{"id":32920,"date":"2025-03-14T02:42:02","date_gmt":"2025-03-14T02:42:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?p=32920"},"modified":"2025-03-14T02:42:17","modified_gmt":"2025-03-14T02:42:17","slug":"32920","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?p=32920","title":{"rendered":"Days after emotional confession to Andy Roddick, Rafael Nadal welcomes special Paris Olympics souvenir"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"OLYMPICS:
Rafael Nadal taken aback by sweet gesture from Olympics – Source: Getty<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Rafael Nadal was presented with a special souvenir from the 2024 Paris Olympics after the tennis star revealed being overwhelmed with emotions at the event on Andy Roddick’s\u00a0Served Podcast.\u00a0<\/em>The Spaniard had the wonderful opportunity of carrying the Olympic torch, commemorating his glorious contribution to the world of sports along with two Olympic gold medal wins in his career.<\/p>\n

The 38-year-old admitted tearing up after being honored with the responsibility, as he navigated his\u00a0overflow of emotions.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was nervous because I don’t know what’s going to be, but for me, when, because when we, when we see the image, I going up stairs, going to the stage to, to pick up the torch. So in that moment I had like two minutes of waiting there. So when I realized the moment, I started to cry a little bit before,” he said (23:45 onwards).<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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Days after the interview aired, the former World No.1 was presented with the Olympic torch as a memorabilia by the Olympic committee. He posted an image of him with the priceless possession on X and shared that he would be displaying the torch at the Rafa Nadal Museum.<\/p>\n

“Thank you @Olympics for sending me this very special torch. At the Paris 2024 Olympic Games I experienced one of the most emotional days of my career and I\u2019m thrilled to keep this torch in a remarkable place in the Museum,” he wrote.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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