Juan Francisco Leads Dominican Republic to Country’s First-Ever Baseball Olympics Medal

2020 Tokyo GamesJuan Francisco is the Domincan Republic’s new hero…

The 34-year-old Dominican former professional baseball first baseman homered to help give the Dominican Republic a four-run, first-inning lead, then hit a tie-breaking, two-run double off Seunghwan Oh in a five-run eighth inning to help lead his team to a 10-6 victory over South Korea to claim the bronze in men’s baseball at the 2020 Tokyo Games.

Juan Francisco

Melky Cabrera had four hits for the Dominicans (3-3), who won a baseball medal for the first time, and the country’s first-ever team medal.

South Korea (3-4), the 2012 London Games gold medalist, took a 6-5 lead in a four-run fifth inning against five pitchers. Kang Baek-Ho hit a go-ahead single.

Oh (2-1), a 39-year-old right-hander who pitched in Major League Baseball blew a save for the second time in the tournament.

Kansas City farmhands Jeison Guzman and Erick Mejia singled in the eighth, Seattle Mariners prospect Julio Rodriguez walked and Oh threw a wild pitch that tied the score.

Dominican Republic Baseball

Francisco, a six-year big league veteran whose last major league at-bat was in 2014, had struck out in his three previous plate appearances and nine times overall. The 34-year-old doubled to the left-center gap for an 8-6 lead, and Boston Red Sox prospect Johan Mieses followed with a long two-run homer to left.

Francisco hit .208 (5 for 24) with two homers and five RBIs during the tournament, the last for baseball in the Olympics until at least 2028.

Cristopher Mercedes (1-0), who pitches for the Central League‘s Yomiuri Giants, threw 3 1/3 shutout innings through the eighth as the fourth reliever out of the Dominican bullpen.

Jumbo Diaz, four years removed from his last big league appearance, relieved with two on in the ninth and got three straight outs for the save.

Rodriguez, a 20-year-old at Double-A Arkansas, put the Dominicans ahead 2-0 on an afternoon of intermittent rain when he sent a 0-1 pitch well over the left field wall. Francisco drove the next pitch in the last row of the right-field seats for his second Olympic homer and a 3-0 lead.

Mieses walked, and that was it for South Korea starter Kim Min-woo, who allowed four runs, three hits and a walk in one-third of an inning. Charlie Valerio added a sacrifice fly.

Dominican starter Raul Valdes, a 43-year-old left-hander who was the oldest player in the tournament, gave up five runs and nine hits in four-plus innings. Valdes’ last big league appearance was for Houston in 2014.

Rodriguez was hit on the right hand by a pitch from Park Se-Woong in the sixth but stayed in the game.

Jhan Marinez‘s first attempt to relieve was foiled when the bullpen cart started to the mound when he had just one leg on it, causing him to stumble. He got back on and walked his only batter.

Mikel Oyarzabal & His Spanish Teammate Claim Men’s Soccer Silver at the Tokyo Games

2020 Tokyo Games

There’s a silver lining for Mikel Oyarzabal.

The 24-year-old Spanish footballer leveled the score in the men’s gold medal match between Spain and Brazil, 1-1, at the 2020 Tokyo Games, but La Roja ultimately had to settle for silver.

Mikel Oyarzabal

Coach Luis de la Fuente’s team went into the game undefeated in the competition, although they went to extra time in both their quarterfinal and semifinal ties.

Brazil had Everton’s Richarlison to call upon, the competition’s top scorer with five goals, as well as Dani Alves, who – at 38 – was looking to win the 44th title of his storied career.

Mikel Oyarzabal

Brazil had an excellent chance to take the lead early when they earned a penalty kick after Unai Simon clattered Matheus Cunha. Richarlison stepped up to the plate, but blazed his effort high and wide. The selecao got their breakthrough soon after, however, with Cunha finishing superbly after Alves teed him up artfully, before Mikel Oyarzabal, assisted by Carlos Soler, got Spain back on level terms with an absolutely stunning volley to force extra time.

https://twitter.com/JDNalton/status/1423990829908172802

 

Malcolm emerged as the hero for Brazil, though, as he raced free and slotted home past the heroic Unai Simon to clinch the gold medal for the South American nation.

