Bronze Medal for Venezuela.. Thanks Dalia!

The taekwondist Dalia Contreras won the Bronze Medal in Women −49 kg. Dalia is 24 years old and she's from Cabudare, Lara State. Dalia's medal is Venezuela's first medal in the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games and the number 11 medal in Venezuela's participation history in the Olympic Games. Venezuela has got 1 gold medal, 2 silver medals and 8 bronze medals.

She said " I always dreamt of going to the Olympic games, I always told my mom that I wanted to go to the games... winning a medal was another goal but I made it..."

Venezuela first competed in London 1948, with The cyclist Julio Cesar Leon, our only participant and has sent athletes to compete in every Summer Olympic Games since then. Venezuela has also participated in the Winter Olympic Games since 1998.

In Helsinki 1959, there were 37 Venezuelan athlete participating that year. Two women Úrsula Selle y Gerda Müller, were also there. The athlete Arnoldo Devonish (June 15, 1932 – January 1, 1997) won the first bronze medal in Men's triple jump. Devonish was from Zulia State. In his jump, he registered 15,15 meters.

In Rome 1960, Enrico Forcela also won bronze medal in Men's 50 meter rifle prone.

In Mexico 1968, the boxer Francisco "Morochito" Rodríguez from Cumana, won a gold medal in Men's light flyweight. he competed against the Korean Young Ju Lee.

Eight years later in Montreal 1976, Pedro Gamarro won a silver medal in Men's welterweight.

Next, in Moscow 1980 another boxer, Bernardo Piñango got another silver medal in Men's bantamweight (categoria gallo).

In Los Angeles 1984, Venezuela got three bronze medals, two in boxing by Marcelino Bolivar (Men's light flyweight) and Omar Catarí (Men's featherweight). That year our Rafael Vidal got the Men's 200 meter butterfly bronze medal, too.

In Barcelona 92, Arlindo Goveia got Gold medal in Tae Kwon Do, but unfortunately that discipline wasn't a valid discipline in the Olympic games at that time.

Twenty years later in Athens 2004, Israel Rubio (Men's featherweighty) and Adriana Carmona in taekwondo (Women's heavyweight) got two Bronze medals more for Venezuela.

Finally, this year in Beijing 2008 our Dalia Contreras won the Bronze Medal.

We are very happy and proud of Dalia and we want to congratulate and thank her for the happiness that her dreams of computing in an Olympic game have given the Venezuelan people.

Now after reading about our athletes and their performance at the different Olympic Games. What do you think? Is it easy to get a medal? What do you know about our athletes? Do you you have a favorite one? What about the sports? What's your favorite?

Source: Wikipedia
Posters: Olympic Games

Bolivar Bolivariano no es un pensamiento muerto ni mucho menos un santo para prenderle una vela.... Ali Primera.

Today, we are remembering our Bolivar. What do you think about this great Venezuelan? How important is his legacy to you? Should we be proud of him? Was he a superheroe or just an ordinary human being?

Reading The Free Dictionary, I found this: "Simón José Antonio de la Santísima Trinidad Bolívar Palacios y Blanco called El Libertador (born July 24, 1783 in Caracas, Captaincy General of Venezuela – died December 17, 1830, in Santa Marta, Colombia) was a leader of several independence movements throughout South America, collectively known as Bolívar's War.

In 1802, he married María Teresa Rodríguez del Toro y Alaysa, daughter of Bernardo Nicolás Rodríguez del Toro y Ascanio and wife Benita de Alaiza y Medrano. She died of yellow fever less than a year later and decided he would never remarry.

Together with José de San Martín, Bolívar is regarded as one of the Liberators of Spanish South America."

Wikipedia tell us..... "After the triumph over the Spanish monarchy, Bolívar participated in the foundation of Gran Colombia, a nation formed from the liberated Spanish colonies. Bolívar became President of Gran Colombia from 1821 to 1830, President of Peru from 1824 to 1826 and President of Bolivia from 1825 to 1826. His legacy contributed decisively to the independence of present-day Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Panamá, Perú and Venezuela."

Now... What do I think about our "Libertador"... he was a great man ...an initiator and a true believer.. he had dreams and he pursued them... he was a man of honor and kept promises. I also think he was a human being of his time and he did as his conscience told him to do. He also could see that moral and education are our first necessities....

Some of his thoughts:

Usted formó mi corazón para la libertad, para la justicia, para lo grande, para lo hermoso. Yo he seguido el sendero que usted me señaló... No puede figurarse usted cuán hondamente se han grabado en mi corazón las lecciones que usted me ha dado " (Palabras de El Libertador a su maestro Don Simón Rodríguez ­ 1797)

El que manda debe oír aunque sean las más duras verdades y, después de oídas, debe aprovecharse de ellas para corregir los males que produzcan los errores.

Moral y luces son los polos de una República, moral y luces son nuestras primeras necesidades" (Palabras de El Libertador ante el Congreso de Angostura - 15 de febrero 1819)

What do you think about our Libertador? What are you doing to contribute to the development and growing of our country? If you had the chance to talk to Bolivar what would you tell him?


Source: The Free Dictionary, Wikipedia,

Go Venezuela go! Girls and Boys go to Beijing!

Frank Solomona wrote on his blog Rapids Volleyball that ......Venezuela will have both its Volleyball teams at Beijing Olympic Games. A first time ever for the Men’s team, qualified in Argentina, and the same for the Women’s squad, which won as well the South American Olympic Qualification Tournament.

Can you believe it? Isn't it exciting? Our country is participating in the next Beijing Olympic Games. Let's congratulate our volleyball teams and wish them the best luck in the next Olympic Games. I used to play it when I was in high school, but once I started the university I didn't play it anymore. Sometimes I wish I had more time to play sports... I just watch them on TV.

What do you think? Do you like volleyball? Do you play it?

Venezuela mine!