Nadal named Spain’s flag bearer for Rio Olympics

Rafael Nadal will be Spain’s flag bearer at this summer’s Rio Olympics, the Spanish Olympic committee announced on Wednesday in Madrid during a celebration to mark the 100-day countdown to the opening ceremony on Aug. 5.

“Spanish sport was in debt to Nadal,” Spanish Olympic Committee president Alejandro Blanco commented. “He gave us a lot more than results.”

If all goes according to plan, this will make up for what never took place in 2012. Nadal had been picked to carry the Spanish flag at the London Olympics, but he ended being unable to compete due to injury. NBA player Pao Gasol, then with the Los Angeles Lakers and now with the Chicago Bulls, assumed the honor in Nadal’s absence.

In his only previous appearance, Nadal captured the gold medal in men’s singles at the 2008 Shanghai Olympics. With the former world No. 1 on the sidelines in 2012, Andy Murray won gold at the All-England Club. Roger Federer took silver and Juan Martin Del Potro beat Novak Djokovic to wear bronze.