Brazil would edge past Spain 2-1 to win its second-straight Olympic title.

They also become just the fifth team in Olympics history to win consecutive titles in men’s soccer.

Spain Soccer Team Mikel Oyarzabal

It’s the third silver for Spain after being the runner-up at the 1920 Antwerp Games and the 2000 Sydney Games.

Spain’s lone Olympic gold came at the 1992 Barcelona Games.

Spain’s Pilar Peña Claims Second-Career Olympic Silver in Women’s Water Polo

2020 Tokyo Games

It’s a repeat performance for Pilar Peña

The 35-year-old Spanish water polo player and her teammates claimed the silver medal in women’s water polo at the 2020 Tokyo Games.

USA Women's Water Polo

Peña, the captain of the Spanish team, and her fellow teammates had to settle for silver after losing handily to Team USA 5-14.

Ashleigh Johnson, the first African American woman to make a U.S. Olympic water polo team, blocked 11 out of 15 shots from Spain during her time in goal – a rate of 73%. The main goalie for Spain blocked 19% of the shots.

Spain Women's Water Polo Team

It’s the second silver medal for Spain in the sport, after losing the gold medal match at the 2012 London Games to the United States. Peña was on that silver-winning team.

Dani Alves Helps Lead Brazil to Gold in Men’s Soccer at Tokyo Games

2020 Tokyo Games

He may be 38, but Dani Alves has managed to collect a new title… Olympic champion.

The Brazilian soccer star helped lead his country to the gold medal in men’s soccer at the 2020 Tokyo Games.

Dani Alves

Draped in the Brazilian flag, Alves – the captain of the team – cherished the 43rd winners’ medal of a career that shows no sign of winding down.

All that’s missing from the set of major honors after this 2-1 victory over Spain — secured in extra time by Malcolm — is World Cup glory.

Don’t write off the game’s most decorated player trying to make it to Qatar next year. He’s keen.

“I’m a dreamer, a small dreamer, and more than a dreamer, somebody who executes their dreams,” Alves said. “The most important thing is to fight, and that’s what I know what to do. I have the drive of a 23-year-old. I still want to do big things in football.”

The right back was determined to come to the Tokyo Games after not being part of the 2016 Olympic gold on home soil at the 2016 Rio Games.

“I fought to be in three Olympic Games,” he said. “I am grateful to all the people who worked with me, that believed in me, and I want them to know that all the hard work has paid off.”

He managed to play all of Brazil’s six games in Japan — 600 minutes in 16 days.

“This is a dream coming true, to be on the top of the Olympic podium,” he said. “No matter how much history you have, how much experience you have. I came here for the first time and to come back with the biggest prize … I am lost for words.”

It was Alves who set up the opener, keeping alive Claudinho’s cross and hooking the ball back into the area for Matheus Cunha to strike into first-half stoppage time.

“My captain Dani, he’s unbelievable, he helps everyone,” Cunha said. “I think this feeling, he comes to the group and the feeling goes up.”

He was one of only three permitted overage players in a youthful squad that idolized him growing up as he collected trophies at Juventus, Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain.

“You know the difference in age is a little bit (big),” the 22-year-old Cunha said. “I’m like a little boy when I saw Barcelona, the Brazil national team, and now we were together, we take one gold medal for Brazil.”

They had to work for it against a Spain side featuring six players coming straight from the run to the European Championship.

Spain tied it in the 61st minute when Mikel Oyarzabal volleyed in from Carlos Soler’s cross. Spain hit the crossbar twice late in regulation time — from Oscar Gil and Bryan Gil.

The inability to find the target meant Spain ended up with silver — and no repeat of the 1992 Barcelona Games gold — after Malcom’s winner in the 108th minute.

The forward, who came off the bench for extra time, held off Jesus Vallejo before racing forward and seeing his shot from a tight angle deflect off goalkeeper Unai Simon’s left boot and fly into the net.

Reineris Salas Claims Bronze in Men’s Freestyle 97kg Wrestling at Tokyo Games

2020 Tokyo Games

Reineris Salas is officially an Olympic medalist.

