Shock in Spain: World shooting champion Jorge Ballesteros dies after being found in his car with a gunshot wound to the head

Shooter Jorge Ballesteros, world champion in shooting (IPSC) in the Open division, died this Tuesday in Madrid at the age of 39. the athlete He was found inside his vehicle with a blow to the head from his own weapon in a shopping mall in the Spanish capital. The death was confirmed by the Spanish Olympic Shooting Federation (RFEDETO).

crossbowmen, who was also a National Policemanhe was the Spanish shooting athlete with the most titles and the most important, since in addition to the world championship achieved in 2017, he also won three European championships, six “Extreme Europe Open” and 17 Spanish championships.

“RFEDETO expresses its desolation at the terrible loss of a great shooter and an exceptional human being, a gentleman in sport and in life,” the organization said when announcing the athlete’s death at La Paz hospital in Madrid.

The Federation recalled that Ballesteros (San Sebastián, 1983) was part of the most representative and awarded family of IPSC shooters in the country and that his last competition was the world championship held in Pattaya (Thailand) a month and a half ago, where He qualified fifteenth and relinquished the Open World title to 22-year-old American Christian Sailer.

Ballesteros was found inside his vehicle with a blow to the head from his own weapon, for which he was immediately transferred to the hospital, where he died in very serious conditions. The Spanish press reported it on Wednesday. At the moment there are no further details on the tragic event. The athlete was married and had two young children.

For his part, the president of the sports body, Miguel Frenchhe expressed his condolences to the family and expressed that he was devastated by the loss of a “great athlete, from another planet; competitive to the max but with a sense of sportsmanship and humility of those who are no more”.

Who was Jorge Ballesteros for Spanish sport

Born in the Spanish province of Guipúzcoa on May 27, 1983, Ballesteros showed a love for the sport from a young age, but it was shooting that attracted him the most. The Spanish star began his career as a national police officer in 2008, following in his father’s footsteps..

His sports career began at the age of 16 and two years later he took part in his first Spanish championship, obtaining the overall title in the Open division.

crossbowmen He is considered the best Spanish practical shooting athlete (IPSC) of history, since being IPSC Overall World Champion in 2017, he has won three European Championships, six Extreme Europe Opens and 17 Spanish Championships, leaving proof of his skill and prowess.