Own the Memories: Emilio and Arantxa Sanchez Vicario
The Tokyo 2020 Olympics may now be over, but the story of the Games will live long in the memories of the athletes – now Olympians – who made this unique Olympic experience so special.
Just ask two players whose own Olympic legacy tracks all the way back to the Olympic podiums of Seoul 1988, Barcelona 1992 and Atlanta 1996: Emilio and Arantxa Sanchez Vicario.
The famed Spanish siblings sat down to share their abiding memories of an Olympic odyssey that spanned 16 years in their various roles as players, captains, journalists, and – they add with a laugh – as mascot and kit-man in the Spanish Olympic squad.
Arantxa, the former world No. 1 and four-time Grand Slam singles champion, ended her Olympic career with four medals – a silver and a bronze apiece in both singles and doubles.
“I was sixteen years old when I played my first Olympic Games,” Arantxa recalled. “I was the mascot more than anything else. I watched other sports and I made friends in other events, I supported other athletes, I lived in the Olympic Village.
“Barcelona 1992 was different because I had responsibility and pressure. They counted on me to win a medal, and I was lucky to win two medals, in singles and doubles with Conchita Martinez. In Atlanta 1996 I also got to the podium twice, but this time it was the other way around: in Barcelona I won bronze in singles and silver in doubles; In Atlanta, I won silver in singles and bronze in doubles.
“I have very fond memories,” she added. “When I see the images, the Opening Ceremony, when you are supporting your teammates and suffer for them. To play the Olympic Games is very special. And it's not often you travel with your ‘athlete’ family. In Seoul, I was with Emilio and Javier [Sanchez Vicario], and that was great.”
Former doubles world No. 1 Emilio Sanchez Vicario won doubles silver at the Seoul 1988 Olympics alongside compatriot Sergio Casal.
“It was an important victory for us, even if we lost in the final and we got the silver medal,” Emilio said. “In the Olympic Games, if you win a medal you are a winner.
“We should have won that match,” he added, before lamenting his luck four years later in Barcelona.
“For me, Barcelona ’92 was one of my career goals. To be so close to the medal matches, losing to the players who eventually won the gold – Becker and Stich – after defeating Sampras and Courier in five sets. And with [eventual singles champion Marc] Rosset, the same. It was tough.”
Arantxa’s experience at her home Olympics harboured warmer memories, with medals from both events in her home town.
“The feeling of being in front of your people, your family and friends, in my city, was special,” she said. “It was very emotional. In the Opening Ceremony everyone was crying.
“I had the chance to play until the end. I lost against Capriati and it was painful, but she was better than me. I played for the bronze and I got the medal. At least I climbed the podium. It was exciting. Once time passed by, you realise what you did.”
Both recall those early days when tennis returned to the Olympic programme, as doubts persisted over players’ reactions to an addition to the busy annual schedule. But as Emilio explained, after Seoul the players came to understand just how much the Olympics means – to the fans in the stands, to their compatriots back home, and to the players themselves.
“For me the greatest thing in the Olympics is to see so many athletes that only train for that moment,” Emilio said. “They work very hard for four years to reach the Games.
“We always say that we train a lot, but it is three, four, five hours. In other sports they train for six, seven, eight hours per day to go to the Olympic Games. You can see the level of concentration in their faces. Totally focused. Their future depends on that competition. It inspired me and I respect that a lot.”
This is the first of four episodes of conversations between Emilio and Arantxa Sanchez Vicario, with further episodes to be released over the next few weeks.