Iñaki Urdangarín, News and Events 1: Jan. 2024 -

[Marengo]

Welcome to Iñaki Urdangarín's News and Events, Part 1

Commencing January 30th, 2024 ​

The previous thread for Iñaki and his ex-wife Infanta Cristina can be found here

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[lula]

Iñaki Urdangarin is now a free man.

After the recent signing of his divorce, this Tuesday the sentence of five years and ten months that he began to serve on June 18, 2018 when he entered the Brieva prison (Ávila) expires.

Iñaki Urdangarin ya es un hombre libre

Iñaki Urdangarin ya es un hombre libre. Tras la reciente firma de su divorcio, este martes se extingue la condena de cinco años y diez meses que empezó a descontar el

www.lavanguardia.com

 

[Toledo]

Excerpt from the article posted above:

"Iñaki Urdangarin is already a free man. After the recent signing of his divorce, this Tuesday the sentence of five years and ten months that he began to deduct on June 18, 2018, when he entered the prison of Brieva (Ávila) expires..."
"He went from being recognized as an elite athlete, and an active member of the royal family, to living social ostracism after being the protagonist of the so-called Nóos case and ending up guilty of several crimes of corruption..."

My opinion:
In the Spanish press he will never be free, and that cloud will always be kept over his head and that of his ex-wife Princess Cristina, and by family association the press and extremist politicians will also hold it against King Felipe. It's the nature of the media just like in the UK, they love to tear the royal family and extended members to make money selling news on them. If his spouse was a related to an elected former or current president, for example in the USA, no one would touch him.

So, best wishes on his life restart and hope after all these years he is able to recover and turn around both his life and the negative public opinion around him. He completed his sentence; the press needs to understand he is free and they need to give him space.

 

[Blog Real]

Iñaki Urdangarin gave an interview to La Vanguardia where he talks about his experience in prison and his plans for the future.

La reinvención de Iñaki Urdangarin

Iñaki Urdangarin (1968) volvió a ser un ciudadano libre el 9 de abril del 2024, una vez extinguida la condena de cinco años y diez meses que le impusieron los

www.lavanguardia.com

 

[Alisa]

He certainly seems like a changed man. That he was able to study for and obtain a degree whilst in prison is impressive.

Everyone deserve second chances. I wish him much success in his new business endeavors!

 

[Blog Real]

Inãki Urdangarin will also be releasing a book. They will be titled "Todo lo vivido" (Everything Lived Through) and will go on sale on February 12, as announced by the publisher Grijalbo.
In the book he will address topics such as his childhood, his sports career, his integration into the Royal Family and the Nóos case, his time in prison and his new life.

Urdangarin también publica sus memorias: 'Todo lo vivido' saldrá a la venta el 12 de febrero

El ex marido de la Infanta Doña Cristina también ha decidido publicar sus memorias, que llevarán por título Todo lo vivido y saldrán a la venta

www.eldebate.com

 

[Somebody]

Well, I guess Felipe has another book to look forward to after his father's...

 

[Adda]

Pablo took part in the interview, via video call.

 

[Duke of Marmalade]

its an easy way to make money I guess.

 

[maria-olivia]

Did he do that for money ? I don't know if it will be a best seller ? It is too late and at the same time than Juan Carlos Reconciliation Book.

 

[Duke of Marmalade]

Well, he will have been paid to do it in the first place, success or not.

 

[Moonmaiden23]

Inaki was young, arrogant and foolish. He paid a terrible price for his mistakes; as he said he lost everything.

And he has aged drastically....no longer the Olympic Adonis he was for so many years.

I cannot help but feel very sad for him.

 

[tihkon2]

I don't . he was a grown man, Not a child.

 

[Toledo]

Well, I guess Felipe has another book to look forward to after his father's...

I hope not, Spain's Father's Day is March 19th and both books would be a great gift for Felipe if Inaki and Juan Carlos send him signed copies. I'm sure Zarzuela Palace has a working chimney that could use both books.

 

[carlota]

Iñaki gave an interview in Catalan to pla sequencia.

Iñaki Urdangarin - Pla seqüència amb Jordi Basté | Veure ara

Després de 5 anys i 10 anys de condemna, Iñaki Urdangarin fa la seva primera entrevista televisiva, sense edició ni talls, a 'Pla Seqüència’.

www.rtve.es

 

[An Ard Ri]

Inaki was young, arrogant and foolish. He paid a terrible price for his mistakes; as he said he lost everything.

And he has aged drastically....no longer the Olympic Adonis he was for so many years.

I cannot help but feel very sad for him.

And what a fall from grace Inaki had as the once Olympic golden boy!

 

[carlota]

Iñaki gave an interview in Catalan to pla sequencia.

Iñaki Urdangarin - Pla seqüència amb Jordi Basté | Veure ara

Després de 5 anys i 10 anys de condemna, Iñaki Urdangarin fa la seva primera entrevista televisiva, sense edició ni talls, a 'Pla Seqüència’.

www.rtve.es

Key points reported in the Spanish press:

Sentencing & Prison Experience

• He spent seven years hoping the accusations would be dismissed.
• The day of his sentence, he was with Infanta Cristina and their children.
• Prison was extremely hard: he recalls the shock of the first day, isolation, and emotional struggle.
• Sport and cycling became his escape, and he completed a coaching certification while incarcerated.

