Alvear Settles for Silver in the Women’s 70kg Judo Final at the 2016 Rio Games

2016 Rio Games

It was thisclose, but not gold cigar for Yuri Alvear.

The 30-year-old Colombian judoka had to settle for a silver medal after having made it all the way to the final in the Women’s 70kg Judo competition at the 2016 Rio Games.

Yuri Alvear

Japan’s Haruka Tachimoto, who had never won a major individual medal, won a final that was over far too quickly.

Having won three World Championship titles in her division and a bronze at the 2012 London Games, Colombia’s first-ever Olympic medal in judo, disappointment was written all over Alvear’s face after Tachimoto secured a maximum ippon score.

Alvear knew she had a real chance to notch Colombia’s second gold medal of the 2016 Summer Olympics, following Oscar Figueroa’s emotional win in weightlifting.

Figueroa Earns Colombia’s First Medal of the 2016 Rio Games

2016 Rio Games

Oscar Figueroa is ending his career at the top of his game…

Oscar Figueroa

Competing in his fourth Olympics, the 33-year-old Colombian weightlifter clinched a gold medal with a total of 318kg (142kg snatch and 176kg clean and jerk) in the Men’s 62 kg weightlifting competition at the 2016 Rio Games.

After his final attempt, Figueroa removed his shoes and placed them down on the platform, indicating his immediate retirement from competition.

Oscar Figueroa

Eko Yuli Irawan of Indonesia won the silver with a total of 312kg (687.8 lbs). Farkhad Kharki of Kazakstan earns the bronze with a total of 305kg (672.4 lbs).

Figueroa had previously won the silver medal in the same category at the 2012 London Games.

Figueroa Picks Up an Olympic Silver Medal in Weightlifting

Talk about an Olympic-size comeback…

Following his heartbreaking showing at the 2008 Beijing Games, Óscar Figueroa returned to Olympic competition in tip-top shape to claim his first medal.

Oscar Figueroa

Competing in his third Olympics, the 29-year-old Colombian weightlifter—who left the 2008 Olympic Games empty handed due to a hand injury—won the silver medal in the men’s 62 kg weightlifting event at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, placing behind North Korean Kim Un Guk.

Figueroa claimed the shock silver with a total of 317kg (140, 177), his clean and jerk setting a new Olympic record.

Oscar Figueroa

Eko Yuli Irawan of Indonesia took bronze.

In Beijing, Figueroa failed to make a lift in the snatch category, after an injury to his right hand prevented him from getting a firm grip.He left the games with DNF on the board and his trials and tribulations were broadcast around the world.

According to Australia’s Seven Network Olympics coverage at the time, Figueroa had earlier had an injection to his right hand which reportedly resulted in a loss of feeling.