Damian Hugo Quintero has admitted that winning gold at the European Games is an "amazing" achievement.
The 30-year-old, who also claimed top spot at last year's World Championships, picked up Spain's first medal of Baku 2015 by getting the better of Italy's Mattia Busato in the men's kata final at Crystal Hall
Quintero will have little time to celebrate his victory in the Azerbaijan capital, however, with a return to his homeland already on the cards.
"It is amazing. Karate is not an Olympic sport and it is the first time we are here at the European Games," he told reporters. "The atmosphere is amazing. The people in Azerbaijan love karate and they are very supportive.
"Maybe I will celebrate at home. We have to go home tomorrow, unfortunately. I would have liked to stay longer, maybe to watch some other sports. But this is the way our committee decided."
There was further joy for Spain this afternoon as Sandra Jaime Sanchez also claimed gold in the women's kata.
Daniel Lewis
