Cuba among the Latin American Olympic leaders
Campaign News | Sunday, 24 August 2008
In what may be considered the best Olympic games of modern times, Cuba made a worthy performance at Beijing 2008, with two gold, 11 silver and 11 bronze medals.
Cuba occupied the third place among Latin American and Caribbean countries, after Brazil and Jamaica, and the fifth in the Americas; it got the 28th position in the general medal standing.
The Cuban delegation experienced nice and bitter experiences in Beijing, cradle of world sports during 16 days that paralyzed the world who witnessed the majestic Olympic facilities and the good organization of the games by Chinese authorities.
The Cuban people, who followed the competitions live on TV, shared significant moments like the triumphs of Greco-Roman wrestler Miajain Lopez who took the first gold for Cuba in the 120-kilo category; sports shooter Eglys Cruz, who took the bronze and set a national record in her modality; and archer Juan Carlso Stevens, who finished fifth.
In athletics, Dayron Robles made an outstanding performance and took the second gold for Cuba in 110-meter hurdles, while Yoanka Gonzalez got the silver in cycling, and Leonel Suarez garnered the bronze in decathlon.
However, the three sports disciplines that usually draw most attention of the Cuban people concluded with results below all expectations. In baseball, the Cubans took the silver in an emotive game against South Korea, which took the Olympic Title. For the first time the Cuban women’s volleyball team concluded without medals, after having made a good performance in the preliminary sessions. Boxing was not as good as expected either, although Cuba took four boxers to the finals.
Despite its 28th Olympic position, Cuba proved that Beijing was a goal possible to reach due to the quality, transparency, cordiality and modesty of the Cuban delegation in all different sports competitions.
