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.

Sarah Robles Repeats as Weightlifting Bronze Medalist at Tokyo Games

Posted on August 2, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

It’s a déjà vu of sorts for Sarah Robles…

The 33-year-old Mexican American weightlifter has claimed the bronze medal in the women’s +87kg weightlifting competition at the 2020 Tokyo Games, becoming the first U.S. woman to win two Olympic medals in weightlifting.

Robles, known as “the strongest woman in America,” previously won the bronze medal at the 2016 Rio Games, ending a 16-year medal drought in weightlifting at that Olympics.

Robles began the competition in the over-87 kilograms class at the Tokyo International Forum by successfully making all three of her lifts in the clean and jerk. Her final lift of 128 kilograms tied the American record set in 2003 by Olympic medalist Cheryl Haworth.

Robles lifted 154 kilograms on her second attempt in the clean and jerk to give her at total of 282 kilograms. She was unsuccessful in her final attempt at 157 kilograms.

Li Wenwen of China won the gold medal with an Olympic-record total of 320 kilograms. Emily Campbell of Great Britain won the silver medal with a total of 283 kilograms, one more than Robles.

Robles’ medal came one day after her 33rd birthday. She is the oldest U.S. women’s weightlifter to medal at the Olympic Games and the second-oldest U.S. woman to compete in weightlifting at the Olympics.

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.

Neisi Dajomes Becomes Ecuador’s First Female Athlete to Win an Olympic Medal at Tokyo Games

Posted on August 1, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Neisi Dajomes is a golden girl…

The 23-year-old Ecuadorian weightlifter has become the first female athlete from Ecuador to win an Olympic medal in any sport at the 2020 Tokyo Games.

Dajomes claimed the gold in style in the women’s weightlifting 76 kilograms class at the Tokyo International Forum with a final score of 263kg.

Dajomes’ performance is a significant improvement from her showing in the 2016 Rio Games, advancing from a seventh-place finish in Rio to the top of the podium in 2021.

Team USA’s Kate Nye won the silver with 249kg, while Aremi Fuentes of Mexico took the bronze with 245kg.

Dajomes was the only athlete out of 13 competitors to make every lift she attempted on the platform, an airtight performance that had guaranteed her the gold medal by the time she had completed her first clean & jerk. Here are all of her attempts in both lifts plus her highest total.

Snatch— 111/115/118 kilograms (260.1 pounds)
Clean & Jerk — 135/140/145kilograms (319.6 pounds)
Total — 263 kilograms (579.8 pounds)

As she stood on the podium, Dajomes made an emotional dedication to her mother and brother, who passed away in 2019 and 2018 respectively.

“I had a hard time, I lost my mother and recently my brother Javier Palacios, for whom I am here,” she told Ecuadorian television channel RTS.

“All my achievements are dedicated to his memory.”

Dajomes was immediately praised by her nation’s sports minister, Sebastián Palacios.

He said on social media, “There are no words! Thank you for this! Our first Ecuadorian woman with an Olympic medal. You are golden, Neisi!”

It’s Ecuador’s fourth Olympic medal ever. Dajomes’ gold medal is Ecuador’s second in Tokyo, the first having been won by Richard Carapaz in the cycling event. This is also the first time Ecuador has ever won two medals at the same Olympics.

Bruno Fratus Becomes Oldest Pool Swimmer to Win First Ever Olympic Medal at Tokyo Games

Posted on August 1, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Bruno Fratus’ wait is finally over…

The 32-year-old Brazilian competitive swimmer, considered one of the great men’s sprinters of this era, has earned his first career Olympic medal at the 2020 Tokyo Games.

Fratus finished third in the final of the men’s 50 free, swimming a 21.57 to earn the bronze medal for Brazil. Team USA’s Caleb Dressel won the gold with a time of 21.07, setting an Olympic world record. France’s Florent Manaudou claimed silver with a 21.55.

Though Fratus has a decorated career at the World Championships, Pan Pacific, and Pan American Games, he had never won an Olympic medal until this one.

Additionally, Fratus has now become the oldest pool swimmer in history to win their first Olympic medal.

That title was previously held by American David Plummer, who won his first medal with a 3rd-place finish in the 100 back at the 2016 Rio Games at the age of 30. Plummer was 30 year, 304 days old when he earned his first medal, while Fratus was 32 years, 32 days old.

This wasn’t the first piece of history Fratus made in the past several days. With his semifinals performance of 21.60, Fratus became the first swimmer ever to record 90 sub-22 LCM 50 free performances in their career. He added to that total with his finals swim of 21.57, so he now has 91 career sub-22s. Fratus has hinted that these were his last Games, but it will be interesting if he chooses swims for another year or two, and is able to reach 100 sub-22 50 frees.

Colombia’s Mariana Pajón Claims Silver Medal in Women’s BMX Racing at Tokyo Games

Posted on July 30, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Mariana Pajón has fallen just short of a third consecutive Olympic gold…

The 29-year-old Colombian cyclist, two-time Olympic gold medalist and BMX World Champion, had to settle for the silver in the women’s BMX racing competition at the 2020 Tokyo Games.

Bethany Shriever of Britain ended Pajon’s bid for a third straight Olympic gold medal, pulling away from the Colombian in the women’s final, in what turned out to be a gripping final on an accident-marred day.

Shriever, an underdog in the competition, said she knew Pajon was gaining down the final straight but managed to keep a cool head.

“When I saw her coming next to me I knew I had to stay smooth, so that’s what I did and managed to hold it to the line. Mariana is an absolute inspiration to me and she’s the only rider I’ve ever really looked up to.”

Pajon took defeat gracefully.

“She was really fast, she did an amazing job,” she said.

Despite having to settle for silver, Pajon has earned her place in Colombian sports history, becoming the first Colombian athlete to win three Olympic medals in their lifetime.

Known as the “The Queen of BMX,” Pajón won her first national title at age of 5 and her first world title at 9. She had won BMX golds at the 2012 London Games and 2016 Rio 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.

Spain’s Maialen Chourraut Completes Olympic Medal Set with Canoeing Silver at Tokyo Games

Posted on July 27, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Maialen Chourraut couldn’t pull off a repeat, but she’s still shining bright…

The 38-year-old Spanish slalom canoeist, who won the gold medal in the K1 event at the 2016 Rio Games, had to settle for silver after the women’s slalom K-1 canoeing event at the 2020 Tokyo Games.

It was Chourraut’s fourth Olympic appearance, having also won bronze at the 2012 London Games.

With this silver, Chourraut, Spain’s oldest competitor at the Tokyo Games this year, has completed her gold-silver-bronze set of Olympic medals.

Along with the silver medal in canoeing, Spain has also claimed another silver medal in Taekwondo, as well as a bronze medal in men’s cycling.

Hispanically Yours

Celebrating the Latino Influence

Tag Archives: 2016 Rio Games

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

Sarah Robles Repeats as Weightlifting Bronze Medalist at 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

Neisi Dajomes Becomes Ecuador’s First Female Athlete to Win an Olympic Medal at Tokyo Games

Bruno Fratus Becomes Oldest Pool Swimmer to Win First Ever Olympic Medal at Tokyo Games

Colombia’s Mariana Pajón Claims Silver Medal in Women’s BMX Racing 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

Spain’s Maialen Chourraut Completes Olympic Medal Set with Canoeing Silver at Tokyo Games