Santa Olaya Swimming Club mourns the death of José Luis Sánchez, Josín. The historic coach of the factory quarry passed away last night after a year of intense struggle against a long illness that finally caught him at the age of 59. Married to Marisa, with whom he had two children, Pablo and Pelayo, his mortal remains rest in the El Roble room of the Noega de Gijón funeral home. The funeral for his eternal rest will take place tomorrow, Friday April 1, at five in the afternoon in the parish church of Santa Cruz de Jove, and he will then be cremated in family secrecy.
José Luis Sánchez Castro has been one of the symbols of the spirit of Santa Olaya for decades. After joining the club in 1972 as a swimmer, only military service separated him from the factory pools in 1983. A year later, he returned to remain attached to the entity, but as a coach. He has managed to add 38 years as a manager, although he has been on leave for the last year due to his delicate state of health. All in all, he was the eldest in the guild at the “Oly” and also at regional swimming level. These numbers have placed Josín next to illustrious characters who have marked the history of Santa Olaya, such as Adolfo Carbajosa, one of the promoters of swimming in the manufacturing entity between 1961 and 1981.
“It is a very great loss for us. He was a historic man and a very close man”, they say from Santa Olaya, where the loss of an unrepeatable figure is taken with dismay. Always with a smile on their faces, hundreds of bathers have passed through their hands. In addition to the sporting successes to which he contributed, his charisma has widened the mark he leaves forever in the memory of Olayism.
