Rafael Nadal was presented with the “Legend Award” on Tuesday night at the sports daily Marca’s silver anniversary gala in Madrid, after being selected by the paper's readers as the best Spanish athlete of all-time.
Dozens of other Spanish sporting legends, including four-time Grand Slam champion Manuel Santana, were in the audience to see Nadal, winner of eight Roland Garros titles, four Davis Cups and an Olympic Gold Medal amongst other titles, receive the award from the vice-president, Soraya Sáenz de Santamaría.
“I would like to thank everyone who is here tonight and many others who aren’t, because I am not only a tennis player, but a huge sports fan in general,” said Nadal. “You have all given me some unforgettable moments and the excitement I get from sport, I'm not saying it's better or worse than other things, but it's different, and thanks to all of you for the thrills".
Nadal finished first in the Marca.com poll, held in commemoration of the paper’s 75 years, receiving 25.6 per cent of all votes cast.
Five-time Tour de France winner Miguel Indurain finished second with 11.6 per cent of votes, and NBA star Pau Gasol third with 8.6 per cent.
Gasol, who attended the all-Spanish final between Nadal and David Ferrer at Roland Garros this year, sent a video message congratulating his countryman. “I want to send a special tribute to my friend Rafa for winning this 75th Anniversary MARCA ‘Leyenda’ award,” he said. “Congratulations, enjoy it, you’re the best.”
Before Nadal received his award, awards were also given to Amaya Valdemoro, Pepu Hernández, Fernando Martín and Juan Antonio Corbalán (basketball), Severiano Ballesteros (golf), Paquito Fernández Ochoa (skiing), Carmelo Paniagua and Sheila Herrero (skating), Carmen Valero, Fermín Cacho and Martín Fiz (athletics), Conchita Martínez, Manolo Santana and Manuel Orantes (tennis), José Legrá (boxing), Federico Martín Bahamontes, Joan Llaneras, Oscar Freire, Perico Delgado and Miguel Indurain (cycling), Adelardo Rodríguez, Fernando Torres, Enrique Castro 'Quini', José Ángel Iribar, Carlos Santillana, Pirri, José Antonio Camacho, Marcelino Fernández, Fernando Hierro, 'La Quinta del Buitre' - Pardeza, Butragueño, Míchel, Martín Vázquez and Sanchís -, Luis Aragonés, Vicente Del Bosque, Iker Casillas and Alfredo Di Stefano (football), Javier Lozano (five-a-side football), Rafa Pascual (volleyball), Jordi Tarrés (trial), Rafael Guijosa and David Barrufet (handball), Juanito Oiarzabal (mountaineering), Mireia Belmonte and Teresa Perales (swimming), Miriam Blasco (judo), Theresa Zabell (sailing), Carlos Sainz (rally) and Alex Criville and Ángel Nieto (motorcycling).
There were also awards for the President of the Spanish Football Association, Ángel María Villar, and the former President of the International Olympic Committee between 1980 and 2001, Juan Antonio Samaranch, who died in 2010.
