Born in 1963, Ángeles Barreiro began training and competing when she was only fourteen, coached by Raimundo Fernández, and went on to represent Spain twelve times in athletics, in the discus and the shot put.

Her record includes being the first Spanish woman to throw beyond 50 and 60 metres. In 1992 she broke the national discus record 5 times and took part in the Barcelona Olympics.

She was Spanish discus champion 11 times, runner-up in the shot put 4 times, Galician discus champion 23 times and Galician shot put champion 24 times.

During her career she raised the national record by more than 12 m, something unique in the history of Spanish athletics.