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

[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.