Tag Archives: Winter Olympics

Donovan Carrillo Makes Mexican History by Reaching Figure Skating Finals at Winter Olympics

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2022 Beijing GamesDonovan Carrillo has skated his way into the annals of Mexican sports history…

The 22-year-old Mexican figure skater, the first figure skater to compete at the Winter Olympics in 30 years, has advanced to the free skate after an impressive short program at the 2022 Beijing Games.

Donovan CarrilloHe’s the first Mexican skater to reach the finals, and he’s done so despite never having trained on professional rinks.

His short program on Tuesday set to the songs “Black Magic Woman” and “Shake It” by Santana won him an overall score of 79.69. Towards the end of his performance, Carrillo skated with his hands over his heart.

“This is for my family and all Mexico,” he said.

Donovan CarrilloBorn in Zapopan, Jalisco, Carrillo has said his training has been difficult. His family struggled to pay for his lessons and, at times, to find practice facilities. He’s known for training at a shopping center rink during public sessions.

Mexico hadn’t had a figure skater compete at the Winter Olympics since the 1992 Albertville Games when Riccardo Olavarrieta and Diana Encinas fought for gold. On Tuesday, Donovan Carrillo ended the country’s dry spell by competing in the men’s short program in Beijing.

“Many people told me during the beginning of my career that this was a crazy dream,” Carrillo said. “People were always laughing or telling me it wasn’t possible for a Mexican to qualify.”

Carrillo hopes his history-making performance at the Olympics encourages other athletes from Mexico.

“My message to the Mexicans who will be watching me at the Olympic Games through their screens is that no matter the hardships that may present themselves to you, work hard and never give up,” he said in Spanish in the Olympic Channel‘s Winter Tracks video series.

Carrillo is scheduled to compete against 23 other skaters in the free skate program on Thursday.

Eddy Alvarez Becomes First Latino Athlete to Win a Medal at Summer & Winter Olympics

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2020 Tokyo Games

Eddy Alvarez has earned his place in Olympics history…

The 31-year-old Cuban-American speedskater-turned-baseball-player and his Team USA mates lost to Japan 2-0 in the 2020 Tokyo Games men’s baseball gold medal game at Yokohama Baseball Stadium, having to settle for silver.

Eddy Alvarez

But in the process, Alvarez – Team USA’s starting second baseman – has done something six people have ever accomplished – win a medal at the Summer and Winter Olympics. And, he’s the first Latino to accomplish the feat.

“Feels like déjà vu. Just as heavy as the other one. Same color. A little bit of a different design,” Alvarez said. “But it’s still an incredible journey, an incredible experience, a great group of guys I’ve created a bond with for the rest of my life so I can’t wait to enjoy this moment back home.”  

Team USA Men's Baseball

Only six others have accomplished the feat. Americans Eddie Egan (1920 – boxing, 1932 – four-man bobsled) and Lauryn Williams (2004 – 100-meter sprint, 2012 – 4×100 relay, 2014 – two-woman bobsled) are two of those on the list.

The others are Norway’s Jacob Tullin Thams (ski jumping in 1924 and yachting in 1936), East Germany/Germany’s Christa Luding-Rothenburger (speedskating in 1984, ’88 and ’92 and sprint cycling in 1988) and Canada’s Clara Hughes (cycling in 1996 and speed skating in 2002, ’06 and ’10).

“It’s hard to describe it, because it’s like bittersweet, but at the same time, it’s an unbelievable feeling,” Alvarez said.

“I had no idea this is where I was going to end up. Once I retired from skating, never in my wildest dreams would I ever think I would have the chance to come back to the Olympics.”

Alvarez won a silver medal at the 2014 Sochi Games as a member of the 5,000-meter speed skating short-track squad.

“It’s a tough pill to swallow, when you come so close to winning and you fall short,” Alvarez said of his silver medals. “At the same time, it’s one of those things that I know will hit me eventually, of how incredible and blessed I am to be a part of this.”

But Alvarez isn’t the only Latino to earn a silver as part of the US men’s baseball team…

Triston Casas, the 21-year-old Latino first baseman; 28-year-old Puerto Rican infielder Jack Lopez; and 31-year-old Latino pitcher Nick Martinez are all part of Team USA at this year’s Games.

It’s the first Olympic hardware for the three.

