Spain’s flag bearer is down.
Rafael Nadal withdrew from the 2012 Summer Olympics due to physical conditions that wouldn’t allow him to compete. His decision to do so, while disappointing, is a refreshing display of selflessness.
The Associated Press reported that Nadal said in a statement (via ESPN):
I have to think about my companions, I can't be selfish and I have to think of what's best for Spanish sport, especially tennis and Spanish players, and give fellow sportsmen with better preparation the chance to compete. I tried to hurry my preparations and training to the very last minute, but it was not to be.
For a tennis player to qualify for the Olympics, he must be ranked in the top 56 in the world. The catch is that each country is only allowed to send four to compete in singles competition.
Spain was set to send Rafa, No. 5 David Ferrer, No. 10 Nicolas Almagro and No. 16 Fernando Verdasco to London. Now that Nadal has dropped out, though, that opens up a spot for the 20th-ranked Marcel Granollers or another top-56 Spaniard to participate.
If Nadal is truly unable to compete—and according to ESPN, he called off a charity match earlier this month due to a knee injury—then he definitely made the right decision. A painful one, but it was noble nonetheless. Rafa also said in the announcement of his exit (via ESPN):
(This) is one of the saddest days of my career as one of my biggest ambitions, that of being Spain's flag bearer in the opening ceremony of the Games in London, cannot be. You can imagine how difficult it was to take this decision.
Nadal won the gold medal in Beijing, but he won’t be given a chance to defend his Olympic crown. Hopefully his knees, or whatever is holding him back, are an issue of the past by the time the U.S. Open rolls around.
David Daniels is a featured columnist at Bleacher Report and a syndicated writer.
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