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

Posted on August 7, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

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.

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.

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.

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

Posted on August 6, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

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.

“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.

Cuba’s Roniel Iglesias Wins Gold Medal in Men’s Welterweight Boxing at Tokyo Games

Posted on August 3, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Roniel Iglesias is golden yet again…

The 32-year-old Cuban amateur boxer claimed the gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Games after defeating Great Britain’s Pat McCormack by a score of 5-0 in the men’s welterweight competition.

Scores were 30-27, 30-27, 30-27, 30-27 and 29-28 in favor of Iglesias, who delivered a masterclass performance Tuesday evening at Kokugikan Arena in Tokyo.

Iglesias has previously won a gold medal at the 2012 London Games in the light welterweight category.

He also claimed a bronze medal at the 2008 Beijing Games after losing his semifinal bout to defending champion Manus Boonjumnong in the light welterweight category.

Iglesias moved to the welterweight prior to the 2016 Rio Games, where he competed but failed to medal.

The four-time Cuban Olympian with three medals can now add ‘two-time Olympic Gold medalist’ to his resume.

“This puts me straight up there in the highest ranking, in the highest order,” he said. “I think this speaks for itself and shows how much I love the sport. … Those who always doubted that I could achieve the Olympic pinnacle, that was an extra push from me to get up every morning and give it that extra bit of effort and achieve this result,” said Iglesias of his Olympic career.

Spain’s Teresa Portela Claims Silver in Women’s K-1 200m at the Tokyo Games

Posted on August 3, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

The sixth time’s the charm for Teresa Portela…

The 39-year-old Spanish sprint canoer claimed the silver medal in the women’s K-1 200 meter canoe sprint competition at the 2020 Tokyo Games.

Portela finished the race with a final time of 38.883, right behind gold medalist Lisa Carrington of New Zealand’s time of 38.120.

Denmark’s Emma Jorgensen finished right behind Portela with a time of 38.901 to settle for the bronze.

Portela, who has competed since the early 2000s, has competed in six Olympics.

Previously she finished fourth on one occasion (2012 London Games: Women’s K-1 200 m) and fifth on three occasions (2004 Athens Games: K-2 500 m, K-4 500 m; 2008 Beijing Games: K-4 500 m).

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.

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.

Spain’s Rayderley Zapata Claims Silver in Men’s Floor Exercise at Tokyo Games

Posted on August 1, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Rayderley Zapata has ended Spain’s gymnastics medal 13-year drought…

The 28-year-old Dominican-born Spanish gymnast claimed the silver medal in the men’s floor exercise at the 2020 Tokyo Games.

Zapata earned a score of 14.933 for his routine, the same score as gold medalist Artem Dolgopyat of Israel. But Dolgopyat benefited from the difficulty rating.

According to the judges, Zapata’s exercise obtained a 6.50 in difficulty, while Dolgopyat’s came in at 6.60. Those tenths prevented Spain from adding its second gold at the Tokyo Olympics.

The podium was completed by the Chinese gymnast Xiao Ruoteng with a score of 14,766.

The last Spanish gymnast to clain a medal in this discipline was Gervasio Deferr, at the 2008 Beijing Games. He won a silver with a 15.775 in the floor final.

Ray Zapata’s medal is the sixth metal for Spain at the Tokyo Games.

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.

Idalys Ortiz Claims Fourth Career Olympics Medal at the Tokyo Games

Posted on July 30, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

It’s a rare honor for Idalys Ortiz…

The 31-year-old Cuban judoka may have lost her gold medal match against Japan’s Akira Sone in the women’s judo +78 kg category at the 2020 Tokyo Games, but she’s still managed to make some history.

In claiming the silver at this Summer Olympics, Ortiz became the fourth women to earn at least four medals in judo, having also won bronze at the 2008 Beijing Games, gold at the 2012 London Games and silver at 2016 Rio Games.

Ryoko Tani owns the record for the most with five.

Sone won the match via ippon in the Golden Score period after Oritz was charged with her third penalty of the encounter at the 8:52 mark of the match.

“Akira Sone is a great athlete,” Ortiz said. “She is very young, she is very talented, and we knew beforehand if she ended up being my opponent she would be very difficult to beat.”

The bronze medals went to France’s Romane Dicko and Iryna Kindzerska, of Azerbaijan, who is the first woman from her country to earn an Olympic medal in judo.

Brazil’s Mayra Aguiar Claims Third Consecutive Olympic Bronze at the 2020 Tokyo Games

Posted on July 29, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

It’s a threepeat of sorts for Mayra Aguiar…

The 29-year-old Brazilian judoka earned her third consecutive Olympic bronze medal at the 2020 Tokyo Games.

Aguiar defeated South Korea’s Yoon Hyun-ji in the Women’s 78kg in the Bronze Medal B match.

Considered one of the most talented Brazilian judokas in history, Aguiar is competing in her fourth Summer Olympics.

She lost her only match at the 2008 Beijing Games, but then claimed the bronze medal at the 2012 London Games and 2016 Rio Games.

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Tag Archives: 2008 Beijing Games

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

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

Cuba’s Roniel Iglesias Wins Gold Medal in Men’s Welterweight Boxing at Tokyo Games

Spain’s Teresa Portela Claims Silver in Women’s K-1 200m at the Tokyo Games

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

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

Spain’s Rayderley Zapata Claims Silver in Men’s Floor Exercise at Tokyo Games

Aremi Fuentes Wins Weightlifting Bronze Medal at Tokyo Games

Idalys Ortiz Claims Fourth Career Olympics Medal at the Tokyo Games

Brazil’s Mayra Aguiar Claims Third Consecutive Olympic Bronze at the 2020 Tokyo Games