Belmonte Fights Hard to Give Spain Its First Medal at the 2016 Rio Games

Posted on August 7, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Mireia Belmonte is back to being Spain’s medal darling…

The 25-year-old Spanish swimmer, who claimed her country’s first medal at the 2012 London Games, earned her country its first medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics.

Belmonte took home the bronze medal in the Women’s 400m Individual Medley at the 2016 Rio Games, after finishing third behind Hungary’s Katinka Hosszu and USA’s Madeline Dirado with a time of 4:32.39.

Belmonte, a two-time silver medalist at the 2012 Summer Olympics, qualified for the final with the second fastest time but started rather poorly in the final with her in fifth place heading towards the halfway point.

But she never gave up and found the resilience to challenge for a medal as she began a monumental stretch of front crawl, which cut the gap between her and Hannah Miley to eight tenths.

In the last 50 meters Belmonte finally got the edge and finished just ahead of the British swimmer.

After the race she told reporters of the sheer fight behind her triumph.

“I felt a little weird, I was getting tired but I fought until I couldn’t fight anymore, until my body had no more strength,” she explained.

The gap between her and Miley was at one point so significant that it looked almost impossible for Belmonte to claw her way back.

“It looked quite far between me and her but I never stopped fighting, in the last seven or eight meters I barely breathed, it was what God wanted.”

Pareto Claims Argentina’s First-Ever Olympic Gold in Judo at the 2016 Rio Games

Posted on August 6, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

It’s a special first for Paula Pareto…

The 30-year-old Argentine judoka won the gold medal on day one of the 2016 Summer Olympics’ judo competition, earning her country it’s first-ever judo gold.

In the process, Pareto, who had previously earned a bronze medal at the 2008 Beijing Games, is the first athlete of Latino descent to earn a medal at the 2016 Rio Games.

Pareto, who works as a physician in her home country, dominated Korea’s Jeong Bokyeong in the final and won by waza-ari in the women’s -48kg category.

“Todo es posible! ‪#Judo ‪#Rio2016 ‪#JuegosOlimpicos,” tweeted the 2015 world champion after her golden accomplishment.

In December 2015, Paula received the Gold Olimpia Award as the best athlete of the year from her country.

Nadal On Course to Play at the 2016 Summer Olympics

Posted on August 1, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

It’s Rio or bust for Rafael Nadal…

The 28-year-old Spanish tennis star, a former World No. 1, looks to be on course to play at the 2016 Summer Olympics after an encouraging update on his fitness.

Nadal is due to be Spain’s flag-bearer at the 2016 Rio Games but is battling a wrist problem — he previously missed out on the honor due to injury in London four years ago.

Teammate David Ferrer said on Thursday that the 14-time Grand Slam winner will definitely travel to Brazil, while Nadal’s coach and uncle Toni was encouraged by Wednesday’s hit-out with Wimbledon champion Andy Murray.

Ferrer told Spanish radio station Cadena Ser: “I will travel with Rafa on Sunday to Rio.

“His situation is more delicate. It’s never easy to come back after an injury. He will see how he feels.”

Nadal is scheduled to play singles, men’s doubles and mixed doubles in Rio.

And Toni Nadal said: “We began to intensify his training in order to be ready be in time for the first round.

“Training with Andy Murray was a really hard first time with another top player and we are happy. Things worked out well.

“In Rio, we will start training with the maximum-level players and see how Rafael will respond to the difficulty of the competition.

“There are doubts about his game. I believe that is normal – these are the same questions we’ve always had after a period of inactivity. Starting with the Olympics is not easy but if we are lucky in the draw, he can improve step by step.”

Simeone Agrees to Five-Year Deal with Italy’s Genoa Cricket and Football Club

Posted on August 1, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Argentina is bidding arrivederci to Giovanni Simeone…

The 21-year-old Argentine soccer player, a striker for Argentina’s Club Atlético River Plate, is set to join Italy’s Genoa Cricket and Football Club, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport announced on Sunday.

Simeone, the son of former-player-turned-coach of Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone. Has reportedly agreed to a five-year deal with the Italian side and will join Argentina national team.

Simeone will also participate in the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

At the moment, there’s no official confirmation, but the Italian newspaper reported that the signing will cost three million euros.

The River Plate striker completed the 2015/16 season on loan with Banfield in the Argentine Primera Division.

Leyva to Replace an Injured John Orozco on the USA Mens Gymnastics Team

Posted on July 24, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Danell Leyva will compete in his second Olympics after all…

The Cuban-American gymnast, a Bronze Medal winner in the 2012 London Olympics in the Men’s All Around, will replace John Orozco at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

Danell Leyva

Orozco tore the anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus in his left knee during training this week and will not compete in Brazil next month.

