Nadal and one of the most emotional moments of his career: "I told myself I had to stop crying"

Carlos Navarro | 11 Mar 2025 | 14.35

Rafael Nadal. Source: Getty

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Last summer, Rafael Nadal was part of one of the most unforgettable moments involving a tennis player. It happened at the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, where the Spaniard had the honor of carrying the Olympic flame just moments before kicking off the competition. The images were captivating and traveled around the world: it was an iconic moment for Rafa, who now reminisces about that day with Andy Roddick.

"I will never be able to thank enough the French people for giving me that moment. Despite not being French, they offered me that moment, receiving the Olympic torch from Zidane, in front of the Eiffel Tower... it's one of the most emotional moments of my career, undoubtedly. The Olympic Games are special: it's not just about tennis, it's the most important sporting event. It was a recognition that meant a lot to me."

I didn't know exactly what I was going to do; they told me five minutes beforehand. It was super secret. I was waiting, they told me it was time, and that's when they explained everything to me. As I was going up the stairs and waiting to receive the torch, I had two minutes of waiting: when I realized the moment I was in, I started to shed a few tears. Then I told myself, 'Stop, man, please' (smiles). I told myself it wasn't the time to cry, but to enjoy and live that moment. It was incredible."

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Nadal y uno de los momentos más emotivos de su carrera: "Me dije que tenía que dejar de llorar"