2016 Olympics Medal Count and Standings for Latin American Countries (TABLE) – Who Are the Latino Medal-Winners at Rio So Far? Mexico Flops, Twitter Reacts
As of Monday morning, 17 Hispanic athletes from six countries had won Olympic hardware in Brazil.
Flash back to the 1968 Mexico City summer games - the last time Latin America played host - and only 16 medals were awarded to predominately Spanish-speaking nations. Cuba had four; Argentina two; Venezuela one; and Mexico nine, though their single-digital medal count remains a record-low for a host country.
Latinos primarily earned their gold medals in either boxing or swimming events. Today, they excel in everything from gymnastics to tennis to track and field.
The first week of the Rio Olympics brought the first-ever Puerto Rican tennis gold medalist, Argentina's first-ever judo gold medal winner, and a weightlifting Colombian who promptly retired after winning gold.
That doesn't even factor in contributions from Cuban, Venezuelan, and American Olympians who took part in medal ceremonies. Here's a look at where Latin American countries stand with a week left in Rio.
Here's a look at the other Latino Olympic winners.
Argentina - Paula Pareto (gold, judo women's 48kg); Juan Martín del Potro (silver, tennis men's singles)
Brazil - Rafaela Silva (gold, judo women's 57kg); Thiago Braz da Silva (gold, men's pole vault); Felipe Wu (silver, shooting); Diego Hypolito, Arthur Zanetti, Arthur Mariano (silver and bronze, gymnastics); Poliana Okimoto (bronze, marathon swimming); Mayra Aguiar, Rafael Silva (bronze, judo)
Colombia - óscar Figueroa (gold, weightlifting men's 62kg); Caterine Ibargüen (gold, women's triple jump); Yuberjen Herney Martinez Rivas (silver, boxing men's light fly 49kg); Yuri Alvear (silver, judo women's 70kg)
Cuba - Ismael Borrero Molina (gold, wrestling men's Greco-Roman 59kg); Idalys Ortiz (silver, judo women's over 78kg); Joahnys Argilagos (bronze, boxing men's light fly 49kg); Erislandy Savón (bronze, boxing men's heavy 91 kg); Lázaro álvarez (bronze, boxing men's light 60kg)
Puerto Rico - Mónica Puig (gold, tennis women's singles)
Venezuela - Yulimar Rojas (silver, women's triple jump)
Mexico Shut Out
Mexico, a nation with over 100 participants, has not made a dent on the medal count.
No individual has made it to an event final. The men's Olympic soccer team, which placed first in the London games, didn't make it out of the group stage in Rio.
Was looking through the Rio medal count for a surprise country that had no medals. Mexico was the one that stuck out to me. Saudi Arabia too
— Ron Canniff (@FinsBroadcaster) August 14, 2016
Michael Phelps himself has more gold medals than Mexico in the history of the Olympics — marianna loves aly (@5Harmonya) August 14, 2016
Puerto Rico, a territory of the US that isnt even an independent country now has more medals than Mexico smh — Santi (@TBLDiehard) August 13, 2016
Mexico's Summer of 2016 has been a letdown. First Copa America Centenario and now Rio 2016... — Juan Direction (@JuanDirection57) August 10, 2016
Adding insult to injury, 22-year-old Alexa Moreno was body shamed by Twitter users who didn't believe she fit their image of a gymnast. Social media users flocked to Moreno's defense, posting motivational tweets reminding Moreno that she was an inspiration to Olympic hopefuls all over the world.
Sad to see MEXICANS body-shame Alexa Moreno. She is representing you, she is an olympian, she is a human. She deserves respect. — RMadridGirl (@RMadridGirl) August 10, 2016
Unless you're capable of doing what #AlexaMoreno can do. Don't comment on anything other than what an accomplishment it is to be an Olympian — Harold. Jr (@hman357) August 10, 2016
"..You need to believe in yourself and fight to be able to do things no one has ever done before.” - You tell ‘em, girl #AlexaMoreno — Estivalli Sv (@EstiivSanchezVz) August 10, 2016
Wait, people think #AlexaMoreno is fat but #KhloeKardashian thinks people are saying she's too skinny? wtf. I'd like to see her do a flip! — varta ariaban (@vartamelon) August 9, 2016
#AlexaMoreno keep going girl !! pic.twitter.com/fyJD8n6orm — Angie RrAa (@aAngieE8) August 11, 2016
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