Ana Peleteiro has revealed the unexpected death of her dog Lea, marking a painful moment in her life. The athlete opened up on social media, describing the impact of Lea’s passing and reflecting on the bond they shared over a decade.
Ana Peleteiro, usually known for her grit on the track, found herself facing a different kind of pain this week. She broke the news that her dog Lea had died suddenly. Just days earlier, Peleteiro had been in the spotlight at Shakira’s Madrid concert, a moment of joy now sharply replaced by private loss.
Lea had been with Peleteiro’s family for ten years. The dog’s death came out of nowhere. Spanish outlet Divinity reported that there was "no prior warning." Peleteiro said she was with Lea at the end. She turned to Instagram, posting both stories and a main feed tribute. Her words were raw: “Hoy, sin previo aviso, nos tocó despedir a la perrita más buena, alocada, cariñosa y fiel que jamás he conocido. Lea llegó a nuestra vida hace 10 años para marcar un antes y un después. Y, hoy, sin que nadie lo esperara, nos dejó para siempre. Sin llamar la atención, sin molestar y yéndose muy rápido para no vernos sufrir por verla tan malita.”
El Nacional notes that Peleteiro posted a photo of the sky in her Stories before announcing Lea's passing, highlighting the emotional weight of the moment for her family.
Her tribute included a photo of Lea as a puppy and two more from her adult years, always surrounded by family. These images showed just how much Lea was part of their daily life. Peleteiro didn’t hold back about her grief. She wrote, “Ahora mismo, estoy muy triste, mucho más de lo que nunca pensé que llegaría a estar por tener que decir adiós a nuestra perrita. Pero me deja muy tranquila saber que estuve con ella en sus últimos minutos de vida y que, gracias a la calma que intenté transmitirle y el último mensaje que le di, pude ayudarla a descansar para siempre. Gracias, Lea, por todo lo que nos has enseñado y por todos lo bueno que vivimos juntas. Cuídanos mucho, como siempre has hecho, allá donde estés.”
This loss hit Peleteiro at a time when her life seemed full of good news. Some reports mention the recent birth of her second child. Spanish sources like El Nacional confirm the family had nearly a decade with Lea, and her sudden death caught everyone off guard. Peleteiro’s recent appearance at Shakira’s concert, where she joined the “manada de lobas” with Sara Carbonero, Paz Vega, and Juana Acosta, had looked like a celebration of strength. Peleteiro herself reflected on that night: “Yo ya me puedo morir tranquila. Y aunque mi Shakira diga que las mujeres ya no lloran, yo hoy lloré y mucho caminar a su lado.”
By speaking so openly about her loss, Peleteiro put a spotlight on the pain that comes with losing a pet. Her honesty pushes back against the idea that this kind of grief is minor or should be hidden. The timing, coming right after personal milestones, made her message feel even more real and exposed.
In the days leading up to Lea's passing, Peleteiro participated in Shakira's Madrid concert as part of the 'Caminata de la Loba' segment, an experience she described as one of the best moments of her life, according to La Voz de Galicia and La Region. She attended two concerts as a spectator before being invited to join Shakira on stage, and later shared that she was moved to tears by the experience.
Public figures in Spain have started using their platforms to talk about personal and social issues. Recent stories, like the reported visit of Florentino Pérez to Ceuta after a club dispute, show this trend. Peleteiro’s way of sharing, though, stands out for its directness and refusal to hide behind her public image.
Her farewell to Lea is more than just a personal note. It’s a clear look at the real, sometimes rough, moments that shape even the most celebrated lives. Peleteiro’s choice to share both her wins and her losses, without dressing them up, sets a new bar for honesty in the public eye. In a world where image often comes first, her openness about grief cuts through and leaves a mark.
