Eduar Villanueva
Encyclopedia
Eduar Antonio Villanueva (born 29 December 1984) is a Venezuela
n middle distance runner. He represented his country at the 2008 Summer Olympics
and has participated in the World Championships in Athletics on three consecutive occasions (2007, 2009, 2011). In 2011 he had the best ever performance by a Venezuelan runner at the World Championships, coming sixth in the 1500 metres
. He set a Venezuelan record
of 3:36.96 minutes in the semi-final.
In regional competition, Villanueva is a two-time bronze medallist at the South American Championships in Athletics
and has won a gold medal at both the Central American and Caribbean Games
and the Central American and Caribbean Championships
. He was a participant at the 2007 Pan American Games
.
, he won his first international medal at the 2004 South American Under-23 Championships held in his hometown, where he took the 5000 metres
bronze medal
. He ran in the 1500 metres
at the 2005 Bolivarian Games
and set a personal best of 3:46.32 minutes, finishing in fourth place.
The 2006 season saw him establish himself as a senior athlete. He was third in the 800 metres
at the 2006 Ibero-American Championships, won his first national title over 1500 m, and represented Venezuela at the 2006 Central American and Caribbean Games
. At the Games he ran two personal bests: 1:48.21 min for fifth in the 800 m and 3:44.27 min for fourth in the 1500 m. He came fifth in the 800 m in his senior continental debut at the 2006 South American Championships in Athletics
. He won two medals at the 2006 South American Under-23 event, winning the 1500 m and coming a close second to Brazil's Kléberson Davide
in the shorter race.
At the 2007 South American Championships in Athletics
he won his first medal on the continental stage, securing the bronze medal behind Byron Piedra
and Leandro de Oliveira
. Villanueva was chosen to run for his nation at the 2007 Pan American Games
and came sixth in the 1500 m with a personal best of 3:41.74 min and ended the competition by running an 800 m best of 1:48.05 min in the heats of that event. He gained selection for the Venezuelan team at the 2007 World Championships in Athletics
held the following month and he improved his 800 m best further by running a time of 1:46.33 min in the heats.
In 2008 Villanueva made his global indoor debut at the 2008 IAAF World Indoor Championships
and also ran at the Olympics for the first time, competing in the heats of the 800 m at the 2008 Beijing Games
. He was the 800 m silver medal
list at the 2008 Central American and Caribbean Championships
, finishing behind Cuba's Andy González
. At the World Military Track and Field Championships in June 2009, he came fourth in the 1500 m. Villanueva won a consecutive 1500 m bronze at the 2009 South American Championships in Athletics
, but was the gold medal
list in the event at the 2009 CAC Championships
. He was selected to run the 800 m at the 2009 World Championships in Athletics
(although he had focused on the longer distance regionally) and was eliminated in the first round.
Villanueva was runner-up to Spain's David Bustos
in the 1500 m at the 2010 Ibero-American Championships
. He broke José López's 14-year-old Venezuelan record
in the 1500 m with a run of 3:38.96 min in Barakaldo
. The 2010 CAC Games
saw him beat Moise Joseph
to the 800 m gold medal and finish with a silver medal in the 1500 m behind Juan Luis Barrios
.
He focused more on the 1500 m in 2011 and spent much of the season based in Spain with his coach Mariano Gonzalo. Villanueva improved his 1500 m national record to 3:38.29 minutes at a meeting in Barcelona
in July 2011 and gained selection for the 2011 World Championships in Athletics
in Daegu
, South Korea. At the competition, he qualified for the 1500 m final by running a personal best of 3:36.96 min in the semi-finals. In the final he finished in eighth place, which was the best ever performance by a Venezuelan track runner at the world championships (improving upon William Wuycke
's run in 1987).
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
n middle distance runner. He represented his country at the 2008 Summer Olympics
2008 Summer Olympics
The 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events...
and has participated in the World Championships in Athletics on three consecutive occasions (2007, 2009, 2011). In 2011 he had the best ever performance by a Venezuelan runner at the World Championships, coming sixth in the 1500 metres
1500 metres
The 1,500-metre run is the premier middle distance track event.Aerobic endurance is the biggest factor contributing to success in the 1500 metres but the athlete also requires significant sprint speed.In modern times, the 1,500-metre run has been run at a pace faster than the average person could...
