Herrera&Gavira sending a message to all the athletes: Enjoy the Olympics!
Interview
The Spanish Beach Volleyball Legends, Pablo Herrera and Adrian Gavira finished their Tokyo 2020 experience after losing in the Round of 16 to the reigning World champions of ROC, Viacheslav Krasilnikov and Oleg Stoyanovskiy.
Herrera and Gavira might be leaving the competition, but as well-experienced Olympians (Tokyo 2020 was the fifth Olympics for Pablo, and third for Adrian), they surely have a lot to say about the Olympics spirit.
Read on to see what they shared with us!
The Olympics is the sports event that all the fans are looking forward to. Of course, it has a much more special meaning to the athletes that are competing.
Herrera&Gavira (ESP)“An athlete takes pride playing at the Olympics. Being part of Olympic Games is a reward for a lifetime of sacrifices. For years of training hard and always looking for ways to improve, years of perseverance... The Olympics is a very special competition that always creates an atmosphere that is unmatched by other tournaments. Knowing that you are part of the biggest “Sports Party” because you have earned it, is a beautiful feeling.”
Pablo and Adrian tried to share that Olympic emotion with all their fans on their social media channels. They would post a story from the Olympic village, or a photo of appreciation for their nearest and closest persons.
“Being in the Olympic village, you get to share the same places with the best athletes in the world. It is a special moment. The atmosphere that you “breathe” in the village is incredible. The union that exists between the teams of the same delegation of a country is a beautiful thing. All are cheering for each other, all are pending of the results of other colleagues. It is one of the most beautiful things about the Olympics,” both Olympias told CEV.
The Tokyo Olympics are the most special Games. Due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, no fans are allowed on the stadiums in the Japanese capital. The Beach Volleyball courts at Shiokaze Park are no exception.
“It is a pity that we couldn't play in front of an audience. The Beach Volleyball stadium is a big one, a very-well built sports facility. But we believe that it was a logical decision by the local organisers not to allow any fans attending the Games. We want to thank them for all the work and effort they have put in to organise and execute this important event. Well done!” Pablo and Adrian commented.
The Spaniards want to extend their thanks to all the people who have supported them throughout the tournament.
“We have felt the great support of our fans. Actually, it is the Olympics when we have received that many messages. People were encouraging us to continue on fighting!”
As one of the most experienced teams in the Beach Volleyball world, and as some of the most experienced Olympians, Pablo and Adrian send a special messages to all the athletes that are still “fighting” on the courts in Tokyo.
Herrera&Gavira (ESP)“Enjoy it to the fullest! Of course, the ultimate goal that most of us, athletes, have, is to leave the competition with a medal. This is what we compete for, but we shouldn’t focus only on these two weeks of competition. There are many years that you have to work hard and make sacrifices, so don’t forget to enjoy the moment of entering the Olympic court. Therefore, our message is to fight but above all ENJOY!”
“What’ next for team Herrera&Gavira?” is probably one of the questions that not only the Spanish fans are asking. All the Beach Volleyball supporters are eager to know if the duo will continue playing together after the end of this season.
“Now, we have the final of EuroBeachVolley, and then a few more events to end this season. It might be that we continue playing together, but first, we have to sit down and talk through things. We have to evaluate some external factors (family, physical condition). If it was up to the relationship that we both share, we would love to continue together throughout our whole lives. Playing together makes us happy, we share the same fighting spirit, and we are a team also outside the court. This leaves the door to dreaming about new challenges open. Once we make a decision, we will make sure to communicate it to all.”
Herrera&Gavira (ESP)