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Spanish champion Olga Carmona has joined teammates in celebrating their FIFA Women’s World Cup triumph in Madrid as she mourned the death of her father.
He died on Friday but the family decided to withhold the news from Carmona until after Sunday night’s final against England in Sydney.
The team’s captain at just 23 years old, she scored the match-winning goal and paid an emotional tribute to her father following the match.
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“And without knowing it, I had my star before the game started,” Carmona wrote.
“I know that you have given me the strength to achieve something unique. I know that you have been watching me tonight and that you are proud of me. Rest in peace dad.”
A tragic detail has since emerged that her father died while Carmona’s mother and brother were travelling to Australia to watch the final.
Post-match images showed Carmona – seemingly before she was told – finding her family inside the stadium to reunite and celebrate Spain’s victory.
Her mother planted a kiss on her cheek as they unfurled the flag of Andalusia, her home territory, and posed for photos.
Olga Carmona reunites with her mother and brother inside Stadium Australia after becoming a world champion. Credit: Getty
Carmona’s brother Tomas later toasted his sister with an image of her holding the Women’s World Cup trophy and her player of the match award.
“My sister, my little girl, my melli,” he wrote.
“You have shown me to be a strong, persevering and tenacious person. You have not stopped until you achieve your dream.
“Dad and all of us who love you are proud of your feat. Keep shining.”
Carmona’s mother and brother reportedly attended Spain’s group stage matches in New Zealand prior to making the late dash from Europe to Sydney for the final.
The Spanish team – including Carmona’s mother – boarded a flight home to Madrid on Monday and posed for team photos.
An open-top bus parade followed around some of the city’s most iconic sites before a reception at a park in front of thousands of fans.
Olga Carmona and her mother on the plane home to Spain. Credit: Pablo Garcia/RFEFThe Spanish team – including Carmona – toast the win. Credit: Pablo Garcia/RFEFCarmona soaks up the celebrations around Madrid. Credit: RFEF
Carmona was pictured smiling throughout and thanked her supporters with an emotional statement written in part to her father.
“I have no words to thank all your love,” she wrote.
“Yesterday was the best and the worst day of my life.
“I know that you would like to see me enjoy this historic moment, that is why I will be with my teammates, so that from wherever you are you know that this star is also yours, dad.”
The Spanish star had celebrated her match-winning goal in the final with a handwritten tribute to the late mother of a close friend.
Carmona’s teammate Irene Paredes also lost her father a few days before they began their preparations for the Women’s World Cup.
The defender dedicated the title to him on Sunday.
– with AP
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