The 34-year-old Cuban freestyle wrestler claimed the bronze medal in the men’s freestyle 97kg wrestling competition at the 2020 Tokyo Games.

Reineris Salas

Salas defeated Azerbaijan’s Sharif Sharifov in the bronze medal match.

It was a positive end to Salas’ Olympic run after his loss to Russian Olympic Committee’s Abdulrashid Sadulaev, who would go on to win the gold.

Reineris Salas

Sadulaev defeated Team USA’s Kyle Snyder, who had to settle for the silver.

Saúl Craviotto Claims Fifth Career Medal with Silver in Men’s K-4 500 M Canoeing at Tokyo Games

2020 Tokyo Games

Saúl Craviotto is celebrating a fifth Olympics medal…

The 36-year-old Spanish sprint kayaker and his teammates – Marcus Walz, Carlos Arevalo and Rodrigo Germade – claimed the silver medal in the men’s K-4 500-meter canoeing event at the 2020 Tokyo Games.

Saúl Craviotto, Marcus Walz, Carlos Arevalo & Rodrigo Germade

With his latest medal, Craviotto is now tied with fellow canoeist David Cal as the Spaniard with the most-ever Olympic medals.

In a close race, Germany won the gold with a time of 1:22.219, while Spain ended the race with a time of 1:22.445.

Saúl Craviotto, Marcus Walz, Carlos Arevalo & Rodrigo Germade

Slovakia took home the bronze with a time of 1:23.534.

Craviotto had previously won the gold medal in the men’s K-2 500-meter race at the 2008 Beijing Games, the gold in the men’s K-2 200-meter race at the 2016 Rio Games, the silver in the K-1 200-meter race at the 2012 London Games, and the bronze in the K-1 200-meter race at the 2016 Rio Games.

It’s Walz’s second Olympic medal, while it’s Arevalo and Germade’s first.

Isaquias Queiroz Wins Gold in Men’s Canoe Single 1000m Race at Tokyo Games

2020 Tokyo Games

Isaquias Queiroz dos Santos has stormed to the top of the medal podium…

In a thrilling men’s canoe single 1000m race, the 27-year-old Brazilian athlete crossed the finish line first to claim the gold medal for Brazil.

Isaquias Queiroz

Queiroz was neck and neck with China’s Liu Hao in the first quarter of the race, but broke away in the last 250m and stormed to the finish line first at 4:04.408.

Liu came in second with a time of 4:05.724. Meanwhile Moldova‘s Serghei Tarnovschi came up from behind to overtake France‘s Adrien Bart in the final second to clinch bronze.

This is the first gold medal for Queiroz, who won three Olympic medals (two silvers and a bronze) at his home Games, five years ago at the 2016 Rio Games.

“I feel like I have finally lifted the weight of the world from my back. That doesn’t mean I feel pressure, but I felt an obligation to the sport lovers of Brazil to represent our country. Now I feel way lighter,” the athlete said.

Isaquias Queiroz

Queiroz plunged to the water after realizing he’d won the gold medal.

“In Rio de Janeiro I worked hard to get a medal but sadly I couldn’t choose the colour so it was silver and bronze. This time I really wanted a better result, so I trained hard for that. I’m really happy with the result.

“Now I really want to relax and have some vacations but also prepare for pairs. I want more medals. It really feels good to be a medalist.”

Belén Succi  & Argentine Women’s Field Hockey Team Claim Silver at Tokyo Games

2020 Tokyo Games

The third time didn’t prove to be the charm for Belén Succi and her teammates, but they’re still going home medalists…

The 35-year-old Argentine field hockey goalkeeper and her teammates lost their gold medal final match against the Netherlands in the women’s field hockey competition 3-1, having to settle for the silver medal.

Argentina Women's Field Hockey Team

“It was a pretty close match. We face a very dynamic team. They scored the goals very quickly and we couldn’t recover from that,” said Las Leonas star María Noel Barrionuevo, who said she was hugely “proud” of her teammates.

“I feel sad about the defeat, but at the same time happy, because at the end of the day we were able to reach an Olympic final, which is something amazing, and we were also able to take home the silver medal,” he added.