Orozco, a star four years ago when he won the national championship and qualified for the Olympic all-around finals, injured the same knee late in 2012. Orozco has also twice torn the Achilles tendon in his right leg during his career.

National team coordinator Kevin Mazeika called Orozco’s latest injury “unfortunate and heartbreaking.”

The injury is the latest in a series of personal and professional setbacks for Orozco, who also lost his mother, Damaris, in the spring of 2015.

Leyva, who appeared in his birthday suit in ESPN The Magazine’s Body Issue in 2012, was left off the five-man team going to the Rio Games by the USA Gymnastics selection committee.

He was edged out by Orozco, Chris Brooks and Alex Naddour, who had a higher combination of four scores from the U.S. championships and trials than Leyva, who competed with injuries at the national meet after being bitten on his hands and left leg while trying to break up a fight between his American bulldogs. Four-time national champion Sam Mikulak and Jake Dalton made the Olympic team with no debate.

Leyva finished 10th overall at trials and 16th at nationals earlier this month. He tied with one other gymnast for the highest score on parallel bars and horizontal bar and was confident he would be chosen on the strength of those routines and his record of accomplishment.

But the five-man committee surprised many by not choosing Leyva, who has a reputation as a clutch athlete. The bigger the stage, the better he loves to perform.

“We don’t know the reason and we’re a little sad, but they are making a big mistake,” said his coach and stepfather Yin Alvarez after the decision was revealed. “Dani is obviously the only guy who can bring them a medal under pressure. Without him, how are they going to win a team or all-around medal?”

But now he’ll get his chance to show the committee and the world just what he’s capable of in the clutch.

Bundchen Reportedly Appearing at the Rio Olympics Opening Ceremony

Posted on July 18, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Gisele Bundchen is heading to the Olympics…

The 35-year-old Brazilian supermodel has been reportedly awarded an extra special role in the 2016 Summer Olympics, which are being held in her home country.

Bundchen will host the opening ceremony at the city’s famous Maracana Stadium on August 5, according to Brazilian newspaper Extra.

Though details are scarce at the moment, it is rumored that the former Victoria’s Secret Angel – who last year confirmed her retirement from the catwalk – will swap the runway for walking through a “futuristic gateway,” representing the theme of the ceremony, to mark the start of the 2016 Rio Games, the first to ever be hosted in South America.

Ramos-Vinolas Claims First-Ever ATP Title at the Swedish Open

Posted on July 18, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Albert Ramos-Vinolas will always remember Sweden…

The 28-year-old Spanish tennis player defeated countryman Fernando Verdasco 6-3 6-4 in the Swedish Open final to win his first ATP World Tour singles title.

Ramos-Vinolas, seeded No. 3 in the tournament, triumphed in 86 minutes to end a three-match losing streak against fifth-seed Verdasco and lift the winners’ trophy, which was presented to him by former world No 1 Bjorn Borg.

Ramos-Vinolas, ranked No. 35 in the world, never looked back after racing to a 4-1 lead in the opening set courtesy of breaks in the third and fifth games. Despite dropping serve in the sixth, he broke Verdasco again to take it 6-3.

Verdasco squandered three break points in the second set before being broken for a fourth time to trail 5-3 and although Ramos-Vinolas dropped his serve in the next game, he broke again to seal the set 6-4 and take the title.

Ramos-Vinolas is expected to compete in singles at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio.

Nadal to Compete at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio

Posted on July 15, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

It appears Rafael Nadal will be swinging for gold this summer…

The 30-year-old Spanish tennis star’s name appears on the final entry list for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio.

Nadal, a 14-time Grand Slam tournament champion hasn’t played since pulling out of the French Open because of an injured left wrist and needed the International Tennis Federation‘s Olympic Committee to approve his appeal because he hasn’t played Davis Cup.

Nadal won the gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Games.

But Nadal isn’t the only Latino player set to compete at the 2016 Rio Games.

Twelve Latino players, including 2012 London Games bronze medalist Juan Martin del Potro, will compete in the men’s singles tournament.

In the women’s draw, six Latinas will be competing in singles, including French Open champion Garbine Muguruza, who will also compete in the doubles draw.

Half-Spanish tennis star Caroline Garcia, who won the women’s doubles title at this year’s French Open, will also compete in singles and doubles for France.

In all, here will be 64 players in the singles draws and 32 in doubles. Singles entries were based off the top 56 players in the June 6 rankings, with other ways to qualify for the final eight spots.

Each country is allowed a maximum of four singles players and two doubles teams for six players total on the men’s and women’s sides. Sixteen mixed doubles teams will be determined in Rio from players already in the Olympics.