. He set a Venezuelan record
Venezuelan records in athletics
The following are the national records in athletics in Venezuela maintained by its national athletics federation: Federación Venezolana de Atletismo .-Men:-Women:-Men:-Women:A = affected by altitude# = not officially ratified by Federation...
of 3:36.96 minutes in the semi-final.
In regional competition, Villanueva is a two-time bronze medallist at the South American Championships in Athletics
South American Championships in Athletics
The South American Championships in Athletics is a biennial athletics event organized by CONSUDATLE. The first edition in 1919 was competed between only two countries , but it has since expanded and has generally been held every two years since 1927.In addition, 8 unofficial championships were held...
and has won a gold medal at both the Central American and Caribbean Games
Central American and Caribbean Games
The Central American and Caribbean Games are a multi-sport regional championships event, held quadrennial , typically in the middle year between Summer Olympics...
and the Central American and Caribbean Championships
Central American and Caribbean Championships
The Central American and Caribbean Championships is an international track and field athletics event organised by the Central American and Caribbean Athletic Confederation . Only athletes representing a member nation of the confederation may compete. Created in 1967, the event has been held every...
. He was a participant at the 2007 Pan American Games
2007 Pan American Games
The 2007 Pan American Games, officially known as the XV Pan American Games, were a major continental multi-sport event that took place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from July 13 to July 29, 2007. A total of 5,633 athletes from 42 National Olympic Committees competed in 332 events in 34 sports and in...
.
Career
Born in BarquisimetoBarquisimeto
Barquisimeto is the capital city of the State of Lara located in west central Venezuela, halfway between Caracas and Maracaibo on the Turbio River.-Overview:...
, he won his first international medal at the 2004 South American Under-23 Championships held in his hometown, where he took the 5000 metres
5000 metres
The 5000 metres is a popular running distance also known as 5 km or 5K in American English. It is one of the track events in the Olympic Games and the World Championships in Athletics. "5000 metres" refers to racing on a track and "5K" usually refers to a roadrace or cross country event...
bronze medal
Bronze medal
A bronze medal is a medal awarded to the third place finisher of contests such as the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, etc. The practice of awarding bronze third place medals began at the 1904 Olympic Games in St...
. He ran in the 1500 metres
1500 metres
The 1,500-metre run is the premier middle distance track event.Aerobic endurance is the biggest factor contributing to success in the 1500 metres but the athlete also requires significant sprint speed.In modern times, the 1,500-metre run has been run at a pace faster than the average person could...
at the 2005 Bolivarian Games
2005 Bolivarian Games
The XV Bolivarian Games were a multi-sport event held between 12–21 August 2005 in Armenia and Pereira, Colombia. The Games were organized by the Bolivarian Sports Organization .-Sports: Billiards * Racquetball...
and set a personal best of 3:46.32 minutes, finishing in fourth place.
The 2006 season saw him establish himself as a senior athlete. He was third in the 800 metres
800 metres
The 800 meter race is a common track running event. It is the shortest common middle distance track event. The 800 meter is run over two laps of the track and has always been an Olympic event. During indoor track season the event is usually run on a 200 meter track, therefore requiring four laps...
at the 2006 Ibero-American Championships, won his first national title over 1500 m, and represented Venezuela at the 2006 Central American and Caribbean Games
Athletics at the 2006 Central American and Caribbean Games
The athletics competition at the 2006 Central American and Caribbean Games took place at the Estadio Pedro de Heredia in Cartagena, Colombia and lasted from July 25 to July 29. There were 23 events for men and 21 for women...
. At the Games he ran two personal bests: 1:48.21 min for fifth in the 800 m and 3:44.27 min for fourth in the 1500 m. He came fifth in the 800 m in his senior continental debut at the 2006 South American Championships in Athletics
2006 South American Championships in Athletics
The 2006 South American Championships in Athletics were held at the Estadio La Independencia in Tunja, Colombia from 29 September to 1 October. The competition represented a departure from the traditional biennial cycle of the championships, a decision taken partly as a response to the lack of...
