Tag Archives: 2016 Rio Games

Gasol & His Teammates Give Spain a Men’s Basketball Bronze at the 2016 Rio Games

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2016 Rio Games

They may not be this year’s Golden boys, but Pau Gasol and his Spanish teammates still have reason to celebrate.

The 36-year-old professional basketball player, who will be heading to the San Antonio Spurs this upcoming NBA season, scored 31 points in what could be his Olympic farewell, as Spain collected the bronze medal in Men’s Basketball at the 2016 Rio Games on Sunday with an 89-88 win over Australia.

Paul Gasol & Spain's Men's Basketball Team

Sergio Rodriguez made two free throws with 5.4 seconds left and the Spaniards, who captured silver at the 2008 Beijing Games and the 2012 London Games, got the defensive stop they needed as Australia fumbled the ball away on its last possession.

Gasol, who hasn’t committed to playing at the 2020 Tokyo Games, and his teammates celebrated by piling on top of each other near center court.

Paul Gasol & Spain's Men's Basketball Team

It wasn’t the medal they wanted, but after losing their first two games in Brazil, it beats nothing.

“Unbelievable,” forward Rudy Fernandez said. “It’s an amazing feeling.”

It’s a feeling Gasol wishes could last. He isn’t ready to shed his España jersey.

“I’m getting older and at some point I’m not going to be able to play,” said Gasol. “So when that day comes, I’ll accept it. It’ll be hard, but I had an incredible run. I can’t ask for anything else. Everything I gave, everything I lived as a basketball player, it’s a plus. It’s a gift.

“I’m just enjoying the ride.”

Sanchez Claims Silver in Men’s Individual 10m Platform Final at the 2016 Rio Games

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2016 Rio Games

It’s another silver for Germán Sánchez…

The 24-year-old Mexican diver, nicknamed “Duva,” claimed the silver medal in the Men’s Individual 10m Platform diving final at the 2016 Rio Games.

Germán Sánchez

China’s Chen Aisen emerged from a tightly contested field to claim the gold medal with 585.30 points.

Sanchez won the silver with 532.70 points and USA’s David Boudia, the reigning Olympic champion, totaled 525.25 to claim bronze.

The Guadalajara native won his first individual medal at the Olympics following his second-place showing at the 2012 London Games four years ago.

Along with Ivan Garcia, Sanchez won the silver in the men’s 10-meter synchronized platform jump at the 2012 Summer Olympics.

Lopez Claims Boxing Gold at the 2016 Rio Games

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2016 Rio Games

It’s a golden moment for Arlen Lopez…

The 23-year-old Cuban boxer, the current world champion, beat Uzbekistan’s Bektemir Melikuziev on a unanimous points decision to win the Olympic middleweight title on Saturday, Cuba’s third boxing gold medal of the 2016 Rio Games.

Arlen Lopez

Azerbaijan’s Kamran Shakhsuvarly and Mexico’s Misael Rodriguez, his country’s first medalist in the division since 1968, took the bronze medals as losing semi-finalists.

Fighting half an hour after compatriot Robeisy Ramirez had won bantamweight gold, Lopez ensured Cuba won two of the day’s three finals by taking the opening rounds before easing off slightly in the third.

The top seed coming into the tournament, Lopez always looked the more polished fighter in what was a repeat of the 2015 world championship final and he closed out the draw with a 3-0 win.

Lopez caught Melikuziev with his arm in the third round, leading to a brief pause while the Uzbek had medical attention for a gash above his eye.

Cuba have now won middleweight gold five times, equaling the United States and Britain.

“There was some information from people in the stands through signals that I was ahead and that encouraged me and I knew the victory was in my hands,” said Lopez, who celebrated with a forward roll on the canvas.

Japan’s Ryoto Murata won the title in 2012 and then turned professional.

Neymar Leads Brazil’s Soccer Team to Its First Olympic Gold Medal

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2016 Rio Games

Neymar kicks his way into Brazil’s history books…

The 24-year-old Brazilian soccer star helped lead Brazil’s Olympic soccer team to victory against Germany in the gold medal match at the 2016 Rio Games.

Neymar

Neymar, who had to settle for a silver at the 2012 London Games after losing to Mexico in the gold medal match, scored the winning goal in a dramatic shootout that ended with a score of 5-4, following a 1-1 draw in regulation.

All around him, 70,000 Brazilians inside the vast Maracana Stadium chanted his name, expecting — no, demanding — their nation’s biggest soccer star deliver a historic success at the 2016 Summer Olympics.

Neymar paused, gathering his thoughts as he stuttered towards the ball, almost grinding to a halt before stroking his penalty kick high to the left of Germany’s goalkeeper Timo Horn.

Neymar also scored in the 27th minute as Brazil took a 1-0 lead.

Max Meyer scored the equalizer for Germany in the 59th minute.

For Brazil, this was a landmark victory over a country that had inflicted a humiliating 7-1 defeat on it two years ago, in the semifinal of its own World Cup.

It’s the first Olympic victory for Brazilian footballers in a country obsessed with the game.

“This is one of the best things that have happened in my life,” the Barcelona forward said. “That’s it.”

Queiroz: First Brazilian to Win Three Medals in an Olympic Games

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2016 Rio Games

Isaquias Queiroz ends his first Olympic appearance with a historic bang…

The 22-year-old Brazilian sprint canoeist partnered with Erlon de Souza to claim the silver in the Men’s Canoe Double 1000m competition with a time of a 3:44.81 at the 2016 Rio Games.

