MADRID, 22 Nov. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Spanish water polo team that won the gold medal at the Atlanta ’96 Olympic Games received its tribute this Monday, organized by the Royal Spanish Swimming Federation (RFEN) at the Museu Olimpic de Barcelona, for the 25 years of its feat.
Accompanied by the president of the Spanish Olympic Committee (COE), Alejandro Blanco, and by the president of the RFEN, Fernando Carpena, Miki Oca, Dani Ballart, Sergi Pedrerol, Jordi ‘Chiqui’ Sans, Jordi Payá, Pedro ‘Toto’ García Aguado , Josep María Abarca, Ángel Andreo and Salvador ‘Chava’ Gómez received their recognition as representatives of the 13 men who achieved glory in the American event.
Of that champion team, which beat Croatia (7-5) in the Georgia Tech Aquatic Center final, only Manel Estiarte, Iván Moro and Carles Sanz were missing the tribute, in addition to the late Jesús Rollán, who died in 2006.
In an act led by Pepe Ruiz Orland, the voice of Spanish Television in Atlanta ’96, coaches Joan Jané, coach at that date, and Santi Fernández, assistant coach, relived those magical moments. “We played the final without pressure from Barcelona, and we were convinced that we were going to win,” Jané said in reference to the final lost in Barcelona ’92, where they won the silver.