Espinal Wins Puerto Rico’s First-Ever Wrestling Medal at the London Games

London Olympics 2012

He may have fallen short of the gold at the 2012 Olympic Games… But Jaime Yusept Espinal still has plenty of reason to celebrate.

The 27-year-old Puerto Rican grappler lost his gold medal match on Saturday in the men’s 84-kilogram freestyle at the London Games to Sharif Sharifov of Azerbaijan.

Jaime Yusept Espinal

Sharifov, the defending world champion, dominated the match against Espinal. He registered four points-scoring throws in a first round he won 6-1 before taking the second 2-0 to wrap up the win.

Despite the loss, Espinal has managed to make Puerto Rican sports history with his second place finish at the London Games. He delivered only the second silver medal in Puerto Rico’s Olympic history – and the first medal of any kind by a Puerto Rican wrestler.

Jaime Yusept Espinal

Georgia’s Dato Marsagishvili and Iran’s Ehsan Naser Lashgari won bronze.

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