Rafa love

[louiselux]

I was watching this clip of Rafa listening to Ingrid Betancourt's speech at the Prince of Asturias award and wondering why he looked so much like he might cry.

From Rafa's website:

Rafa Nadal of Spain received this year’s Award for Sports and the Prince of Asturias for Concord went to Franco-Colombian politician Ingrid Betancourt. She spent more than six years as a FARC hostage in the Colombian jungle.

Ingrid shared a beautiful memory of her "listening to the radio for years following Rafa's matches". She "could only hear the ball as he played and sometimes got to hear his voice'.

"Being able to share this night with him face to face is a beautiful testament to life"

Comments

[buckle-berry.livejournal.com]

oh, wow. wow.

i can't even think of anything to say about that that isn't stupid and clumsy. thanks for linking, lou.

[louiselux.livejournal.com]

I found a more detailed translation of what she says. There's something so moving about how she says his name. I can't imagine he's ever heard anyone say it like that before.

"... so many moments from the long time in captivity that I had to live. Rafael Nadal, for instance... I followed him through the Roland Garros courts, I followed him as he grew up through the live broadcasts that Radio France did every summer. And even though I enjoyed his bigger and bigger sucess, I was frustated because I couldn't SEE his victories. Being here, today, seeing him, is like closing a circle. It's like completing a date with life in such a wonderful way."

[morebliss.livejournal.com]

I am so tearing up just reading that.

[niennah.livejournal.com]

Oh my goodness. That's incredible. Thank you for that link. It's amazing that she said and felt that, and his face in response was just as one would expect from him, really. Such a beautiful moment.

[louiselux.livejournal.com]

It was quite amazing that she could find positive things from her imprisonment and pay such a tribute to Rafa, and for him to know that he made her existence just that bit more endurable.

[olympia-m.livejournal.com]

that is amazing!

Ingrid Betancourt is amazing....

[louiselux.livejournal.com]

She is awe inspiring. I can't even imagine what she went through, and to find positive things from it like this is amazing.

[olympia-m.livejournal.com]

I totally agree with you!

when she was released, I honestly thought that this was the most historic moment of the century for me. what courage! what strenght!

[daegaer.livejournal.com]

Oh. God, I can't imagine what she went through. What a terrible time for her. I'm glad she had at least the radio to remind her the outside world was still there.

[louiselux.livejournal.com]

She is an amazing person, especially to be able to talk about it and be able to share positive things from it like this.

[best-of-five.livejournal.com]

that is such a beautiful moment. i'm glad we have captured it on video. her words and rafa's reaction are both so humbling. i'm glad he got to hear that in peron ♥


thank you for sharing! -hugs-

[dlectatiomorosa.livejournal.com]

Rafa is still so very young. I can't imagine what kind of inspiration he must get from this. Although I wonder if it might also be a bit overwhelming.

[adorerdollylux.livejournal.com]

ohmygod. just... you know he has heard every single thing ever about how much people love to watch him play, they think he's amazing, etc. but i bet nothing that anyone has ever said about his tennis will ever touch him the way she did when she said those things. what a profound, beautiful thing to say, what an amazing woman.

god, rafa, i swear i almost cried watching him. i love him so much.

[smillaraaq.livejournal.com]

Awww. That's just...I almost teared up a little bit myself watching that. What a lovely moment.

[morebliss.livejournal.com]

Oh my. That is so amazing! Thank you for sharing.