Today in Linköping, Sweden, a landmark event for Spanish handball will take place. Pablo Urdangarin, son of Infanta Cristina and the legendary Iñaki Urdangarin, will wear the national team jersey for the first time. The Urdangarin name returns to the ranks of ‘Los Hispanos’ after decades, and it will be carried by the eighth in line to the Spanish throne.
The young athlete, who plays for Granollers, is embarking on his professional sports journey, aiming to follow in the footsteps of his father, a two-time Olympic medalist. His life has been marked by frequent moves: childhood in Barcelona, then Washington and Switzerland amid a high-profile scandal, followed by an independent career in Hannover and Nantes. Despite his royal heritage, Pablo insists he has never experienced favoritism or prejudice. Still, he admits with a smile that teammates sometimes joke about his ‘blue blood,’ calling him ‘well-connected.’ He takes these remarks with humor and lets his performance on the court speak for itself.
He has learned to take insults from the stands, which occasionally surface during matches, in stride. With the same ease, the 24-year-old right winger talks about his conversations with his uncle, King Felipe VI. According to him, the monarch is well-versed in sports, and whenever they meet, they always discuss Pablo’s achievements—it’s just a normal part of their relationship. However, it’s the conversations with his father that he values most. Pablo proudly calls Iñaki his personal psychologist. Before every important game, he calls his father to share his feelings and get support. This ritual helps him calm down, since no one understands the pressure of title matches and playing for the national team better than his father.
Pablo’s team is currently second in the Asobal league, and his debut for the national team was the fulfillment of a dream. Amid this success, rumors keep swirling about a possible return to Barça, where his father won 52 titles. The athlete himself prefers not to look too far ahead and remains focused on the current season with Granollers. He has a firm footing and is growing more confident in his dealings with the press. In his spare time, Pablo—living in Barcelona—is studying sports management. He hasn’t mapped out any specific plans for life after his playing career yet, but he’s already considering staying in sports, possibly in event management.
