The Eurobasket 2022 It has meant a before and after in the career of Rudy Fernández. If at club level the Mallorcan has already won everything, with the national team he has become a record man, being, together with Pau Gasol, the player with more metals in the history of Spanish men’s basketball, with eleven.
Rudy rounds off what has been, by far, the best generation of athletes on the island. Thirtysomethings, some of them already retired, who have carried the name of Mallorca all over the world. In individual disciplines, by teams, in the 2000s, 2010 and still in the current one. All of them have been an example of competitiveness, sacrifice and effort and they have also collected numerous successes in their career years.
they all understand a golden age that started in 2002 with a very young Elena Gómez, who won the first gold of the Spanish women’s artistic gymnastics in a World Cup with only 16 years. Her specialty was flooring, a device with which she was proclaimed number one. But at the height of her career, it was time for her to retire. The harshness of the competitions took its toll on her and she left after getting an Olympic diploma in Athens 2004.
Three years after that first gold from Elena Gómez, he was another manacorí, Rafael Nadalwho conquered his first Roland Garros and, only one later, in 2006, a very young Jorge Lorenzo and a beardless Rudy Fernández lifted their first World Championships. The Majorcan rider did it in the 250 class and the forward from Palma, in Japan after beating Greece in the grand final. Since then, his successes have graced the front pages of national sports newspapers for many years. Lorenzo closed his record with five World Championships (two in 250 and three in MotoGP) and Rudy, at 37 years old, is yet to see where he puts his limit.
Since then, Majorcan athletes have not ceased to proliferate who, over the last few years, have added great achievements to the national record, placing Rafael Nadal at the top of the list. A great example of sportsmanship that was recognized with the award of the Prince of Asturias Award and is that, beyond adding 22 of the greats, the tennis player has hung two Olympic golds, has won five Davis Cups and has been distinguished, three times, with the National Sports Award.
To this list of winners, it is worth adding the medals won by Marga Crespí, now retired, in the numerous World Championships in which she participated in synchronized swimming, as well as the bronze that was hung at the London 2012 Games. Mario Mola, 32 years old , can also boast of having printed its name in the history of national and international triathlon. The one from Calvià has been world champion three times (2016, 2017 and 2018) and has been, consecutively, on the podium for eight (from 2012 to 2019). He has also participated in three Olympic Games, being the diploma in Rio de Janeiro.
Another of the great highlights of the golden generation of Mallorcan sport has been Alba Torrens. The history of women’s basketball is tied to her name. The basketball player from Binissalem has 9 national leagues, won with each of the teams in which she has played. As an international with the absolute she has been bronze in two European Championships and in the 2010 and 2018 World Cups. She won Gold in the 2013 and 2017 European Championships and silver in the Rio games and in the World Cup in Turkey.
