Spain’s Damián Quintero Claims Silver in Inaugural Men’s Kata Event at Tokyo Games

2020 Tokyo Games

It’s a special first for Damián Quintero

The Argentine Spanish karateka has claimed his first Olympic medal, taking home the silver in the men’s kata event at the 2020 Tokyo Games in the sport’s Olympic debut.

David Quintero

Quintero lost the final bout to Japan’s Ryo Kiyuna by a score of 28.72 to 27.66.

“I promised, I promised myself: I wanted to come to the Olympics to enjoy and I have enjoyed like a kid today. I have given it my everything. Those of you who know me know that I always look sulky when I lose, but not today, today I said to myself: come out smiling in the photo because an Olympic medal for a karate fighter is a big deal. And it doesn’t matter the color,” he said.

David Quintero

Turkey’s Ali Sofuoglu and Ariel Torres Gutierrez of the United States won the bronze medals.

It’s the second kata medal for Spain at this year’s Olympics, following Sandra Sanchez’s gold-medal performance in the women’s kata event.

 

 

Sandra Sánchez Claims Maiden Gold in Women’s Kata Competition at Tokyo Games

2020 Tokyo Games

Sandra Sánchez is having her golden moment…

The 39-year-old Spanish karateka, known as the “Queen of Kata,” has claimed the first-ever gold medal in karate after winning the women’s kata competition at the 2020 Tokyo Games.

Sandra Sanchez,

Sanchez defeated Japan‘s Kiyou Shimizu at the Nippon Budokan, known as the spiritual home of Japanese martial arts.

Shimizu scored 27.88 points to finish 0.18 point behind the Spanish reigning world champion in the event in which athletes compete to execute a series of movements more proficiently than their opponents.

Sandra Sanchez,

In the event, karateka perform kata that consists of offensive and defensive movements targeting a nonexistent opponent. They are scored based on their technical and athletic performance.

The other competition, kumite, features three-minute bouts and is divided into three weight classes for both men and women.