Fernandez Among the Magnificent 7 Latino Medal Hopefuls at the 2014 Winter Olympics

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2014 Sochi Games

The 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia are in full swing following an entertaining opening ceremony on Friday in front of about 40,000 people in the stands at Fisht Olympic Stadium.

In all, eight Latin American countries will be participating at the Sochi Games, including Mexico, whose sole representative, Alpine skier Hubertus von Hohenlohe, could take home the title of best-dressed Olympian.

Even though von Hohenlohe – competing in his sixth Winter Olympics – isn’t expected to earn a medal at this year’s Games, there are several Latino athletes who could end up on the medal stand in Sochi.

Here’s a look at seven Latino medal contenders at this year’s Games, which will run through February 23:

Javier Fernandez

Javier Fernández
Javier Fernández has come a long way since placing 14th at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada, where he was the first man to compete for Spain in Olympic figure skating in half a century.

Since then, the 22-year-old Spanish figure skater has gone on to make a name for himself on the ice.

Fernandez, Spain’s flag bearer at Friday’s Opening Ceremony, is the 2013 World Figure Skating Championships bronze medalist and the 2013 and 2014 European Figure Skating champion.

He’ll be performing his short program to “Satan Takes a Holiday” by Larry Clinton; his long program will Henry Mancini’s “Peter Gunn”
 and Earle Hagen’s “Harlem Nocturne.”

Jacqueline Hernandez

Jacqueline Hernandez
The winter of 2012 turned out to be a breakout season for Jacqueline Hernandez. The 21-year-old snowboarder won nearly all the Nor-Ams she entered—six out of eight. Hernandez quickly climbed the ranks of the World Cup circuit, ending with an impressive win at the final World Cup of the season in Valmalenco, Italy.

Even though she finished sixth at the 2013 World Cup, Hernandez hasn’t lost hope of winning an Olympic medal at the 2014 Sochi Games.

Queralt Castellet

Queralt Castellet
Queralt Castellet was thisclose to earning a medal at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada. The 24-year-old Spanish snowboarder scored a 44.3 on her first qualifying run, third highest in the round. But Castellet suffered a concussionwhile practicing in the lead-up to the final and has to withdraw from the competition.

The third time could be the charm for Castellet, competing in her third Winter Games.

Lucas Eguibar

Lucas Eguibar
Since winning the gold medal at the 2013 FIS Junior World Championships, Lucas Eguibar has continued his medal-winning ways. The 19-year-old Spanish snowboarder earned his first trip to the world cup podium in Arosa, Switzerland on March 9, 2013, after placing third in the Snowboard cross. And Eguibar followed that up with a second place finish in the Snowboard cross at the World Cup in Vallnord-Arcalís, Andorra on January 12, 2014.

Dominique Ohaco-1

Dominique Ohaco
Following strong results in the world cup, Chile has pinned its hopes on Dominique Ohaco to bring home the country’s first-ever Winter Olympics medal. The 18-year-old freestyle skier, Chile’s flag bearer during Friday’s opening ceremony, will compete in the women’s slopestyle event, a new addition to the Olympic roster.

“I’m gonna try to compete the best I can, and give the best,” says Ohaco.  “I’m not feeling any pressure.”

Eduardo Alvarez

Eduardo Alvarez
Eduardo Alvarez, the son of Cuban immigrants, is first Cuban-American male speed skater to make a U.S. Olympic team after a great performance at the 2014 Winter Olympic Trials.

The 24-year-old short track speed skater, who earned the nickname “Eddie the Jet” as a child, has had an impressive run during the 2013–14 ISU Short Track Speed Skating World Cup. He won a gold (at Kolomna) and a silver (at Seoul) in the 5000-meter relay, as well as a bronze (at Shanghai) in the 500 meters.

Jonathan Garcia

Jonathan Garcia
During the United States Olympic Trials in December 2013, Jonathan Garcia skated a personal best 34.85s in the 500-meter race to qualify for the. But the 27-year-old Latino speed skater was disqualified on a technicality.

“Even though I was disqualified, I still raced one of my best races ever so it was still good regardless of being disqualified,” Garcia told the Katy Times.

But Garcia didn’t let that disappointment affect him. The following day he earned a spot on the U.S. Winter Olympic team by finishing fourth in the 1000-meter event, claiming his first Olympic berth of his career.