Mijaín López Claims Fourth Consecutive Wrestling Olympic Gold Medal at Tokyo Games

Posted on August 2, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Mijaín López has cemented his status as a wrestling legend…

The 38-year-old Cuban Greco-Roman wrestler claimed his fourth consecutive Olympic gold after defeating Georgia’s Iacob Kadzhaia 5-0 in the 130kg Greco-Roman wrestling final.

In the process, Lopez surpassed Russia’s Alexander Karelin, who won three consecutive Olympic gold medals between 1988 and 1996.

Lopez won the Olympic titles at the 2008 Beijing Games, the 2012 London Games and 2016 Rio Games.

Since Beijing, Lopez has been unbeaten at the Olympics, and in Tokyo, he didn’t give up a single point in the entire tournament.

The Cuban accumulates 20 Olympic fights, of which he has won 19. From London 2012 to August 2, 2021 in Tokyo, Mijaín scored 55 points and allowed none in 12 appearances. The last man who has managed to score him was precisely the Russian Baroev in Beijing 2008.

“I feel happy and proud to be the best in the world and make history,” he said Monday night at a press conference.

“I’ve had a long career, working hard to make these successes and break this record. To be able to break this record today, for me, is a great achievement, because I’ve been up against the best and I can be proud.”

Only Japan’s Kaori Icho, in the freestyle, has managed to win four Olympic gold medals in as many Games, in 2004, 2008, 2012 and 2016.

Luis Orta Wins Cuba’s First Gold Medal at the Tokyo Games

Posted on August 2, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Luis Orta is celebrating his golden moment…

The 26-year-old Cuban wrestler defeated Japan’s Kenichiro Fumita in the men’s Greco-Roman 60 kg wrestling competition to claim the gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Games.

Orta defeated Fumita by a final score of 5-1.

In the main bracket, Orta kicked off his campaign with a dominant 5-0 win over USA’s Ildar Hafizov, in the round of 32. In the quarterfinals, Orta overcame Sergey Emelin, who was representing the Russian Olympic Committee. He stormed into the finals with an 11-0 win over Victor Ciobanu, Republic of Moldova.

In the finals, Luis Orta dominated the match in the early stages and had taken a lead of 4-0 before Fumita scored a point. As time ticked away, Orta sealed the first Gold medal for Cuba at this year’s Olympics.

China’s Walihan Sailike and Emelin of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) claimed the bronze medals.

Ana Peleteiro Claims Bronze Medal in Women’s Triple Jump at Tokyo Games

Posted on August 1, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Ana Peleteiro is celebrating not one, but two, record-breaking leaps…

The 25-year-old Spanish triple jumper claimed the bronze medal in in the women’s triple jump competition at the 2020 Tokyo Games.

Peleteiro broke the Spanish record twice to finish in third place.

Peleitero followed up her second jump of 14.77 meters with her final leap of 14.87 meters, breaking the record of 14.73 that she herself had set at the 2019 European Indoor Championshipsin Glasgow.

“I knew that today could be a great day, but I never imagined that I would make it. I dreamed about it a lot,” said Peleteiro, unable to stop crying with emotion. “I didn’t know if I was going to be able to make that jump. My coach (Ivan Pedroso) has worked very hard and then Nelson (Évora, her boyfriend and triple Olympic gold medalist at the 2008 Beijing Games) came to motivate me in the fifth jump, to take out that warrior Ana and finally I can say that I am an Olympic medalist,”she added. “I’ve been dreaming about it all my life and I can’t believe it, I’ll have to wait a few days to digest it”

Venezuela’s Yulimar Rojas won the gold, with a world-record-setting jump of 15.67 meters. Portugal’s Patricia Mamona, broke the Portuguese record of 14.65 meters that she had set five years ago at the 2016 Rio Games, as she recorded two leaps of 14.91 meters and 15.01 meters respectively.

Yulimar Rojas Becomes Venezuela’s First-Ever Female Gold Medalist in World Record Form at Tokyo Games

Posted on August 1, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Yulimar Rojas has leapt her way into the record books…

The 25-year-old Venezuelan triple-jump specialist has become the first female Olympic gold medalist in Venezuelan history after her stunning performance in the women’s triple jump at the 2020 Tokyo Games.

Rojasbroke the world record to win the gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics on Sunday, producing a stunning 15.67 meter leap on her final attempt in the final.

In the process, she smashed the record of 15.50 meters that had been held by Inessa Kravets since 1995.

Rojas, who claimed the silver at the 2016 Rio Games, had already been confirmed as the winner of the gold medal by the time of her third jump, before going on to secure a world-record leap.

