BERLIN (Germany) - The Spanish Basketball Federation has received the Laureus Academy Exceptional Achievement Award following an extraordinary two decades in international competition.

The announcement was made at a glittering ceremony on Monday night at the Mercedes-Benz Arena in Berlin, Germany.

The Laureus Academy Exceptional Achievement Award has only ever been granted four times. 

Over the past two decades, the Spanish men's national team has won a pair of FIBA Basketball World Cups in 2006 and 2019, three FIBA EuroBasket titles in 2009, 2011 and 2015 and medaled in the past three Olympic Games. The country has also celebrated three FIBA Women's EuroBasket triumphs in 2013, 2017 and 2019, claiming second and third place at the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cups in 2014 and 2018, respectively, and capturing Olympic silver in 2016.

"We are proud of this acknowledgement for Spanish basketball on behalf of the prestigious organization as is the Laureus World Sports Academy," said FEB President Jorge Garbajosa, who played a part in Spain's maiden World Cup and EuroBasket triumphs as a player.

Spain celebrated after winning the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 in China

"On this occasion, it's world sports that has noticed the work of a country of 45 million population that has become the second world power in men's and women's basketball behind the United States," he said.

"It's not just a specific success in a brilliant season of a national team, but a 20-year journey in which we have grown up to the highest in European and world basketball, not just in men's and women's, but also youth basketball. It's been a brilliant journey of two decades in which the exceptional has become the norm."

Spain have reached the top of the podium at three of the last four FIBA Women's EuroBaskets

Pepu Hernandez, who coached Spain to the first world title 14 years ago in Japan, said: "We are at an extraordinary level and I hope that we can continue like this for a long time. I always worry not by what has happened, nor the present, but what happens next."

Both the men's and women's national teams will compete at the Tokyo Olympics this coming summer.

Spain won their first FIBA Basketball World Cup 14 years ago in Japan

Spain's Pau Gasol, the Most Valuable Player of the 2006 World Cup and EuroBaskets 2009 and 2015, said: "I feel immense pride for all that has been achieved up to now by our national basketball team, men and women. I hope we can continue to add to our achievements in our next Olympic Games in Tokyo. The success of the national team, whether it's men or women, it's down to the support and the affection that we receive from all the fans of our country."

Hernandez, current national team coach Sergio Scariolo, 2006 Spain world champion Carlos Jimenez and women's national team greats Amaya Valdemoro, Elisa Aguilar and Marta Fernandez attended the awards ceremony. 

The Laureus World Sports Awards, established in 1999, is an annual award ceremony that honors individuals and teams from the world of sports, along with sporting achievements throughout the year. The awards support the work of Laureus Sport for Good, which supports over 160 community projects in more than 40 countries.

FIBA