San Antonio de los Baños, Artemisa, Cuba.-Ramón Fonst was the first Latin American to win an Olympic crown. To write the history of the Olympic Games, we have to mention Latin America as a world power.
Cuba is one of those countries that have their own legends. Ramón Fonst was the first Latin American to win an Olympic crown and holds the privilege of being the greatest conqueror with four titles. He debuted at Paris Games, in 1900 and won the sword. He added three gold medals, in San Luis, United States of America, 1904.
The great Teófilo Stevenson has an impressive record. Olympic titles in Munich, 1972, Montreal, 1976 and Moscow, 1980; always competing in the heavyweight division. His compatriot Felix Savón also won three Olympic crowns.
Alberto Juantorena, "The elegant of the tracks", achieved two Olympic titles in Montreal, 1976; until now no one has equaled in the same edition. He won the 800 meters record (1.43.50) and the 400 time (44.26).
Driulis Gonzalez dominated Olympic judo in Atlanta in the division of 52 kilograms. Her feats also includes an Olympic silver medal in Sydney, 2000 and two bronze medals in Barcelona and Athens.
Mijail Lopez from Pinar del Rio, won the editions in Beijing, 2008 and London, 2012 and now he is a potential gold winner for Rio. The artemiseña Idalis Ortiz and Leuris Pupo from Holguin, climbed to the top of the podium in London, 2012 in judo and shooting. In the case of the artemiseña, she could repeat her feat in Brazil.
Other Latin athletes with titles were the Ecuadorian walker Jefferson Perez; a gold medal in Atlanta, 1996 and silver in Beijing, 2008. The costarican swimmer Claudia Poll, in Atlanta won the 200 freestyle. Four years later, she returned to the Olympic podium with a bronze medal 200 and 400 freestyle. The dominican Felix Sanchez, winner in the 400 meter hurdles in Athens, 2004 and repeated the performance in London, 2012.
The Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro provide new feats. Latin America will be among them, I am convinced.
