Father and 10-Year-Old Son to Race Together at European OCR Championships

Guille López-Cross and his 10-year-old son Guillem will compete together this weekend at the European Obstacle Course Racing Championships in the Basque town of Irun, leading a five-person Andorran delegation.

The veteran athlete, who took fifth place at last year's event in Lisbon, returns for his third European Championships. He will race in two categories: the standard 15-kilometre event and the more explosive 3-kilometre sprint. "It's very special. This is my third individual appearance, but this time I'll be accompanied," López-Cross said, highlighting the emotional significance of sharing the experience with his son, who makes his elite debut in the under-12 category.

Guillem, who has followed his father to races and training since early childhood, missed last year's championships due to age limits. Now eligible, he enters facing top young competitors from across Europe. "I saw him compete and liked it, so I decided to try it," the boy said. Despite the challenge, he remains upbeat: "There will be lots of people, and it'll be tough, but I'm going to enjoy it." López-Cross praised his son's natural talent, noting that while physical demands limit some obstacles for children, Guillem handles the sport instinctively.

López-Cross enters with measured ambition. "I'll try to match last year's top-five finish. It'll be very tough and demanding, but we'll aim to be there," he said.

Beyond the races, López-Cross sees the event as a sign of growing interest in obstacle racing among Andorran youth. "We're working to bring more children into the sport, not just adults," he added, mentioning projects to boost youth participation ahead of 2027. Currently, several children aged 12 to 14 show international potential.

Organizers of the Olympus Race—where López-Cross competes alongside Edu Salerno and Jurgen Espejo—recently hosted Spain's national championships in Grau Roig, the first time outside Spain. Building on that success, they have submitted a letter of intent to host the 2028 European Championships. "It's a key goal, and we're confident after that experience," López-Cross said.