Acorán Hernández Retires As Champion Weightlifter, Becomes Head Coach

"Our real limits aren't in the weights we lift or in competitions – they're only in our minds." With these words on social media, Acorán Hernández Mendoza (born in Los Silos in 1990) announced the end of his more than twenty-year career at the top of Spanish weightlifting. It was a farewell true to his journey: honest and clear, from someone who has looked back on his path with wisdom. The weightlifter from Tenerife retires with a strong sense of self, proud of his roots, and certain of all that the sport has given him.

Acorán was a European runner-up, a 14-time Spanish champion, and one of the most consistent lifters of his generation – undoubtedly one of the best in the history of the Canary Islands. He leaves the sport having always believed that true success comes from "the process," not just the final result, as he often said. It's about the people who support you and the peace of mind of knowing you gave it your all. He retires "with gratitude and pride," knowing he was part of "one of the best eras of lifters in Spanish history."

But Acorán isn't leaving the world of sport. In fact, he's stepping into a new role as head coach at Testa Training. "I've always liked helping people," he admits – a sentiment he often repeats, which perfectly sums up his view of sport. From his early days at the club to his time in CrossFit and online coaching, his passion for teaching has always been there, quietly guiding him.

So, this change hasn't been difficult; it's felt very natural. Acorán is still doing what he loves, just from a different angle. He now leads, supports, and guides others who are starting on a path he knows well. He told EL DÍA that this transition had been planned for a while. He calls it "a big change" but sees it more as a professional step forward than a personal shock. The biggest adjustment, he says, has been "not having to go to the gym so many times."

Acorán Hernández's career spans over twenty years of dedication, sacrifice, and personal development. From his beginnings, he grew to become a leading figure in Spanish weightlifting. His journey was never easy or straightforward. While there were many victories, there were also tough times, injuries, doubts, and necessary sacrifices. "I had many very good moments, very bad ones, and you learn from everything," he explains. Through this ongoing learning, he understood that true achievement requires going through the whole process. "You have to go through everything to then appreciate it," he reflects. Among all his experiences, one competition stands out as a turning point: the European Championship in Yerevan in 2023. There, he became the European runner-up in the Olympic total, won a bronze medal in the snatch, and set several Spanish records, marking one of the brightest moments of his career.

He firmly believes this was the most important achievement of his sporting life. It was a competition where everything simply "clicked" and "flowed." His preparation, physical fitness, and mental state all aligned perfectly. "I believed in myself, I believed in everything I had done," he says, with the certainty of someone who knew "something big" was about to happen. And it did. Acorán turned a long-held mental "simulation" into reality, an image he had replayed countless times finally coming true on the platform.

Yet, the road to Yerevan was far from easy. Acorán, who is from Tenerife, had just left the High Performance Center in Madrid. He was dealing with serious injuries and had completely changed his training approach. He moved back home, away from the structured environment of the CAR, and took on the challenge of being his own "coach, psychologist, and nutritionist." This was a journey of self-learning, built on all the knowledge he had gained from top professionals throughout his career.

He arrived at the European Championship feeling he had conquered challenges far greater than the weights themselves. During that week in Armenia, Acorán felt "happy and calm," focused solely on competing and showing "what he had built in private." He admits those were "four of the best months professionally" of his entire life.

If he could talk to his younger self, just starting out in weightlifting, his message would be clear: "Have patience and believe in the process." He notes how hard it is to live in a world that expects instant results. Throughout his career, he saw many athletes find quick success only for it to disappear just as fast. "They burned out very quickly," he remembers. Instead, he admires those who worked for the long term, persevered, and built their skills consistently, day by day. For him, those were the ones who truly achieved lasting success. Believing in the journey, trusting in daily effort, and understanding that results will come in their own time – that is perhaps the most important lesson Acorán Hernández Mendoza leaves us with.