Robert represented Spain at three editions of the Summer Olympic Games, firstly at Moscow 1980, where along with his teammates were pipped to a medal losing in the bronze medal match to Hungary.

He then captained the team at both the Los Angeles Olympics in 1984 and Seoul four years later in 1988, finishing fourth and sixth respectively.

Although an Olympic medal alluded him, Robert's international career spanned more than 300 international matches and saw him compete at four European Championships, earning bronze in Rome 1983, three World Championships and two Mediterranean Games.

Following his playing career, Robert began working with the Spanish Swimming Federation and from 1990 to 1996 he became a representative of all Spanish water polo teams.

The period saw Spain clinch the silver medal at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, in front of a home crowd, before the team surpassed that achievement four years later to win gold at Atlanta.

Pere Robert helped Spain win the Olympic water polo gold medal at Atlanta 1996 ©Bongarts/Getty Images

Robert then took over as chairman of the Spanish Swimming Federation's Department of Water Polo which saw him leading the the national teams at Sydney 2000, Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008.

Following Beijing, he assumed a position as the vice-president of the Spanish Federation of Sport Swimming, a post he held until 2012.

The award, presented by Blanco is in recognition of both his superb playing career and the service he has given Spanish water polo since his retirement from playing, in both a coaching capacity or in his current role as the first vice-president of Sports and the Catalan Swimming Federation.

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