"Rafael Nadal took his t-shirt off... I said 'You're gonna keep that?'" - Demi Schuurs shares 'funny' story of meeting Spaniard at Paris Olympics

Demi Schuurs, the Dutch doubles star, recently revealed how she got Rafael Nadal's t-shirt at the Paris Olympics 2024. She paired up with Wesley Koolhof in mixed doubles and the duo reached the semifinals. They lost to the Canadians, Felix Auger Aliassime and Gabriela Dabrowski in the bronze medal match.

Recently, the Dutch took to Instagram to share a picture with Rafael Nadal, holding his Spain jersey.

Now, Schuurs has shared the story behind asking Nadal for his t-shirt in a video. The Dutch recalled that she told her parents that she wanted to get a picture with Nadal and have his t-shirt as memorabilia.

"How I get the T-shirt of Rafa is actually pretty funny. I was at the Olympics in Paris and my parents were there so I told them during the week that ‘Hey, I think I need to get a picture with Rafa, he is such a legend and I actually want to have his T-shirt and I want his red t-shirt, that’s necessary’," she said.

She explained that she approached the Spaniard after his match against the Dutch duo of Tallon Griekspoor and Wesley Koolhof. Schuurs said that Nadal took his t-shirt off while waiting with his family and then she inquired about it.

"And the Spanish guys, they played doubles against the Dutch guys and after that match, he was in the Suzanne Lenglen and nobody was there and he was with his family and at one point he took his t-shirt off and he passed by and said ‘Hey, congrats’ and I said ‘You are gonna keep that t-shirt?’ and he said ‘do you want it?’ and I said ‘yeah, that would be nice," she said.

Schuurs also talked about how she felt shy asking for a photograph but eventually got out of her comfort zone to get a picture.

"And so I got the T-shirt and then after that, I was like ‘No, I cannot ask for a picture because I don’t want to be a stalker, I am too shy’ so I did it and came out of my comfort zone and asked him for a picture."

The Dutch then added that she was very happy, after having her moment with the King of Clay. She shared that the T-shirt has a special place in her home.

"Yeah, I was the happiest person at that moment and yeah, I think I got the most likes on my Instagram on that picture. So yeah, it's something that I am gonna keep with me for the whole time, and now it's at home. I gave it a special place. The T-shirt with the picture, so it's complete."

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Rafael Nadal's final Olympics campaign

Rafael Nadal at Olympic Games Paris 2024 (Image: Getty)

Rafael Nadal played his last Olympics at the Paris Olympics 2024. He has had a successful history at the prestigious event, winning two gold medals, a singles gold in 2008, and a doubles gold medal in 2016.

However, the Spaniard's 2024 Olympics was not as successful, owing to his long-standing injury concerns. His singles campaign ended in the second round, after losing to rival Novak Djokovic.

In doubles, he partnered with Carlos Alcaraz, and the duo reached the quarterfinals, losing to eventual silver medalists Rajeev Ram and Austin Krajicek. They defeated the Argentine pair of Andres Molteni and Maximo Gonzalez in the first round and Tallon Griekspoor and Wesley Koolhof in the second.