Rome 1960. Rome saw a return to regular performances and the Games began their period of greatest splendour. Seventeen of our athletes took part, all wearing the colours of Spain – something that has remained a constant to this day. Two events are noteworthy: the bronze medal won by Luis Mari Usoz, Rafael Eguskiza and Perico Murua with the field hockey team, and the presence of an eight-oared outrigger, all from Ur-Kirolak in San Sebastián, who earned their Olympic status by being the Spanish champions at the time. The hockey players finished third behind India and Pakistan, exceeding even the most optimistic predictions. They started off by facing Great Britain, one of the favourites, with whom they drew 0-0 in the Group D qualifying match. With victories over Switzerland (5-1) and Belgium (3-1), the Spanish team won the group and advanced to the quarter-finals. There, they beat New Zealand 1-0 in extra time. Their only defeat came against Pakistan, who went on to win the tournament, defying the odds against India, whom they defeated in the final. The narrow defeat (10) left our representatives out of the final, but the bronze medal was still within reach, even though Great Britain, their first opponent in the competition, also ended Spain's run. And despite the score going against them, the team, with an overwhelming Catalan majority, but with Egúskiza and Murua among the starters, managed to win 2-1, thus reaching the third step of the podium. In contrast, the Ur-Kirolak ‘eight’, made up of Iñaki Alkorta, José Luis Almandoz, Faustino Amiano (coxswain), José Mari Arístegui, Santiago Beitia, José Ibarburu, Manuel Ibarburu, Jesús Leiceaga and Trinido Vaqueriza, failed to get through either the first round or the repechage. In athletics, Luis Felipe Areta, the best Basque athlete in Olympic competition, made his debut with three appearances and a sixth place finish. However, in Rome, with jumps of less than 7.40 metres in the long jump and 14.90 metres in the triple jump, he was eliminated, as was hammer thrower José Luis Falcón, who nevertheless broke his own Spanish record (57.24 metres). Pepe Fernández suffered the same fate in the 3,000 metres steeplechase, finishing eighth in the second heat. José Mari Errandonea, in cycling, became the first Basque track cyclist in history, but failed to make it through the first qualifying round or the subsequent repechage. Momeñe was 16th in the individual road race, in which Astigarraga came 57th, both also forming part of the Spanish team, which came eighth in the time trial. Juan Manuel Alonso-Allende and Gabriel Laiseca were 12th in sailing, star class, and Angel Cuetos was the first and only Basque representative in Greco-Roman wrestling. Emiliano Rodríguez, born in León, trained as a basketball player with Aguilas Bilbao, but a staunch Real Madrid fan, took his place in the first Spanish basketball team.