Mariano Rajoy awards Rafael Nadal Gold Medal for Merit at Work

Moncloa Palace, Madrid

At an event held at Moncloa Palace attended by the Minister for Employment, Fátima Báñez, the President of the Government recalled that this award is presented in recognition of useful and exemplary conduct in the performance of one's work.

Mariano Rajoy highlighted that this has also been awarded to Rafael Nadal "for his hard work, the demands he places on himself, his enthusiasm, his balance, his modesty and for having his feet placed firmly on the ground". In short, the President of the Government added, "for a job well done which has resulted in the great triumphs we are all well aware of".

The President of the Government summarised the athlete's career by highlighting that he is only the second tennis player ever to win all the Grand Slams, and that he has won more Roland Garros tournaments than anyone else, nine in total. "I believe that this record will not be broken by anyone in centuries; only he will be able to beat this record", he said. He also pointed out that he is the tennis player to have won the most Masters 1000 tournaments ever, he is the best ever clay court player, he has won four Davis Cups and at the Beijing Olympic Games.

The Council of Ministers announced the award of the Gold Medal for Merit at Work back on 23 June 2014. Rafael Nadal was unable to collect the award on the date scheduled for the event as he was recovering after an operation. For that reason, he collected it on Friday 1 May, to coincide with May Day.

On the occasion of Labour Day, Mariano Rajoy declared that "there are many people in Spain who do not have a job, but things are starting to improve, and I am convinced that this year there will be many people who find a job in Spain and also in the years to come. At the end of the day, the challenge facing us all is to find a job and then work well, which is exactly what Rafael Nadal has done".