ESP - Making it back to the podium is Rudy’s aim

BARCELONA (Olympics) - Rudy Fernandez has been there for all of the highs that Spain’s national team have experienced the past six years.

He was in the squad that won the gold medal at the 2006 FIBA World Championship and in 2008, Fernandez had a starring role as the Spaniards reached the Olympic Final and lost a thriller to the United States.

In 2009, Fernandez was an all-tournament team selection after helping fire Spain to their first EuroBasket gold medal in Poland and the shooting guard also played an important role last year in Lithuania when Spain successfully defended that European title.

He knows that this summer in London represents another chance to claim a major honor with his country.

“I still have respect for the Olympic Games, but now I go there as a veteran,” he said.

Fernandez played at the 2004 Athens Games as a 19-year-old.

“I would love to get a medal for Spain,” he said.

“It would be a dream come true from a personal and a professional standpoint.”

After playing for Real Madrid at the start of the 2011-12 campaign during the NBA Lockout, Fernandez was traded to the Denver Nuggets.

Because of back pain, though, Fernandez had to stop playing.

In March, he opted to have surgery and brought his season to an early end.

Fernandez is a restricted free agent and has yet to announce if he will remain in the NBA, or return to Europe.

FIBA