Santiago Socorro and Yolanda Blanco, Spanish representation among the judges at the 2026 European Championships

ODYTA Summary

The article highlights the role of referees at the 2026 European Speed Skating Championships, noting that their work often goes unnoticed despite being essential to fair, safe and equal competition. It states that Spain is represented in the officiating team by Spanish judges Santiago Socorro and Yolanda Blanco, who bring experience and professionalism to one of the most important events on the continental calendar. The text describes the judges' duties during long competition days: monitoring starts, overtakes, possible infractions, eliminations and the final order of arrival, and making decisions that require precision, composure and deep technical knowledge. It adds that while attention usually focuses on skaters and medals, no major championship could be held without the dedication of the officiating team. The article, published by Rollerzone, thanks Socorro and Blanco for representing Spanish skating with commitment, responsibility and professionalism, and says their presence shows that Spain has not only strong skaters, coaches and national teams but also professionals prepared for key roles in major international competitions.