Santacana and Galindo amongst those awarded honour

The award is especially important as it follows the incredible comeback made by Santacana who, after tearing his Achilles tendon just six months before the start of the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games, went on to win downhill gold and slalom silver on the slopes of Rosa Khutor.

Spain’s multiple skiing Paralympic and World Champion Jon Santacana and guide Miguel Galindo are amongst a number of people and organisations from the world of para-sport set to receive gold, silver and bronze medals through the Spanish Royal Order of Sports Merit.

The honour will be presented to Santacana and Galindo in recognition of their triple world titles from the 2013 IPC Alpine Skiing World Championships in La Molina, Spain.

The award is especially important as it follows the incredible comeback made by Santacana who, after tearing his Achilles tendon just six months before the start of the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games, went on to win downhill gold and slalom silver on the slopes of Rosa Khutor.

Currently competing at the 2014 World Championships, three para-cyclists, Ignacio Avila, Juan Mendez and Roberto Alcaide, will be awarded silver medals for their performances in the UCI Para-Cycling World Cup in 2013, in addition to Alberto Jofre, Managing Director of the Spanish National Paralympic Committee.

Swimmer Israel Oliver, who recently won gold at the 2014 IPC Swimming European Championships, will receive a bronze medal for his four medal haul at the 2013 Worlds in Montreal, Canada, which included two world titles. South Africa’s multiple swimming Paralympic and world champion Natalie du Toit will also be handed bronze.

Cycling's Raquel Acinas and Joan Font (Ignacio Avila’s guide) complete the list of bronze medallists.

Rounding off the list, a number of representatives of the General Assembly of the Spanish National Paralympic Committee are to be recognised with bronze medals as well as the Special Olympics.

Angel Luis Gomez (Spanish Blind Sports Federation), Jose Alberto Alvarez (Spanish Sports Federation for Persons with Disability), Francisco de Bergia (Telefonica), Gaizka Ortuza (Special Olympics) and Miguel Angel Machado (Spanish Table Tennis Federation), will all receive honours.

The list of people to receive Grand Crosses, Plaques and Medals of the Royal Order of Sporting Merit for 2013 was announced by the President of the Spanish Sports Council in recognition of distinguished service in sports, in teaching physical education, or the management, organisation, promotion and development of physical education and sports by organisations or individuals.

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Natalie Du Toit touched retires after the London 2012 Paralympic Games having left a substantial mark in the history books.