Rebeca Andrade Wins Brazil’s First-Ever Gold in Women’s Gymnastics in Tokyo Games Vault Competition

Posted on August 1, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Rebeca Andrade has soared into the annals of Brazilian sports history yet again…

The 22-year-old Brazilian gymnast, who’d already made history by winning Brazil’s first female Olympic medal in gymnastics in the all-around competition, won the gold medal in the women’s vault competition at the 2020 Tokyo Games.

Andrade put together a pair of soaring vaults to post an average of 15.083 to win the competition.

Andrade’s score held off Team USA‘s MyKayla Skinner, who averaged 14.916. South Korea’s Yeo Seojeong was the bronze medallist with 14.733.

Andrade’s gold is the first ever for Brazil in women’s gymnastics at the Summer Games. Arthur Zanetti is the only other Brazilian to win artistic gymnastics gold.

“I feel so overwhelmed, happy,” Andrade told Olympics.com after her win. “I’m feeling incredible.”

Andrade came to Tokyo looking strong, debuting a Cheng vault (round off on the board, half turn on the vaulting table, front one-and-a-half twist) during the qualifying rounds.

In Sunday’s apparatus final, Andrade brought back her difficult two-and-a-half twisting vault to win gold.

Andrade’s injuries kept her out of the 2019 World Championships. It was the first of a series of mishaps for Brazil, which, then, failed to qualify a full team to the Tokyo Games.

Andrade only secured her quota spot for the Olympic Games on June 6, after winning the all-around at the Pan Am Championships in Rio.

“First, thank you God!” Andrade said in a post on Instagram after punching her Olympic ticket. “Thank you all… thanks for all the positive energy, thanks for believing in me at all costs… I just have to thank you, really!!!”

Sunday, Andrade couldn’t believe her success.

“I don’t know… reaching the podium… I didn’t imagine that I would return doing all these vaults, improving my first vault,” she said. “It’s been a huge pride for me because I saw how much I’ve grown, I’ve matured, and it’s really good”

Venezuela’s Keydomar Vallenilla Wins Weightlifting Silver at the Tokyo Games

Posted on August 1, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Keydomar Vallenilla has lifted his way to an Olympic medal…

The 21-year-old Venezuelan weightlifter won the silver in the men’s 96 kg weightlifting event at the 2020 Tokyo Games.

Vallenilla finished with a Snatch total of 177 and a Clean and Jerk total of 210, for a total of 387 kg.

“I felt that today I had extraordinary strength, today everything happened. I want to thank my mother, my family, my coach who trained me Henry Velázquez and my coach Oswaldo Tovar. This triumph is theirs as much as mine,” said Vallenilla after the competition.

The gold medal went to Qatar’s Fares Ibrahim with 402 kg, while Georgia’s Anton Pliesnoi taking the bronze with 387 kg.

While Pliesnoi had the same total as Vallenilla, he reached it after failing a 210-kilogram attempt.

Aremi Fuentes Wins Weightlifting Bronze Medal at Tokyo Games

Posted on August 1, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Aremi Fuentes is celebrating a bronze performance…

The 28-year-old Mexican weightlifter claimed the bronze medal in the women’s weightlifting 76 kilograms class at the Tokyo Games.

Fuentes lifted 108 kg and 137 kg in the snatch and clean & jerk phases respectively for a total of 245 kg to earn the bronze.

Ecuador’s Neisi Dajomes claimed the gold with a total of 263kg, while Team USA’s Kate Nye won the silver with 249kg.

Fuentes wasn’t among the favorites for a medal at the start of the competition, but she made four of her six attempts to total 245kg, a far better effort than some of her rivals.

It’s the fourth medal for Mexico in weightlifting after the gold of Soraya Jiménez at the 2000 Sydney Games, the bronze of Damaris Aguirre in the 2008 Beijing Games and the bronze of Luz Acosta at the 2012 London Games.

Neisi Dajomes Becomes Ecuador’s First Female Athlete to Win an Olympic Medal at Tokyo Games

Posted on August 1, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Neisi Dajomes is a golden girl…

The 23-year-old Ecuadorian weightlifter has become the first female athlete from Ecuador to win an Olympic medal in any sport at the 2020 Tokyo Games.

Dajomes claimed the gold in style in the women’s weightlifting 76 kilograms class at the Tokyo International Forum with a final score of 263kg.

Dajomes’ performance is a significant improvement from her showing in the 2016 Rio Games, advancing from a seventh-place finish in Rio to the top of the podium in 2021.

Team USA’s Kate Nye won the silver with 249kg, while Aremi Fuentes of Mexico took the bronze with 245kg.

Dajomes was the only athlete out of 13 competitors to make every lift she attempted on the platform, an airtight performance that had guaranteed her the gold medal by the time she had completed her first clean & jerk. Here are all of her attempts in both lifts plus her highest total.

