Arantxa Sánchez Vicario Prince of Asturias Award for Sports 1998

Gathered together in Oviedo, the Jury for the 1998 Prince of Asturias Award for Sports, comprised of H.R.H. Doña Pilar de Borbón, Vicente Álvarez Areces, José Joaquín Brotons, Ángel Mario Carreño Rodríguez-Maribona, José María Casanovas, José Ángel Castro Savoie, Miguel Ángel Escamilla, René Fasel, Juan Manuel Fernández Lillo, Carlos Ferrer Salat, Santiago Fisas Ayxela, Julián García Candau, Miguel Induráin, Luis Infante Bravo, María del Carmen Izquierdo, Herminio Menéndez, Santiago Nolla Zayas, Matías Prats, José Luis Vilaseca i Guasch, Olga Viza, presided over by Juan Antonio Samaranch, and with José María García acting as secretary, has decided, by a majority, to grant the 1998 Prince of Asturias Award for Sports to Arantxa Sánchez Vicario.

The Spanish tennis player won her third Roland Garros tournament in 1998. As an athlete, she is an example of steadfastness and sacrifice and a model to be imitated by professionals the world over. Her human qualities have distinguished her as well.

Arantxa Sánchez Vicario has created a foundation to help young tennis players, an act which is all too infrequent among international sports figures.

Oviedo, 3rd September 1998