. He won two medals at the 2006 South American Under-23 event, winning the 1500 m and coming a close second to Brazil's Kléberson Davide
Kléberson Davide
Kléberson Davide is a Brazilian track and field athlete who specialises in the 800 metres.Born in Conchal, São Paulo, Davide won his first major youth title in the 800 m at the 2002 South American Youth Championships. He reached the semi-finals of the 2004 World Junior Championships in...
in the shorter race.
At the 2007 South American Championships in Athletics
2007 South American Championships in Athletics
The 2007 South American Championships in Athletics were held at the Estádio Ícaro de Castro Mello in São Paulo, Brazil from 7 June to 9 June 2007...
he won his first medal on the continental stage, securing the bronze medal behind Byron Piedra
Byron Piedra
Byron Efrén Piedra Ávilés is an Ecuadorian middle distance and long-distance runner.He won the 2007 edition of the Guayaquil Marathon...
and Leandro de Oliveira
Leandro de Oliveira
Leandro Prates de Oliveira is a Brazilian track and field athlete who specialises in the 1500 metres...
. Villanueva was chosen to run for his nation at the 2007 Pan American Games
Athletics at the 2007 Pan American Games
The athletics competition at the 2007 Pan American Games was held at the Flamengo Park and Estádio Olímpico João Havelange in Rio de Janeiro between 22 July and 29 July 2007...
and came sixth in the 1500 m with a personal best of 3:41.74 min and ended the competition by running an 800 m best of 1:48.05 min in the heats of that event. He gained selection for the Venezuelan team at the 2007 World Championships in Athletics
2007 World Championships in Athletics
The 11th World Championships in Athletics, under the auspices of the International Association of Athletics Federations , were held at Nagai Stadium in Osaka, Japan from 24 August to 2 September 2007...
held the following month and he improved his 800 m best further by running a time of 1:46.33 min in the heats.
In 2008 Villanueva made his global indoor debut at the 2008 IAAF World Indoor Championships
2008 IAAF World Indoor Championships
The 2008 IAAF World Indoor Championships in Athletics were held at the Luis Puig Palace in Valencia, Spain, March 7-9, 2008.-Bid:Valencia was announced the winning bidder by the IAAF on November 13, 2005 at an IAAF Council meeting in Moscow, Russia.-Men:...
and also ran at the Olympics for the first time, competing in the heats of the 800 m at the 2008 Beijing Games
Athletics at the 2008 Summer Olympics
Athletics at the 2008 Summer Olympics were held during the last 10 days of the games, from August 15 to August 24, 2008, at the Beijing National Stadium. The Olympic sport of athletics is split into four distinct sets of events: track and field events, road running events, and racewalking...
. He was the 800 m silver medal
Silver medal
A silver medal is a medal awarded to the second place finisher of contests such as the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, and contests with similar formats....
list at the 2008 Central American and Caribbean Championships
2008 Central American and Caribbean Championships
The 2008 Central American and Caribbean Championships were held at the Estadio Pedro Grajales in Cali, Colombia between 4–6 July 2008. A total of 44 events were contested, of which 22 by male and 22 by female athletes. During the three-day competition, six championship records were broken...
, finishing behind Cuba's Andy González
Andy González (athlete)
Andy González Núñez is a Cuban middle-distance runner who competes in the 800 metres. He was the gold medalist in the event at the 2011 Pan American Games. He represented his country at the 2008 Summer Olympics....
. At the World Military Track and Field Championships in June 2009, he came fourth in the 1500 m. Villanueva won a consecutive 1500 m bronze at the 2009 South American Championships in Athletics
2009 South American Championships in Athletics
The 2009 South American Championships in Athletics was the forty sixth edition of the tournament and was held between 19 and 21 June in Lima, Peru....