Isaquias Queiroz & Erlon de Souza

Germany’s Sebastian Brendel and Jan Vandrey, who trailed for most of the race, took the lead from Queiroz and  de Souza in the final seconds to win the gold with a time of 3:43.91.

With the roar of the crowd behind them, the Brazilian duo set sail and led for most of the race. A tight field trailed Queiroz and de Souza for most of the race, but in the end it was Germany who prevailed.

Queiroz, who already won silver and bronze at the 2016 Summer Olympics, added one more piece of hardware to his collection. He has now become the first Brazilian to win three medals in an Olympic Games.

Queiroz overcame a hard-fought childhood which included close brushes with death and a kidnapping attempt, and has become a fan favorite in his home country.

Taurasi & Team USA Win Gold in Women’s Basketball at the 2016 Rio Games

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2016 Rio Games

Diana Taurasi is still golden…

The 34-year-old half-Argentinean American basketball player and Team USA defeated Spain in the gold medal game Saturday, 101-72, to give the US its sixth consecutive Olympic gold.

Diana Taurasi

Taurasi, who led the way with a team-high 17 points, two rebounds, three assists and two steals, is now a four-time Olympic gold medalist.

The United States is now a perfect 5-0 against Spain in Olympic play.

This was the first Olympic gold medal for Taurasi’s Phoenix Mercury teammate, Brittney Griner. The reigning WNBA MVP, Elena Delle Donne, also won her first Olympic gold.

The other Team USA star veterans Sue Bird, who sat out with a sprain knee in the semifinal win over France, and Tamika Catchings added another gold medal to their career — matching Taurasi with a fourth in Rio.

Diana Taurasi

This could be the final Olympic appearance for the three WNBA icons.

With the loss, Spain finished with the silver. Serbia won bronze after defeating France earlier Saturday. This marked the first time on the podium for the countries in women’s basketball.

The U.S. women’s basketball Olympic play win streak was improved to an unmatched 49 games.

Craviotto Wins Bronze in Men’s Kayak Single 200m at the 2016 Rio Games

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2016 Rio Games

Saul Craviotto has pulled a double…

For the first time in his three Olympic appearances, the 31-year-old Spanish canoeist has claimed two Olympic medals in one Games.

Saul Craviotto

Craviotto, who won the gold in the final of the Men’s Kayak Double 200m, took home the bronze in the Men’s Kayak Single 200m competition at the 2016 Rio Games.

It’s the fourth Olympic medal in his career.

Saul Craviotto

Craviotto won the gold in the Men’s Kayak Double 500m competition at the 2008 Beijing Games.

Four years later, he took home the silver in the Men’s Kayak Single 200m competition at the 2012 London Games.

Queiroz Claims Second Medal in Dramatic Fashion at the 2016 Rio Games

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2016 Rio Games

It’s two down, one to go for Isaquias Queiroz…

The 22-year-old Brazilian sprint canoeist’s quest to win three medals at 2016 Rio Games stayed on course on Thursday in a dramatic finish to the Men’s Canoe Single 200 Meter race, when he fell overboard at the finish and claimed bronze.

Isaquias Queiroz dos Santos

Ukraine’s Iurii Cheban took gold in 39.279 seconds with Valentin Demyanenko of Azerbaijan clinching silver just 0.214 seconds behind.

Queiroz, beloved among fans here at the Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon, especially after claiming Brazil’s first ever Olympic medal in canoing, trailed for much of the race.

His quest to claim a spot on the podium in three events this year seemed all but lost as he got off to a rough start at the unforgiving 200-meter distance.

A daring bid in the last stretch sent him soaring over the finish line and, ultimately, into the water, two days after he took silver in the men’s C-1 1000-metre race.

Queiroz returns tomorrow to compete in the Men’s Canoe Double 1000 Meter heat.

Calvo Takes Home the Taekwondo Women’s 57 kg Silver at the 2016 Rio Games

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2016 Rio Games

It’s a special first for Eva Calvo…

The 25-year-old Spanish taekwondo athlete lost to longtime rival Jade Jones of Great Britain in the finals of the Taekwondo Women’s 57 kg competition at the 2016 Rio Games, settling for the silver.

Eva Calvo

Jones, the defending Olympic champion, beat Calvo 16-7 in a brilliant performance.

After a cautious first round, Jones landed two quick-fire head shots to take a 6-0 lead.

Calvo’s coach appealed one of the attempts but failed to give the Brit a commanding advantage.

Gomez hit back as the pair traded blows in the second and a kick to the head made it 7-6. But Jones then closed out the win.

Craviotto Partners with Cristian Toro to Win Gold in the Men’s Kayak Double 200M at the 2016 Rio Games

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2016 Rio Games

Make that three Olympic medals for Saul Craviotto…

The 31-year-old Spanish sprint canoer and his partner Cristian Toro raced to the gold medal in the final of the Men’s Kayak Double 200 m at the 2016 Rio Games.

Saul Craviotto & Cristian Toro

Craviotto and Toro finished the race in 32.07 seconds. Great Britain’s Liam Heath and Jon Schofield took home the silver medal at 32.36 seconds, while Aurimas Lankas and Edvinas Ramanauskas of Lithuania won bronze at 32.38.

Craviotto previously won the gold medal with Carlos Pérez in the K-2 500 m competition at the 2008 Beijing Games. He also took home the silver in the K-1 200 m competition at the 2012 London Games.

Craviotto has also won seven medals at the ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships with three golds (K-1 4 x 200 m: 2009, 2010, 2011), two silvers (K-2 200 m: 2009, 2010) and two bronzes (K-1 200m: 2013, 2014).