Wawrinka on Olympic doubles gold, being a superfan

Stan Wawrinka was part of one of the more iconic triumphs at the Olympic Tennis Event.

His run to the doubles gold medal with Roger Federer at Beijing 2008 is famed as much for their semifinal celebration, when Federer warmed his hands over the flat on his back, on-fire Wawrinka, as for the eventual achievement itself.

Their play on court was equally noteworthy. Wawrinka and Federer defeated Simone Bolelli and Andreas Seppi, Dmitry Tursunov and Mikhail Youzhny, Mahesh Bhupathi and Leander Paes and Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan - all in straight sets - before edging past Simon Aspelin and Thomas Johansson in a four-set final to win gold.

"I was extremely happy," remembers the two-time Grand Slam champion. "Being able to share that moment with Roger and celebrate as a team was amazing.

"Winning this medal was one of the happiest moments in my career so far. I've enjoyed it a lot and will never forget that."

Outside winning the doubles event in Beijing, Wawrinka has won just two other matches in Olympic competition. He fell in the second round in both the singles in Beijing and the doubles at London 2012, where he also lost to eventual champion Andy Murray in the opening round of the singles.

While gold in Beijing is quite clearly his standout memory on the court, Wawrinka has vivid memories of the magic of the Olympic Games off it. Not least, making time for a picture with fellow Beijing gold medallist Kobe Bryant.

"We saw [him] in the Olympic village and I wanted to take a picture with him, something I usually never do," said Wawrinka. "Together with Severin Luthi we decided to ask him the next time we saw him.

"A few days later we saw him and as we walked up to him we realised that the phone was on low battery and we couldn't take any pictures. Like two crazy kids we ran back to the room, charged the phone for a few minutes and ran back again to take the picture."

This story features quotes taken from the ITF's Olympic Book, published in Summer 2016. The coffee-table publication features 118 Olympic and Paralympic tennis medallists reflecting on what their medal means to them, told through exclusive interviews and specially-commissioned photography.