Olympic Legends - Epi

The first three letters of the word epic also happen to form the name of a Spanish basketball icon.

Juan Antonio San Epifano, better known as 'Epi', is a huge reason why the sport has such a lofty standing in his homeland and around Europe.

A player who spent his entire career with Barcelona, starting in 1979, the Zaragoza-born Epi wore the national team shirt for more than 15 years.

He played a record 239 times for his country.

A member of the Spanish sides that captured silver at EuroBasket 1983 and bronze in the same event eight years later, Epi also did his part in making Spain have great Olympic moments.

Four times he played at the Olympics, from 1980 to 1992.

In Los Angeles 1984, Epi helped fire the Spaniards past Australia in the Quarter-Finals and then Yugoslavia in the Semi-Finals.

A Team USA that had Michael Jordan and Patrick Ewing beat Spain in the Final.

Eight years later and Epi received the honor of a lifetime.

He was the last to carry the Olympic torch.

"There have been many key moments in my life but that was beautiful," Epi said.

"I was experiencing the end of my career and it was a gigantic recognition.

"Barcelona was my fourth Olympic Games and there were other names that were in contention to carry the last stretch of the torch like Miguel Indurain, Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario and Seve Ballesteros - great names of Spanish sport.

"I was lucky to be selected.

"It was unforgettable and marvelous."

Epi was a dynamic player, one with an unquenchable thirst for victory.

How do the Spanish players of today compare to Epi and those of his generation?

"Comparisons are complicated," Epi once said.

"Between 1984 and 2006, a lot of things have changed, the rules, the physique.

"If you put a current player back in 1984, they would have fouled out in three minutes because the rules were different.

"You have to put things in its place. Obviously, basketball has risen."

Epi is now a television commentator and goes to all of the Spain games.

He was not, however, in Saitama, Japan, when Spain beat Greece to win the title at the FIBA World Championship.

It was the first time a Spanish team had captured gold at a major European, World Championship or Olympics.

"I felt a tremendous joy," Epi said.

"I remember I was at home watching it and I felt an enormous pride.

"You have to remember that the national team is everything to me.

"I am the one that has played the most games with the national team, the one that has scored more points for the national team and that's why I felt proud."

FIBA