Rafael Nadal’s final appearance at an Olympic Games was one of the highlights of his emotional 2024 and now he has posted an image of a gift he received from the International Olympic Committee.
The 22-time Grand Slam champion targeted the Paris Games last year as one of the final entries into his tennis story, with the event staged at the Roland Garros venue that he made his own during his incredible career.
The Spanish icon won 14 French Open titles to set a record that is unlikely to ever be broken, with the statue of the greatest clay court player of all-time an enduring tribute to his brilliance on the surface.
Nadal lost his final singles match at Roland Garros to his great rival Novak Djokovic, as the Serbian was too strong for Nadal as he battled with physical concerns that brought an end to his career a few months later.
His doubles pairing alongside Carlos Alcaraz also failed to deliver the farewell gold medal that could have been a fitting end to Nadal’s Roland Garros story also failed to deliver success, but he is clearly proud of his association with the Olympics.
In his latest post since he opened an account on the LinkedIn network, a smiling Nadal posted an image of him holding an Olympic torch, as he offered a lengthy post reflecting on his journey in the Games.
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“Thank you International Olympic Committee – IOC for sending me this very special torch,” he wrote.
“The Olympics are a truly unique event, not only because of tennis but because it represents the most significant sporting event in the world. Being a part of it has been, for me, a great honour and recognition that has meant a great deal to me. As I mentioned in a recent interview, competing in Paris holds special significance due to the history I have with that city. I am incredibly grateful to everyone who has supported me.
“I vividly remember watching the opening ceremony, and I must say that everything about it was surprising. I was unaware of the details beforehand. I received a phone call from the president of the Olympic Committee in France, informing me that they wanted me to be part of the ceremony. I immediately accepted, as it was a great honour.
I was not informed about my exact role until just moments before. Then, when the moment arrived, I was given instructions: I would go on stage and receive the Olympic torch. At that point, as I ascended the stairs and stood waiting for about two minutes, I became overwhelmed with emotion.
“I felt tears welling up, but I reminded myself to remain composed and enjoy the moment. I took a deep breath, gathered myself, and fully embraced the significance of the occasion. I will never forget that day. I experienced one of the most emotional days of my career and I’m thrilled to keep this torch in a remarkable place in the museum at the academy.”
Nadal joined Linkedin last week, as he revealed he is looking forward to sharing his experiences on a social media platform primarily used for business interactions.
“Throughout my career I’ve been lucky enough to travel all over the world, to see incredible places and have experiences that have allowed me to get to know and understand the sport and education industries, to which I am deeply committed. I believe LinkedIn is the ideal place to share some of these experiences and projects with all of you,” wrote Nadal.
“As you know, I am not one to give a lot of advice, but whenever a young athlete or student has asked me for it, I have always told them the same thing; to surround themselves with good people.
“I feel lucky to have had a great family by my side and a team of professionals who, in many ways, have come to form part of that family. Their dedication and commitment, their sincerity, and their ethics significantly helped me grow as a player and, above all, as a person.”
Nadal remains a big presence in tennis and is also still one of the sport’s big earners after it was confirmed last month that he sold a stake in his tennis Academy for nearly €95 million.
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