Emotional Consequences

• The first months were the worst. He suffered, cried a lot, and worried about his family outside.
• Lost sleep, time, peace and a significant amount of what he owned.
• Says the social judgement hurt more than the judicial process.

Family & Support

• His mother was a major support, offering him a safe place after prison.
• His children sustained him through the hardest period — he feels pride and pain for what they endured.
• Prison changed his parenting: he became more understanding and values time with them deeply.

Relationship with Infanta Cristina

• Speaks warmly of her, calling her exceptional and someone he admires and loves. He says the hardest thing was losing her.
• Acknowledges the shared suffering and the painful consequences of their situation.
• Affirms she will always remain part of his life.

New Love & New Life

• Open to falling in love again
• Does not mention his current partner by name.

Regret & Accountability

• Expresses deep remorse for mistakes, lack of awareness and poor decisions.
• Says he paid legally and socially for his actions.
• Forgives others and himself, though self-forgiveness was hardest.

Future & Happiness

• Now works on a non-profit project helping athletes transition post-career.
• Excited yet nervous about failing again.
• Feels he is slowly reconciling with life and heading toward happiness.
• Proud of who he is now, but not of his past.

 

[Somebody]

I read the article in Hola highlighting the most important parts of the interview. My understanding is that he was with Christina and some of the children in Geneva. Other children were travelling in Russia and were asked to come home when they realized he really had to turn himself in at prison. So, they did have a final 'family reunion' before he left Geneva to start his prison sentence.

While in prison, he could have one 40 minutes visit on the weekend. Family members - both the wider Urdangarin family as well as Cristina and the children would come to visit him. He was really happy when at one point he was given permission to put some of the pictures they sent on the wall. In that way his family felt closer to him. He also received lots of mail from strangers.

He feels like he lost about 12 years of his life: first fighting against the accusations and then serving his prison sentence. His time in prison was extremely hard on Iñaki but clearly also impacted his relationship with his wife, ultimately leading to their separation and divorce.

After leaving prison, he felt stigmatized, which was hard to deal with. In addition, his time in prison had changed him as a person.

Furthermore, he seems not to deny that he broke the law but he does stress that he did not intend to do so - and specifically states that his mother and children have never doubted him - while knowing all that took place.

Pablo also participated in the interview (by video call) and praised his father for his support in his sports career. Other than that, the children have asked him to limit his comments about them because they prefer to lead relatively discreet lives themselves and just concentrate on their careers. They don't want major media exposure.

 

[Biri]

Key points reported in the Spanish press:

Sentencing & Prison Experience

• He spent seven years hoping the accusations would be dismissed.
• The day of his sentence, he was with Infanta Cristina and their children.
• Prison was extremely hard: he recalls the shock of the first day, isolation, and emotional struggle.
• Sport and cycling became his escape, and he completed a coaching certification while incarcerated.

Emotional Consequences

• The first months were the worst. He suffered, cried a lot, and worried about his family outside.
• Lost sleep, time, peace and a significant amount of what he owned.
• Says the social judgement hurt more than the judicial process.

Family & Support

• His mother was a major support, offering him a safe place after prison.
• His children sustained him through the hardest period — he feels pride and pain for what they endured.
• Prison changed his parenting: he became more understanding and values time with them deeply.

Relationship with Infanta Cristina

• Speaks warmly of her, calling her exceptional and someone he admires and loves. He says the hardest thing was losing her.
• Acknowledges the shared suffering and the painful consequences of their situation.
• Affirms she will always remain part of his life.

New Love & New Life

• Open to falling in love again
• Does not mention his current partner by name.

Regret & Accountability

• Expresses deep remorse for mistakes, lack of awareness and poor decisions.
• Says he paid legally and socially for his actions.
• Forgives others and himself, though self-forgiveness was hardest.

Future & Happiness

• Now works on a non-profit project helping athletes transition post-career.
• Excited yet nervous about failing again.
• Feels he is slowly reconciling with life and heading toward happiness.
• Proud of who he is now, but not of his past.

So his relationship with Ainhoa Armentia is over?

 

[Somebody]

So his relationship with Ainhoa Armentia is over?

It seems they are still very much a couple. I cannot read the full article but this first sentence of a Vanitatis article suggests that while he didn't mention her, she definitely is still his partner:

6 days ago · Ainhoa Armentia, ausente en la entrevista de Iñaki Urdangarin, pero protagonista fuera de cámara La novia actual del que fue marido de la infanta Cristina no nombro a su pareja en ningún ...

Also in another publication where they discuss what Iñaki didn't mention in his interview: his current girlfriend and the emeritus king (and his book).

This last article also highlights how Iñaki really didn't expect his sentence but expected to be absolved by the judge - and how especially the first three months in prison were really hard (he says that he cried for three months and isn't proud of how he handled his imprisonment at that time). Sending letters to family, friends and strangers was really important to stay somewhat sane.

 

[carlota]

So his relationship with Ainhoa Armentia is over?

The article I read is very unclear about that but it seems they are still a couple. However there were questions along the lines of “would you fall in love again ?” Which indicate / make it seem as if they are no longer together so it’s confusing.

 

[maria-olivia]

This book iw written to late. Less interest anymore .