The Royal Order to the Sports Merit recognizes the merits of all the medalists of the 2016 Rio Games. In the category of Gold Medals, Maialen Chourraut (pyragüismo), Carolina Marín (badminton), Lidia Valentín (halterophilia), Elena Congost (Paralympic athlete), Marcus Cooper (pyragüismo), Cristian Toro (pyragüismo), Marc López (tennis), Gerard Descárrega (Paralympic athlete), Marcos Blanquiño (guide), Israel Oliver (Paralympic swimming), Kim López (Paralympic athlete), José Antonio Herrida (cycling), Icígica (José Miguel), Icícígica (icola), and Icicola (José).

The Minister of Education, Culture and Sport, Íñigo Méndez de Vigo, has presided over the delivery of the medals of the Royal Order of Sports Merit, a distinction that the Government grants to the best athletes of the year on a proposal from the CSD. In the event at the Museo Nacional de Arte Contemporáneo Reina Sofía in Madrid, also the Minister of Justice, Rafael Catalá, and the President of the CSD and Chancellor of the ROMD, Miguel Cardenal. Maialen, Marcus and Cristian of Gold and Miguel García of silver. The minister declared his "special satisfaction" because the delivery of the ROMD has been the first major public event of this legislature that has just begun and he highlighted the work of the athletes: "This act is a recognition of the effort and the capacity to sacrifice; the talent and passion; the perseverance and the tendon; values that represent all the athletes today awarded and that are the best example for the whole society." He also appreciated the sacrifice and involvement of trainers, physical preparers, clubs and federations and also of public and private organizations that support sport.