Spain’s Pilar Peña Claims Second-Career Olympic Silver in Women’s Water Polo

Posted on August 7, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

It’s a repeat performance for Pilar Peña…

The 35-year-old Spanish water polo player and her teammates claimed the silver medal in women’s water polo at the 2020 Tokyo Games.

Peña, the captain of the Spanish team, and her fellow teammates had to settle for silver after losing handily to Team USA 5-14.

Ashleigh Johnson, the first African American woman to make a U.S. Olympic water polo team, blocked 11 out of 15 shots from Spain during her time in goal – a rate of 73%. The main goalie for Spain blocked 19% of the shots.

It’s the second silver medal for Spain in the sport, after losing the gold medal match at the 2012 London Games to the United States. Peña was on that silver-winning team.

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 Fernando Jorge & Serguey Torres Claim Surprise Gold in Canoeing at the Tokyo Games

Posted on August 3, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Fernando Jorge and Serguey Torres have ended a 20+ year Olympic medal drought…

The 22-year-old Cuban canoeist and his 34-year-old compatriot/partner won a surprise gold medal in the men’s canoe double 1,000 meters at the 2020 Tokyo Games.

Jorge and Torres ended the race with a time of 3:24.995, just ahead of the Chinese team, who had a time of 3:25.198.

Germany, which had won the event at five of the last seven Olympic games, won the bronze with a score of 3:25.615.

Sebastian Brendel had been in the German boat for gold medals in the 2012 London Games and 2016 Rio Games.

But the race developed into a battle between Cuba and China over the final 500 meters.

The Cuban duo had won silver at the world championships in 2019, but Cuba hadn’t medaled in this event at the Olympics since 2000.

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).

Lázaro Álvarez Claims Third Straight Boxing Bronze Medal at the Tokyo Games

Posted on August 3, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Make that three in a row for Lázaro Álvarez…

The 30-year-old Cuban amateur boxer lost his semifinal men’s featherweight boxing match to the Russian Olympic Committee’s Albert Batyrgaziev by a score of 3-2, leaving him settling for a bronze medal at the 2020 Tokyo Games.

It’s Alvarez’s third consecutive Olympic bronze.

The southpaw previously won the bronze medal at the 2012 London Games and 2016 Rio Games.

Yaime Perez Claims Bronze in Women’s Discus Throw at Tokyo Games

Posted on August 2, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

The third time’s the charm for Yaime Perez…

Competing in her third Olympics, the 30-year-old Cuban athlete was able to finally take the medal stand after claiming the bronze medal in the women’s discus throw competition at the 2020 Tokyo Games.

Perez completed the competition with a best-throw of 65.72 meters.

Team USA’s Valarie Allman took home the gold with a throw of 68.98 meters.

German’s Kristin Pudenz won the silver with a throw of 66.86 meters.

Pérez won the gold medal at the 2019 World Championships and the 2019 Pan American Games.

Perez previously competed in the 2012 London Games, where she finished in 29th place in the qualifying round; and 2016 Rio Games, where she reached the final but did not advance after three throws.

Leuris Pupo Claims Silver in Men’s 25 Meter Rapid Fire Pistol Competition at Tokyo Games

Posted on August 2, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Leuris Pupo has found his way back to the medal podium…

The 44-year-old Cuban shooter earned a silver in the men’s 25 meter rapid fire pistol competition at the 2020 Tokyo Games.

Competing in his fifth Olympics, Pupo finished the competition with a final score of 29.

France’s Jean Quiquampoix claimed the gold with a score of 34, a new Olympic record.

China’s Li Yuehong took home the bronze with a final score of 26 points.

Pupo has previously won the gold in the men’s 25 meter rapid fire pistol competition at the 2012 London Games. It was Cuba’s first-ever Olympic gold in the sport.

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.

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Tag Archives: 2012 London Games

Spain’s Pilar Peña Claims Second-Career Olympic Silver in Women’s Water Polo

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 Fernando Jorge & Serguey Torres Claim Surprise Gold in Canoeing at the 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

Lázaro Álvarez Claims Third Straight Boxing Bronze Medal at the Tokyo Games

Yaime Perez Claims Bronze in Women’s Discus Throw at Tokyo Games

Leuris Pupo Claims Silver in Men’s 25 Meter Rapid Fire Pistol Competition at Tokyo Games

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