Antonio Paez is a retired Spanish middle-distance runner who made his name as an 800-metre specialist during the late 1970s and early 1980s. Born in the small Andalusian town of Arenas del Rey, he rose to become one of Europe’s leading indoor runners and the first Spaniard ever to win a European indoor athletics title.
His breakthrough came at the 1979 European Indoor Championships in Vienna, where his gold medal over 800 metres marked a turning point for Spanish athletics. He went on to claim a second continental title in Milan in 1982, a bronze medal in Grenoble in 1981, and represented Spain at the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow.
Although sloppy celebrity-profile sites often mix him up with the 19th-century Venezuelan president José Antonio Páez — and even invent details like a wife, a net worth, or physical measurements for him — this article sticks to what is actually verified about the athlete. Here is the documented story of Antonio Paez: his career, his achievements, and his legacy.
Antonio Paez Wiki and Biography
Antonio Páez Montero, widely recorded simply as Antonio Paez, is a retired Spanish athlete best known for dominating the men’s 800 metres on the European indoor circuit at the turn of the 1980s. He was born on September 5, 1956, in Arenas del Rey, in the province of Granada, Andalusia, Spain. His birthdate places him under the Virgo zodiac sign.
He rose to prominence in Spanish athletics during the late 1970s, specialising in middle-distance running with a particular talent for indoor competition. Domestically, he held multiple Spanish national records over 800 metres and was a repeated national champion in both indoor and outdoor events. His success helped put Spanish middle-distance running on the European map at a time when the country had yet to win a major international athletics title.
| Antonio Paez Wiki and Biography | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Antonio Páez Montero |
| Date of Birth | September 5, 1956 |
| Age | 70 years (as of October 2026) |
| Birthplace | Arenas del Rey, Granada, Andalusia, Spain |
| Nationality | Spanish |
| Ethnicity | Spanish (European) |
| Zodiac Sign | Virgo |
| Profession | Retired middle-distance runner (800 metres) |
| Years Active | Late 1970s – early 1980s |
| Relationship Status | Not publicly disclosed |
Antonio Paez Height, Weight, and More
Unlike modern athletes whose physical profiles are published in detail by their federations and clubs, reliable records of Antonio Paez’s exact physical measurements have not survived in publicly accessible sources. Sports-reference archives and athletics databases list his performances, but not his height or weight. Rather than repeat unverified figures that circulate on low-quality biography farms, we report these details as they stand: not publicly disclosed.
What is certain is that as an elite 800-metre runner, Paez possessed the lean, powerful build typical of middle-distance specialists — athletes who must combine sprint speed with the endurance to sustain it for two full laps of the track.
| Antonio Paez Height, Weight, and More | Details |
|---|---|
| Height | Not publicly disclosed by reliable sources |
| Weight | Not publicly disclosed by reliable sources |
| Body Measurements | Not publicly disclosed |
| Eye Color | Not publicly disclosed |
| Hair Color | Not publicly disclosed |
| Shoe Size | Not publicly disclosed |
| Distinctive Features | Elite middle-distance runner’s athletic build; known for a strong finishing kick over 800 metres |
Antonio Paez Career Information
Antonio Paez’s international career is defined by his remarkable record at the European Athletics Indoor Championships. His breakthrough came at the 1979 edition in Vienna, where he won the men’s 800 metres gold medal in a time of 1:47.4. That performance set a Spanish indoor record and — critically — made him the first Spaniard ever to win a European indoor athletics title.
He returned to the continental podium two years later at the 1981 European Indoor Championships in Grenoble, earning the bronze medal over the same distance. In 1982, at the European Indoor Championships in Milan, he claimed his second continental title in the 800 metres, reinforcing his status as one of Europe’s leading indoor runners of the era.
The peak of his global ambitions came at the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow, where he represented Spain in the men’s 800 metres. He reached the semifinal round, finishing fifth in semifinal 3 with a time of 1:47.8, and placed 14th overall — missing the final, but competing credibly against the deepest 800-metre field of the era, which featured Britain’s Steve Ovett and Sebastian Coe.
On the domestic front, Paez was a repeated Spanish national champion in the 800 metres, both indoors and outdoors, and held multiple Spanish national records in the event through the late 1970s and early 1980s. His legacy is recognised in the Royal Spanish Athletics Federation’s centennial book 100 años de una pasión, which highlights his contribution to the sport. He is widely regarded as a pioneer of Spanish middle-distance running: his 1979 Vienna victory marked a turning point, proving that Spanish athletes could win at the highest level of European athletics.