, but was the gold medal
Gold medal
A gold medal is typically the medal awarded for highest achievement in a non-military field. Its name derives from the use of at least a fraction of gold in form of plating or alloying in its manufacture...
list in the event at the 2009 CAC Championships
2009 Central American and Caribbean Championships in Athletics
The 2009 Central American and Caribbean Championships was the twenty second edition of the tournament and was held between 3 and 7 July in Havana, Cuba.-Event summary:...
. He was selected to run the 800 m at the 2009 World Championships in Athletics
2009 World Championships in Athletics
The 12th IAAF World Championships in Athletics were held in Berlin, Germany from 15–23 August 2009. The majority of events took place in the Olympiastadion, while the marathon and racewalking events started and finished at the Brandenburg Gate....
(although he had focused on the longer distance regionally) and was eliminated in the first round.
Villanueva was runner-up to Spain's David Bustos
David Bustos
David Bustos is a Spanish runner who specializes in the 800 metres and 1500 metres.He was born in Palma de Mallorca. In the 1500 metres he finished fourth at the 2007 World Youth Championships and competed at the 2008 World Junior Championships without reaching the final...
in the 1500 m at the 2010 Ibero-American Championships
2010 Ibero-American Championships
The 2010 Ibero-American Championships in Athletics was an athletics competition which was held at the Estadio Municipal Bahía Sur in San Fernando, Cádiz, Spain from 4–6 June. A total of 44 events were contested, of which 22 by male and 22 by female athletes...
. He broke José López's 14-year-old Venezuelan record
Venezuelan records in athletics
The following are the national records in athletics in Venezuela maintained by its national athletics federation: Federación Venezolana de Atletismo .-Men:-Women:-Men:-Women:A = affected by altitude# = not officially ratified by Federation...
in the 1500 m with a run of 3:38.96 min in Barakaldo
Barakaldo
Barakaldo , is a municipality in the Basque Country in Spain. It is located in the Biscay province, administratively included in the "Basque Autonomous Community", on the left bank of the Estuary of Bilbao.Barakaldo is part of Bilbao's metropolitan area , and its official population...
. The 2010 CAC Games
Athletics at the 2010 Central American and Caribbean Games
The athletics competition at the 2010 Central American and Caribbean Games was held at the Mayagüez Athletics Stadium in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico from July 24–30. A total of 47 events were contested, 24 by men and 23 by women, and 12 Games records were set...
saw him beat Moise Joseph
Moise Joseph
Moise Joseph is a Haitian middle-distance runner specializing in the 800 meters. He competed in the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens placing sixth in his heat and getting eliminated.-Achievements:-Personal bests:Outoors...
to the 800 m gold medal and finish with a silver medal in the 1500 m behind Juan Luis Barrios
Juan Luis Barrios
Juan Luis Barrios Nieves is a Mexican athlete. He is 173 cm tall and weighs 65 kg . He participated at the 2008 Summer Olympics and finished seventh in the men's 5000 metres...
.
He focused more on the 1500 m in 2011 and spent much of the season based in Spain with his coach Mariano Gonzalo. Villanueva improved his 1500 m national record to 3:38.29 minutes at a meeting in Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
in July 2011 and gained selection for the 2011 World Championships in Athletics
2011 World Championships in Athletics
The 13th IAAF World Championships in Athletics was an international athletics competition that was held in Daegu, South Korea. It started on 27 August 2011 and finished on 4 September 2011....
in Daegu
Daegu
Daegu , also known as Taegu, and officially the Daegu Metropolitan City, is a city in South Korea, the fourth largest after Seoul, Busan, and Incheon, and the third largest metropolitan area in the country with over 2.5 million residents. The city is the capital and principal city of the...
, South Korea. At the competition, he qualified for the 1500 m final by running a personal best of 3:36.96 min in the semi-finals. In the final he finished in eighth place, which was the best ever performance by a Venezuelan track runner at the world championships (improving upon William Wuycke
William Wuycke
William Wuycke is a former Venezuelan 800m runner, who set a personal best of 1:43.54 minutes at a 1986 meeting in Rieti . This result made Wuycke the third-fastest South American 800m runner of all time...
's run in 1987).