Here’s the list of Latino players expected to compete:

MEN’S SINGLES ENTRY LIST

Argentina
Juan Martin del Potro, Federico Delbonis, Juan Monaco, Guido Pella

Brazil
Thomaz Bellucci, Rogerio Dutra Silva

Dominican Republic
Victor Estrella Burgos

Spain
Rafael Nadal, David Ferrer, Roberto Bautista Agut, Albert Ramos-Vinolas

Uruguay
Pablo Cuevas

WOMEN’S SINGLES ENTRY LIST

Brazil
Teliana Pereira (ITF)

France
Caroline Garcia

Paraguay
Veronica Cepede Royg (TRI)

Puerto Rico
Monica Puig

Spain
Garbine Muguruza, Carla Suarez Navarro

MEN’S DOUBLES ENTRY LIST

Argentina
Juan Martin del Potro/Maximo Gonzalez, Federico Delbonis/Guillermo Duran

Brazil
Marcelo Melo/Bruno Soares, Thomaz Bellucci/Andre Sa (ITF)

Chile
Julio Peralta/Hans Podlipnik (ITF)

Colombia
Juan Sebastian Cabal/Robert Farah

Spain
Marc Lopez/Rafael Nadal, Roberto Bautista Agut/David Ferrer

WOMEN’S DOUBLES ENTRY LIST

Brazil
Paula Cristina Goncalves/Teliana Pereira (ITF)

France
Caroline Garcia [paired with Kristina Mladenovic]

Spain
Garbine Muguruza/Carla Suarez Navarro, Anabel Medina Garrigues/Arantxa Parra-Santonja

Lochte to Compete in the 200M Individual Medley at the 2016 Summer Games

Posted on July 2, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Ryan Lochte will return to the Olympics this year to compete in his favorite event…

The 31-year-old half-Cuban American swimmer matched Michael Phelps stroke for stroke in the 200-meter individual medley at the U.S. Olympic swimming trials on Friday night, both surging to the wall in almost perfect sync.

Phelps got there first, just ahead of Lochte, the guy who has pushed him hard for more than a decade.

It was the latest epic of their longtime rivalry — and billed as the last showdown in their home country before the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio.

“Ryan and I always have a great race with one another,” said Phelps, who plans to retire again after his fifth Olympics. “When we race each other, we bring each other to a different level.”

Phelps led from start to finish, but Lochte was right with him all the way. In fact, Lochte seemed to pull even midway through the final lap, but Phelps, the most decorated athlete in Olympic history, managed to get to the wall in 1 minute, 55.91 seconds.

Lochte was next at 1:56.22 and had no complaints about the consolation prize: his only individual race at the Olympics.

“I knew going into this race it was definitely going to be a dogfight to the end,” Lochte said. “It’s been a long journey, but the journey’s not over. We still have another month to get ready and show the world that the U.S. is number one.”

Lochte, an 11-time medalist, injured his groin on the first day of the meet, struggled in his next few races and was down to his final chance to get a swim of his own at the Summer Games.

Now, that’s out of the way, which means Phelps and Lochte will get another crack at each other in South America.

As a three-time defending gold medalist in the 200 IM, Phelps will be the favorite. But he knows Lochte won’t be far behind, especially with a month to recover from the groin issue.

“I don’t know of another person in this world who brings out the best in me like he does,” said Phelps, who has 18 golds and 22 medals overall. “Neither one of us likes to lose.”

Garcia & Kristina Mladenovic Win French Open Women’s Doubles Title

Posted on June 5, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Caroline Garcia is a Grand Slam champion…

The 22-year-old part-Spanish tennis player and her partner Kristina Mladenovic gave the Paris crowd a home victory to cheer as they won the women’s doubles title at the French Open.

The French duo, seeded seventh, beat Russian fifth seeds Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina 6-3 2-6 6-4.

The rare triumph for the home nation gives Garcia and Mladenovic their first Grand Slam title, having only teamed up this year with a target of playing at the 2016 Summer Olympics.

They have now won titles in Charleston, Stuttgart, Madrid and Paris.

The last French victors in women’s doubles in the clay-court major at Roland Garros were Gail Chanfreau and Francoise Durr, who won in 1970 and then defended their title the following year.

“So there are the big tournaments that we have already won, which is a good success in itself, but winning a Grand Slam, and here in Roland Garros, it’s 10 steps above what is logical or normal,” Mladenovic said. “To win here with Caroline at Roland Garros, it’s incredible.”

Mladenovic and Garcia, who have lost just one match together on clay this season, got off to a bright start and built a 5-0 lead.

Makarova and Vesnina fought hard and saved six set points before Mladenovic served out the opener. But a change in the momentum saw the Russians take control of the match as they leveled it by taking the second set.

Mladenovic and Garcia kept their composure as pressure mounted toward the end of the decider, winning 12 of the last 15 points.

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