| Antonio Paez Career Information | Details |
|---|---|
| Profession | Middle-distance runner (800 metres) |
| Career Start | Late 1970s |
| Known For | European Indoor 800m champion (1979, 1982); first Spaniard to win a European indoor athletics title; 1980 Olympic semifinalist |
| Main Platforms | European Athletics Indoor Championships, Olympic Games, Spanish national championships |
| Key Milestones | 1979 Vienna: gold, 800m (1:47.4, Spanish indoor record); 1980 Moscow Olympics: men’s 800m semifinalist (14th overall); 1981 Grenoble: bronze, 800m; 1982 Milan: gold, 800m; multiple Spanish national 800m records |
Antonio Paez Net Worth Information
No reliable source has ever published a verified net worth figure for Antonio Paez, and we will not invent one. Figures such as “$5 million” that appear on automated celebrity-profile websites are not sourced to any credible outlet and cannot be confirmed. Paez competed in an era — the late 1970s and early 1980s — when track and field athletes, especially in Europe, earned modest prize money at best, and professional endorsement income was a fraction of what today’s stars command.
| Antonio Paez Net Worth Information | Details |
|---|---|
| Net Worth (Estimated) | Not publicly disclosed — no reliable published estimate exists |
| Income Sources | Athletics career (competition prizes and support during the amateur era); post-retirement details not publicly documented |
10 Interesting Facts About Antonio Paez
- He made Spanish athletics history in 1979. His gold medal at the European Indoor Championships in Vienna made him the first Spaniard ever to win a European indoor athletics title.
- He set a Spanish indoor record in the process. His winning time of 1:47.4 over 800 metres in Vienna established a new national indoor record.
- He won two European indoor titles. Paez took 800m gold in Vienna 1979 and again in Milan 1982, with a bronze in Grenoble 1981 between them — three medals in four years.
- He is an Olympian. Paez represented Spain in the men’s 800 metres at the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow, reaching the semifinals and finishing 14th overall.
- He raced in one of the greatest 800m eras ever. At Moscow 1980 he shared the semifinal stage with the generation of Steve Ovett and Sebastian Coe — the most storied middle-distance rivalry in history.
- He held multiple Spanish national records. Paez was a repeated national champion and record-holder over 800 metres in both indoor and outdoor competition during the late 1970s and early 1980s.
- He is featured in Spain’s athletics centennial book. The Royal Spanish Athletics Federation included him in 100 años de una pasión, its official history of Spanish athletics.
- He is widely confused with a Venezuelan president. Sloppy biography sites routinely mix the athlete up with José Antonio Páez (1790–1873), the Venezuelan general and president — a completely different person. Even the “Dominga Ortiz” spouse claim found online belongs to the 19th-century president, not the runner.
- His victory marked a turning point for Spain. His 1979 win showed that Spanish athletes could triumph at the top level of European competition, paving the way for later generations of Spanish middle-distance runners.
- He turned 70 in September 2026. Born on September 5, 1956, the retired champion recently celebrated his 70th birthday.
Conclusion
Antonio Paez may not be a household name like the global stars of today, but his place in Spanish athletics history is secure. As the first Spaniard to win a European indoor athletics title, a two-time continental champion, and an Olympian, he helped redefine what Spanish runners could achieve on the international stage.
His story also serves as a reminder of why careful, fact-checked biography matters: decades of confusion with a 19th-century Venezuelan president and a swirl of invented online “facts” have obscured the real man. The verifiable record — the medals, the records, the Olympic semifinal — is more than enough. Antonio Paez earned his legacy on the track, two laps at a time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Antonio Paez?
Antonio Paez (full name Antonio Páez Montero) is a retired Spanish middle-distance runner who specialised in the 800 metres and won two European Indoor Championship titles.
When was Antonio Paez born?
He was born on September 5, 1956, in Arenas del Rey, Granada, Spain.
How old is Antonio Paez?
He is 70 years old as of October 2026, having celebrated his 70th birthday on September 5, 2026.
What nationality is Antonio Paez?
He is Spanish.
What is Antonio Paez known for?
He is best known for winning the men’s 800 metres at the European Indoor Championships in 1979 (Vienna) and 1982 (Milan), becoming the first Spaniard to win a European indoor athletics title, and for competing at the 1980 Moscow Olympics.
Is Antonio Paez the same person as José Antonio Páez, the Venezuelan president?
No. They are completely different people. José Antonio Páez (1790–1873) was a Venezuelan general and president; Antonio Paez (born 1956) is a Spanish athlete. Many low-quality biography sites confuse the two.
What is Antonio Paez’s net worth?
No reliable source has published a verified net worth figure for him, so we do not report an estimate. Claims of specific amounts online are unsourced.
What is Antonio Paez’s height and weight?
His exact height and weight have not been publicly disclosed in any reliable source.
Is Antonio Paez still competing?
No. He retired from elite athletics in the early 1980s.
Who is Antonio Paez married to?
His relationship status has not been publicly disclosed in any reliable source. Claims naming a spouse online (such as “Dominga Ortiz Orzúa”) belong to the 19th-century Venezuelan president, not the athlete.
Last Updated: October 2026 | Fact-checked by Xposed editorial team