Spanish swimmer stays on blocks at World Champs to hold minute's silence for Barcelona victims

Fernando Alvarez remained on the starting blocks to pay a personal tribute. Photo / Supplied

A Spanish swimmer sacrificed his own race in the final of the Masters World Championships in order to honour the victims of the Barcelona terror attacks.

14 people were killed and 130 injured on Thursday when a driver deliberately slammed a van into crowds on Barcelona's most popular street, Las Ramblas.

Fernando Alvarez, from Cadiz, Spain, had asked the organisers of the swimming championships to hold a minute's silence in tribute to the victims of the attack, but the request was denied.

Instead Alvarez remained on his starting blocks as the rest of the 200m breastroke field took to the water.

The Spaniard then stood still and observed his own 60 seconds of silence before beginning the race.

Respect to Fernando Alvarez, requested a minute silence, officials refused, so stays on the starting block for 1 minute, then jumped in.. 👏👏 pic.twitter.com/XN9xtzKGY8

— Sports Funnies (@SportsFunnies) August 21, 2017

"They told me that it was not possible [to have minute's silence] because not a minute could be wasted," Alvarez told local media after the race.

"It's something that has affected us all, but maybe because of the distance and because I have family there... I really think it would have been a good thing to do.

"So I started a minute later. But I do not mind, I have a feeling worth more than if I win all the gold medals in the world."

A number of people took to social media to applaud Alvarez for his selfless personal tribute to the victims of Thursday's attack.

"Fernando Alvarez should be awarded a Gold medal for showing such respect for victims of Barcelona attack. Bravisimo!!" wrote one user.

"All his teammates, like his Club feel very proud of him, we want to congratulate him for being a great person!" Alvarez's swimming club wrote in a post on their club page.