MADRID, 23 Sep. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Olympic medallists Fran Garrigós and Carlos Arévalo were honoured this Monday by the Ministry of Defence at a reception at the organisation’s headquarters in Madrid, where they were awarded the Cross of Military Merit with White Distinction for their sporting achievements as members of the Armed Forces.
In addition to the judoka and the canoeist, the reception was attended by the president of the Spanish Olympic Committee (COE), Alejandro Blanco; the president of the Spanish Paralympic Committee (CPE), Miguel Carballeda; the general director of the Higher Sports Council (CSD), Fernando Molinero; as well as the Minister of Defense, Margarita Robles; and the Undersecretary of Defense, Adoración Mateos.
Garrigós, a volunteer sergeant in the Air and Space Forces who won the bronze medal in judo in the -62 kilogram category, said that when he was offered the chance to join the Army as a reservist, he “could not” refuse, and stressed that it is “an honour” to “represent” his “country” and “wear the Olympic medal”. “This success is partly yours thanks to your support,” he stressed, addressing the representatives of the military sports institutions also present.
For his part, canoeist Carlos Arévalo, a corporal in the Army and Olympic bronze medallist in the K4 500 metres, highlighted the “symbolisation of values such as sacrifice and admiration that the Armed Forces represent, and which are reflected in sport.”
For him, it is a “unique moment” to thank the people for their work “to make this work” and he stressed that “sport is health and cohesion” and that it symbolises that “together we walk hand in hand defending Spain wherever we go”. The double Olympic medallist ended his speech by recalling the verses of the poet Calderón de la Barca, making an ‘Ode to the military vocation’.
Undersecretary of Defense Adoración Mateos highlighted the “high level of preparation and sportsmanship” that has led them to “achieve the most precious award for an athlete, which is the Olympic medal,” and expressed the pride they feel “for their impeccable performance and commitment displayed as athletes and soldiers.”
For her, they can serve “as an example and inspiration for the rest of the members of the Armed Forces,” since their victories “are a reminder of what can be achieved with passion and discipline.”
Mateos announced that they will continue to promote military sports activities and that, in the next call for entry into the Army, they will offer specific positions in the field of sport, especially valuing the status of high-level athletes.
Finally, the Minister of Defence, Margarita Robles, said that the victory of Arévalo and Garrigós is “the victory of all Spain and the Armed Forces”, and that “there is no greater honour and pride than representing Spain in the Olympic Games and returning with a medal, carrying the Armed Forces within.”
“You both highlight personal effort, the many hours of training and dedication and the values of our Armed Forces such as humility, poise and commitment to sport and to Spain” he told them, while stressing that they want the link between sport and the Armed Forces to be “increasingly greater” because “these are the values of effort and discipline.”
For her, “Spain can feel proud of the results of the Olympic Games because there is no greater success and triumph than participating,” because it means that “there are many hours of dedication behind it.”