NewsWhore
08-21-2008, 04:00 PM
Dominican taekwondo fighter Gabriel Mercedes did the unthinkable and is bringing home a silver medal. Mercedes's medal, the third for the DR since it began competing in the Olympic Games in 1964, was highlighted by his brush with perfection throughout the tournament. The young athlete from Monte Plata won his first round match against Portuguese athlete Pedro Povoa, 3-0. He then went on to beat former Olympic gold medalist Chu Mu-Yen, from China Tapei. Mercedes next faced Spaniard Juan Antonio Ramos. In his final match he faced Mexican athlete Guillermo Perez, where he was defeated in a judge's decision after a four-round match.
The score was tied 1-1, but the judges awarded Mexican Guillermo Perez the gold because he had scored first. This is the country's first silver in an Olympics, and a first for taekwondo. In the course of a week Mercedes has become a national hero, joining the ranks of Felix Sanchez or David Ortiz. Less important, yet gratifying, is the fact that Mercedes will be awarded a vehicle and RD$5.5 million from the government for his medal wining performance. What makes Mercedes medal more interesting is the fact that the young man started off as a shoe shine boy to make enough money.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#11)
The score was tied 1-1, but the judges awarded Mexican Guillermo Perez the gold because he had scored first. This is the country's first silver in an Olympics, and a first for taekwondo. In the course of a week Mercedes has become a national hero, joining the ranks of Felix Sanchez or David Ortiz. Less important, yet gratifying, is the fact that Mercedes will be awarded a vehicle and RD$5.5 million from the government for his medal wining performance. What makes Mercedes medal more interesting is the fact that the young man started off as a shoe shine boy to make enough money.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#11)