1. "Alba Petisco (FIG Profile)". International Gymnastics Federation.
2. "Mi objetivo es clasificarme para las Olimiadas de Tokio 2020". dgratisdigital (in Spanish). December 1, 2018.
3. "2016 Elite Gym Massilia Results". The Gymternet. November 11, 2016.
4. "2016 Turnkunst International Results". The Gymternet. November 30, 2016.
5. "2017 France Top 12 Championships Results". The Gymternet. March 13, 2017.
6. "2017 Spanish Cup Results". The Gymternet. April 3, 2017.
7. "2017 Spanish Championships Results". The Gymternet. July 17, 2017.
8. "2018 Mallorca Cup Results". The Gymternet. February 18, 2018.
9. "2018 Youth Olympic Qualifier Results". The Gymternet. June 23, 2018.
10. "2018 Spanish Championships Results". The Gymternet. July 16, 2018.
11. "2018 European Championships Results". The Gymternet. August 6, 2018.
12. "Los Juegos Olímpicos de la juventud, nueva meta de Alba Petisco". Salamanca al Dia (in Spanish). October 2, 2018.
13. "Alba Petisco, de Villarino, oro olímpico de Juventud en Buenos Aires". NoticiasCYL (in Spanish). October 11, 2018.
14. "Alba Petisco logra la 11ª posición en la final 'All Around' de los Juegos Olímpicos de la Juventud". Salamanca al Dia (in Spanish). October 15, 2018.
15. "2019 DTB Team Challenge Results". The Gymternet. March 18, 2019.
16. "2019 FIT Challenge Results". The Gymternet. June 10, 2019.
17. "2019 Spanish Championship Results". The Gymternet. July 13, 2019.
18. "2019 Szombathely Challenge Cup Results". The Gymternet. September 11, 2019.
19. "2019 2nd Heerenveen Friendly Results". The Gymternet. September 14, 2019.
20. "Spain Stuns with Olympics-Worthy Performance, While Italy Snags Bronze". The Gymternet. October 26, 2019.
21. "El equipo español femenino de gimnasia artística se clasifica para Tokio 2020". RTVE (in Spanish). October 5, 2019.
22. "2020 American Cup Meet Results" (PDF). USA Gymnastics. March 7, 2020.
23. "Olympic, World champions gear up for star-studded Stuttgart World Cup". International Gymnastics Federation. January 30, 2020.
24. "Impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on the upcoming FIG events". International Gymnastics Federation. March 11, 2020.
25. "Campeonato de España GAF". Real Federación Española Gimnasia.
26. "La villarinense Alba Petisco se proclama campeona de España senior de gimnasia artística". Salamanca al día (in Spanish). December 6, 2020.

External links

• Alba Petisco at the International Gymnastics Federation