It’s the third time Argentina has come up as the runner-up in Olympic competition. They’d previously taken the silver at the 2000 Sydney Games and the 2012 London Games.

The Argentina women’s team also won the bronze medal in 2004 Athens Games and 2008 Beijing Games.

It’s the Netherlands’ third gold medal in the last four Olympics.

Sebastian Cordova Helps Lead Mexico Past Japan for Men’s Soccer Bronze at Tokyo Games

2020 Tokyo Games

Sebastian Cordova has helped lead Mexico to the medal podium…

The 24-year-old Mexican soccer player scored the first goal of the bronze medal match at the 2020 Tokyo Games to help Mexico beat Japan 3-1 and earn a place on the medal stand.

Sebastian Cordova

Mexico dominated the host country in the men’s soccer game on Friday night, ending Japan’s hope of a first Olympic medal in 53 years with a 3-1 win at Saitama Stadium.

Three days after both teams played 120 minutes in their respective semifinal losses, Japan languished against a sharper Mexico side, giving up its opening goal by Cordova from the penalty spot and two more from set plays before Kaoru Mitoma’s consolation strike late in the match.

Mexico Olympic Soccer Team

Japan’s only medal in Olympic men’s soccer came at the 1968 Mexico City Games, when the country defeated the host nation for bronze. This time, the outcome was reversed.

“We were quite strong, we took risks and we did what we had to do,” Mexico head coach Jaime Lozano said. “We didn’t achieve our goal of a gold but we knew we’d get a bronze medal, and not even the hosts could take third place from us.”

Sebastian Cordova

Moriyasu’s side beat Mexico in their second group game with an early two-goal assault, but this this time it was the team clad in green breaking a scoreless deadlock in the 13th minute, courtesy of a Cordova penalty sent left as Japan goalkeeper Kosei Tani dived in the opposite direction.

Cordova earned the penalty after he was fouled from behind by midfielder Wataru Endo at the top of the area, close enough to the line to inspire a VAR review that eventually upheld referee Bamlaku Weyesa’s initial call.

Lozano’s squad easily created space it couldn’t find when the two teams first met last month and doubled its lead to 2-0 in the 23rd minute when Pumas defender Johan Vasquez headed in Cordova’s free kick past Tani.

The halftime break allowed Japan to reorganize somewhat, with Reo Hatate replacing Yuki Soma to start the second half. But despite some promising runs on goal, Mexico was by far the sharper of the two sides, scoring its third goal off a 58th-minute Cordoba corner kick duly heated in by Alexis Vega.

Substitute midfielder Mitoma spared Japan the embarrassment of a shutout when he slipped through the Mexican back line before steering his attempt past veteran goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa in the 78th minute.

Marileidy Paulino Wins Dominican Republic’s First-Ever Women’s Track & Field Olympic Medal at Tokyo Games

2020 Tokyo Games

She’s broken multiple records for the Dominican Republic, and now Marileidy Paulino is making sports history for her country…

The 24-year-old Dominican sprinter raced to the silver medal in the women’s 400-meter final with a time of 49.20 at the 2020 Tokyo Games, winning the Dominican Republic’s first-ever individual Olympic medal in women’s track and field.

Marileidy Paulino

Under Bahamas sprinter Shaunae Miller-Uibo’s time of 48.36, she beat Team USA‘s Allyson Felix, whose bronze medal run made her the most decorated woman in Olympic track history.

Paulino’s run is a personal best that sets a new national record for the Caribbean nation.

Marileidy Paulino

The sprinter, who is also a corporal in the Dominican Air Force, will also be coming home with another silver from her mixed 4×400-meter relay, a team consisting of Anabel MedinaLidio Andrés Feliz, and Alexander Ogando.

Paulino’s 52-year old mother, Anatalia Paulino, told the Dominican Republic’s main newspaper, Listín Diario that her daughter made a promise to her when she arrived in Japan that she would bring back an Olympic medal to build a house in the country’s southern city of Nizao, where she resides with her brothers. After five years of preparing for the Olympics, she was finally be able to complete that promise.