Lucas Gámez conquers the world of youth skyrunning in Croatia
Young Marbella runner Lucas Gámez was crowned Youth A Skyrunning World Champion at the 2026 Youth Skyrunning World Championships held in Makarska, Croatia, delivering a historic performance for both Andalusian and Spanish sport.
At just 16 years of age, representing Club Escalada Marbella, Gámez claimed the gold medal in the SKY race after completing the demanding 12-kilometre course in 1:32:57, finishing ahead of Norway’s Even Veen Torkildsen, winner of the Vertical race, and fellow Spaniard Gerard Costa, who completed the podium.
The competition took place in the spectacular Biokovo Mountains, overlooking the Adriatic Sea, which hosted an international skyrunning championship for the first time. The course, featuring steep climbs, loose rock and highly technical descents, pushed the world’s best young athletes to their limits.
The young Marbella athlete’s victory was even more remarkable as it came in his first international World Championship. In addition to winning the individual SKY title, he returned from Croatia with the silver medal in the Combined classification—based on the results of the Vertical and SKY races—as well as the team gold medal with the Spanish national squad.
Spain dominated the championships, finishing at the top of the overall medal table ahead of Norway and Italy, confirming the outstanding form currently enjoyed by Spanish skyrunning. The event brought together competitors from 32 countries and celebrated the tenth anniversary of the Youth Skyrunning World Championships, now established as the world’s premier competition for athletes aged 15 to 23.
The Spanish team shone throughout the weekend with standout performances, including victories by Lluis Puigvert in the U23 category, Emma Méndez, and Laia Calzada, who completed a remarkable hat-trick of gold medals after winning the Vertical, SKY and Combined titles. However, one of the championship’s biggest stars was undoubtedly Lucas Gámez. His victory in Croatia not only confirmed the enormous potential of the young Andalusian runner, but also established him as one of the brightest international prospects in skyrunning.
You have just become Skyrunning World Champion at only 16 years of age. What went through your mind as you crossed the finish line in Croatia?
To be honest, my head was spinning at that moment and I couldn’t quite believe what I had achieved. The first thing that crossed my mind when I reached the finish line was, “It’s over. I’ve done it.” I was completely exhausted, and it was impossible to process the fact that I had just become world champion.
You described it as “the toughest race of your life.” What made the Biokovo course so special?
It was a much more demanding course than I’m used to, with huge elevation gains and very technical terrain that was extremely difficult to run on. On top of that, the standard of the competitors was incredibly high, which made the race even tougher.
Skyrunning combines endurance, technical ability and mental strength. What would you say is your greatest strength as a runner?
I think one of my greatest strengths is race management. Knowing when to push hard and when to conserve energy is essential. This sport isn’t just about running fast; it’s also about being mentally strong and making the right decisions throughout the race.
How did you get started in this sport, and when did you realise you could compete at the highest level?
My first experiences in the mountains came thanks to my parents. They were already involved in the sport before I was born, and they instilled in me the values of mountain life from a very young age. Last year I achieved some great results: I became Andalusian Cup champion, runner-up in the Spanish Cup, and also finished second in the Spanish Team Championships and seventh in the Spanish Championships. However, it was at the beginning of this year that I started taking the sport much more seriously. Since joining Training and Resorts Sports Company, with Gonzalo Domínguez as team director, I’ve taken a big step forward. Gonzalo and the rest of the team help me with my physical preparation, strength training and season planning. Together, we’ve gradually defined my goals and competition schedule as the results have come.
Representing Spain at a World Championship is already a dream, but you also won gold. How did you deal with that responsibility?
To be honest, I never saw it as a responsibility. I went there excited to represent my country, enjoy an incredible experience and give my very best. I knew I was in great shape and that I had earned my place on the national team through my results, so simply being there was already a privilege. I didn’t feel any pressure—just a real desire to compete.
What role have Marbella, your family and friends, and Club Escalada Marbella played in your development as an athlete?
They’ve all been essential. My club has always supported me, whether I win or lose, and I’m incredibly grateful for that. The support I’ve received from my hometown has also given me an extra boost of motivation to keep improving and reach my highest level.
In such a physically demanding sport, what does your weekly training look like at just 16 years old?
I combine strength training, road running, mountain running and cycling. My strength programme is supervised by Gonzalo Domínguez, while Andrés Montaltí designs my endurance training sessions. I also receive nutritional guidance from Jaime Castillo. I try to be as disciplined as possible and follow all their advice so I can arrive at every competition in the best possible condition.
Many athletes talk about the importance of the mental side of competition. How do you deal with the pressure before a major race?
I don’t think pressure helps. It can make you nervous and stop you from performing at your best. I try to approach every race with the mindset of enjoying the experience and giving everything I have. If I know I’ve done everything within my power, then I have nothing to regret, whatever the result may be. Of course, there are always nerves before a big race, especially when so much is at stake, but I never let those nerves turn into pressure.
Do you have any role models in trail running or skyrunning?
Yes, I have several role models, whether because of their humility, discipline or achievements. Some of them are Kilian Jornet, Nico Molina, Rémi Bonnet and Zaid Ait Malek.
In addition to your individual gold medal, Spain dominated the championships. What was the atmosphere like within the national team?
It was an incredible weekend. I learned so much from the more experienced athletes and really enjoyed spending time with them. I came away with great friendships, unforgettable memories and the pride of being part of a national team with an extraordinary level of talent, one that proved just how bright the future of Spanish skyrunning really is.
What did you feel when you heard the national anthem and saw yourself crowned world champion at just 16 years old?
It was a moment that’s very difficult to put into words. I felt that all the hard work had finally paid off, and it gave me an enormous sense of personal satisfaction. Without a doubt, it was one of the happiest days of my life and a memory I’ll cherish forever.
Skyrunning is still a relatively unknown sport to many people. What makes it so special?
There are so many wonderful things about it. It allows you to discover incredible places, run through spectacular natural landscapes, improve your technical skills and meet amazing people. It makes me really happy to see the sport continuing to grow and reaching more and more people every year.
What was the toughest moment of the race, and where do you think the victory was decided?
The hardest part was definitely the descent. By then I was completely exhausted and my quadriceps were at their absolute limit. I don’t think I’ve ever pushed my body that hard before. I believe the race was decided on the final climb, just before the descent, where I managed to open a small gap that I was able to hold all the way to the finish line.
Spanish cadet national champion in the vertical kilometer
As if the world title won in Croatia had not been enough, Lucas Gámez once again demonstrated his outstanding form just a few weeks later by being crowned Spanish cadet champion in the vertical kilometer at the Spanish School Age Championships (CESA), held in Alcaudete (Jaén). The young athlete from Marbella completed the 2.4-kilometre course with 450 metres of positive elevation gain in a time of 19:40, securing the national title. He also achieved the Spanish runner-up position in the individual race, the silver medal in the combined classification, and the team silver medal with the Andalusian squad, confirming that he is going through an exceptional season and establishing himself as one of the major international prospects in mountain running.
