Marta Dominguez: the sculpture looks nothing like me

SPANISH athlete Marta Dominguez accepted the unveiling of a bronze sculpture in her likeness, despite having said that it didn’t look like her.

The Town Hall in her native Palencia in north-northwest Spain wanted to pay homage to the athlete, and two years ago, the sculpture was commissioned to local artist Luis Alonso by the socialist party in office at the time.

Marta Dominguez met with him several times, and changes were made to his first model in clay to suit both parties.

However, the town hall reports that Alonso sent the mould to the foundry to be created in bronze, without the final approval of the athlete or the client, leading to discontent.

The town hall says he also decided to place the sculpture in its final location when the meeting at which the homage was postponed was being held.

On seeing it, Dominguez has said the sculpture, which was due to be unveiled on February 1, looked nothing like her and refused to attend the event.

It was removed from the entrance to the Marta Dominguez Municipal Sport Pavilion so changes could be made to it, as the athlete said it was too attractive to look like her.

However, the mayor of Palencia, Alfonso Polanco, was able to calm things down and the sculpture will be placed in the location planned for it, although the date of the unveiling ceremony has not yet been announced.

The sculpture has been controversial since it was first planned, because when Dominguez stood accused of ‘doping’ in the Operacion Galo, the plans were put on hold.

However, once she was acquitted of all charges, the city hall decided to go ahead.

Photo credit: sportgraphic / Shutterstock.com

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