Open Letter to Javier Gómez Noya: "Thank you for everything, Captain"

The Games that are now ending represent a milestone for the triathlon family, and for the sport in general, as it means a full stop in the career of the best triathlete of all time, Javier Gómez Noya.

Through this open letter you have written José Hidalgo On behalf of the Spanish Federation of Triathlon and of all Spanish triathlon and sport in general, he thanks our Great Captain for the two decades he has given us as an international athlete and his value as a person, offering the Galician legend his continuity in sport and high competition in a new facet .

Open Letter to Javier Gómez Noya

The Games that are now ending represent a milestone for the triathlon family, and for the sport in general, since it means a new point in the career of the best triathlete of all time, Javier Gómez Noya.

Javi means a lot to this Federation after two decades of success in which he has achieved five World Cups, four Europeans, being number one in the world for nine seasons and of course, that historic London 2012 Olympic medal for our triathlon, among many others. successes.

It is a pride to have shared, with the athlete Javi and the person Javi, so many years of working together. Having been able to enjoy his work and effort and have been able to work from the FETRI side by side with him, has been a privilege and I hope we can continue to enjoy our Captain for many years.

Javi's reflection after participating in these Olympic Games goes beyond sports: they represent the greatness of an athlete and it says a lot (and very good) about him as a person.

You have to know how to match victories and defeats ”, he reflected after the Tokyo test, where the true value of these words is not in what they say, but in who says them: The triathlete who has accumulated the most successes and who has given him more notoriety and social projection to the national triathlon all over the planet.

Javi has once again taught us a lesson that we must never forget in sport: commitment together with effort and the importance of enjoying the road, even if the results (for reasons that are sometimes beyond our control) are not as expected.

Javi is an elite athlete, not only for his triumphs in competition, but also for having managed to become a reference for sport in general, as evidenced by having been the Princess of Asturias Award for Sports, a distinction that he recognizes, in addition to his sporting merits, "the values ​​of effort and perseverance in the face of adversity, demonstrating enormous strength and a commendable spirit of improvement throughout his career."

A trajectory of 20 years giving us triumphs and giving the Spanish triathlon a social relevance and an unimaginable transcendence outside and within the sport.

The notoriety that Javi has given to the triathlon is not something that is achieved only with a sporadic result (however important the test in which it is achieved is); You need an extraordinary curriculum, the fruit of work, perseverance and perseverance, and a personality that is only available to a few: Javi has achieved it.

His personal and professional prestige has given triathlon a visibility and recognition that only the world's leading sports figures are capable of offering.

For everything you have given us, now more than ever, even in those moments when there were disagreements, I can only say: Thank you Javi!

No sport, no Federation, should allow itself the luxury of dispensing with the experience and knowledge of an athlete like Javi Gómez Noya. From the FETRI, of course, we are clear about it: its sports, human and technical capital, and its potential as a benchmark that paves the way for others, have a value that we do not want to miss.

For everything, again, thank you for what you have given us and what remains to be given, which I know is a lot. I would like, as I personally told you a few days ago, that you continue to be the Great Captain of the Spanish triathlon, accompanying us internationally and helping to forge and guide future champions in a future project that you can combine with your sports and personal life .

Your worth and your experience must serve as an example and inspiration to others and that is why I ask you to continue collaborating and getting involved in the future of the national triathlon. You represent the best of Spanish triathlon. Thanks Javi!

Signed: José Hidalgo, president of the Spanish Triathlon Federation