Since the Lehman collapse, the country has boasted stellar achievements on the field
Spain has recently been in the news for reasons that haven?t elicited much cheer in that country?the 100-billion-euro bailout package notwithstanding, Spain?s economy is still on the precipice and unemployment is a nagging, serious problem. But, the news of the Spanish bailout package overshadowed another incident pertaining to Spain that definitely would have brought great cheer: Spaniard Rafael Nadal on Monday defeated the world number one Novak Djokovic to win the French Open for a record seven times, the previous record being Swede Bj?rn Borg?s six. In fact, although post-2008 Spain has been an economic disaster, the country?s sporting achievements since the year Lehman collapsed have been nothing but impressive. Nadal, a torchbearer for Spanish sporting accomplishment, beat erstwhile number one and defending champion Roger Federer for the first time at Wimbledon in 2008, a titanic contest that many acknowledge as one of the best matches of tennis ever played. That same year, with the world still reeling from the aftermath of the Lehman collapse, Spain stormed ahead to win the European Championships in football, popularly known as the Euro, the second-most prestigious football tournament in the world. On top of all of that, Spain managed to up its rankings in the Olympics that year, from 20 to 15. Honourable mention must also go to Formula One driver Fernando Alonso. Having won the 2005 and 2006 championships (and becoming the youngest driver to win a double), Alonso?s subsequent performances have been remarkable, with him currently in second place in this year?s season. Spain?s 2010 Football World Cup victory was perhaps the highlight of this stream of achievements.
So, at a time when Spain could do with a little bit of morale-boosting, it would do well to remember its remarkable sons keeping Spanish pride still flying high.