Snatch— 111/115/118 kilograms (260.1 pounds)
Clean & Jerk — 135/140/145kilograms (319.6 pounds)
Total — 263 kilograms (579.8 pounds)

As she stood on the podium, Dajomes made an emotional dedication to her mother and brother, who passed away in 2019 and 2018 respectively.

“I had a hard time, I lost my mother and recently my brother Javier Palacios, for whom I am here,” she told Ecuadorian television channel RTS.

“All my achievements are dedicated to his memory.”

Dajomes was immediately praised by her nation’s sports minister, Sebastián Palacios.

He said on social media, “There are no words! Thank you for this! Our first Ecuadorian woman with an Olympic medal. You are golden, Neisi!”

It’s Ecuador’s fourth Olympic medal ever. Dajomes’ gold medal is Ecuador’s second in Tokyo, the first having been won by Richard Carapaz in the cycling event. This is also the first time Ecuador has ever won two medals at the same Olympics.

Bruno Fratus Becomes Oldest Pool Swimmer to Win First Ever Olympic Medal at Tokyo Games

Posted on August 1, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Bruno Fratus’ wait is finally over…

The 32-year-old Brazilian competitive swimmer, considered one of the great men’s sprinters of this era, has earned his first career Olympic medal at the 2020 Tokyo Games.

Fratus finished third in the final of the men’s 50 free, swimming a 21.57 to earn the bronze medal for Brazil. Team USA’s Caleb Dressel won the gold with a time of 21.07, setting an Olympic world record. France’s Florent Manaudou claimed silver with a 21.55.

Though Fratus has a decorated career at the World Championships, Pan Pacific, and Pan American Games, he had never won an Olympic medal until this one.

Additionally, Fratus has now become the oldest pool swimmer in history to win their first Olympic medal.

That title was previously held by American David Plummer, who won his first medal with a 3rd-place finish in the 100 back at the 2016 Rio Games at the age of 30. Plummer was 30 year, 304 days old when he earned his first medal, while Fratus was 32 years, 32 days old.

This wasn’t the first piece of history Fratus made in the past several days. With his semifinals performance of 21.60, Fratus became the first swimmer ever to record 90 sub-22 LCM 50 free performances in their career. He added to that total with his finals swim of 21.57, so he now has 91 career sub-22s. Fratus has hinted that these were his last Games, but it will be interesting if he chooses swims for another year or two, and is able to reach 100 sub-22 50 frees.

Venezuela’s Daniel Dhers Claims Silver in BMX Freestyle Competition at Tokyo Games

Posted on August 1, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Daniel Dhers is proving age is but a number…

The 36-year-old Venezuelan professional BMX rider claimed the silver medal in the first ever BMX freestyle competition at the 2020 Tokyo Games.

Most of the 18 riders who competed at the Ariake Urban Sports Park are in their early or mid-20s, with eventual gold medalist Australia’s Logan Martin nearly a decade younger at 27.

Dhers, the only rider in the field born before 1990, ended the competitition with a best score of 92.05 to Martin’s 93.30.

Great Britain’s Declan Brooks took home the bronze with a score of 90.80.

Dhers has competed at the highest level for more than a decade but any thoughts of winding down were put aside when, in 2017, BMX freestyle was added to the Olympic program.

“It’s a thing that I didn’t believe I would get to see in my career,” Dhers, who lives in North Carolina, told reporters.

Report”I’m just super happy that I was able to make it through the qualifications, and just can’t believe we are here. So I’m so, so psyched,” Dhers, a four-time X Games champion, said.

Hispanically Yours

Celebrating the Latino Influence

Category Archives: Olimpíadas

Mijaín López Claims Fourth Consecutive Wrestling Olympic Gold Medal at Tokyo Games

Luis Orta Wins Cuba’s First Gold Medal at the Tokyo Games

Ana Peleteiro Claims Bronze Medal in Women’s Triple Jump at Tokyo Games

Yulimar Rojas Becomes Venezuela’s First-Ever Female Gold Medalist in World Record Form at Tokyo Games

Rebeca Andrade Wins Brazil’s First-Ever Gold in Women’s Gymnastics in Tokyo Games Vault Competition

Venezuela’s Keydomar Vallenilla Wins Weightlifting Silver at the Tokyo Games

Aremi Fuentes Wins Weightlifting Bronze Medal at Tokyo Games

Neisi Dajomes Becomes Ecuador’s First Female Athlete to Win an Olympic Medal at Tokyo Games

Bruno Fratus Becomes Oldest Pool Swimmer to Win First Ever Olympic Medal at Tokyo Games

Venezuela’s Daniel Dhers Claims Silver in BMX Freestyle Competition at Tokyo Games