A shared passion for equestrian sports brought together Gonzalo Blasco Botín and Mexican rider Antonia Ruiz Espinosa de los Monteros. The couple exchanged vows in Santander and later shared joyful moments on social media. The groom added a heartfelt caption to their wedding photos, calling his bride his lifelong companion. Among the warm wishes in the comments were messages from well-known personalities, including celebrity fitness trainer Martín Giacchetta.
Although both newlyweds prefer to keep their private lives out of the spotlight, it’s clear their love story began thanks to horses. Gonzalo and Antonia are more than just enthusiasts—they are accomplished athletes in the equestrian world. They train and compete together, sharing the care of two horses named Starman and Jolly Jay.
Gonzalo’s career in equestrian sports is impressive. He first made a name for himself as a teenager by winning the Spanish Championship. Most recently, he reaffirmed his national title for the fourth time, claiming victory in the sport’s most challenging discipline—eventing—riding his horse Marlango de Pomés. Eventing combines dressage, show jumping, and cross-country. His love of horses seems to run in the family: two years ago, his mother Marta Botín was awarded a gold medal by the Spanish Equestrian Federation for her contribution to the sport’s development.
Despite his sporting achievements, Gonzalo is known for his exceptional modesty and dislike of publicity. He diligently avoids contact with the press and, according to rumors, cannot stand it when interviews touch on his famous maternal relatives.
Shortly before his death at age 88, his grandfather, Jaime Botín, one of Spain’s wealthiest men, made a key decision. He handed control of the company Cartival to Gonzalo. This was more than a formality: Cartival is a crucial holding company through which this branch of the family controls major financial giants such as Bankinter and the insurance company Línea Directa. As a result, the young man found himself at the helm of a significant part of the family business empire.
This move was no accident. Gonzalo has a solid academic background: he earned an industrial engineering degree from ICAI, then continued his studies at the prestigious IE Business School. Before taking on his new role, he headed the breakthrough innovations department at Evo Banco, a Bankinter subsidiary. In his professional profile, he describes himself as a motivated specialist with experience in teamwork and deep knowledge of science and technology sectors.
