By Aris Barkas/ barkas@eurohoops.net
Lille, France – In the city where he won one of his four Eurobasket titles, Rudy Fernandez became immortal with a new Olympic record just by entering the game.
The legendary Spaniard in the first game of Paris 2024 for the basketball tournament registered officially his sixth participation in the Olympics.
The 39-year-old Fernandez surpassed Teofilo Cruz of Puerto Rico, Andrew Gaze of Australia, fellow Spaniard Juan Carlos Navarro, Brazilian legend Oscar Schmidt, and Argentina’s Luis Scola – the other five greats having also played in five Olympics.
Diana Taurasi for the USA will be the first female basketball player in six Olympics and tie Rudy’s record.
Since Athens in 2004, Rudy Fernandez and Spain have always been part of the Olympics, winning two silver medals in 2008 and 2012 and one bronze in 2016.
| PLAYER | COUNTRY | OLYMPIC GAMES |
| Rudy Fernandez | Spain | 6 |
| Teofilo Cruz | Puerto Rico | 5 |
| Andrew Gaze | Australia | 5 |
| Joe Ingles | Australia | 5 |
| Patty Mills | Australia | 5 |
| Juan Carlos Navarro | Spain | 5 |
| Oscar Schmidt | Brazil | 5 |
| Luis Scola | Argentina | 5 |
Photo credit: FIBA