RHC Olympic Update no.13-29 Sept 2000 Via NY Transfer News * All the News That Doesn't Fit Radio Havana Cuba - Olympics Update no.13 - 29 September 2000 PEDROSO: THE BEST LONG JUMPER IN THE LAND OF KANGAROOS Sydney, September 28(RHC)-- Cuba's long jumper Ivan Pedroso has in his hands the only title that was missing from his prolific career: the gold medal in an Olympic event. In his sixth and final attempt, the Cuban long jumper got the title with an 8.55 meter jump. Pedroso found in Australian Jai Taurima an athlete that kept the world in suspense, improving his jumps regularly. There was a moment, though, when the Australian jumper even took the lead with 8.49 meters, 8 centimeters more than the Cuban. Bronze went to Ukrainian Roman Shurenko with 8.31 meters. Another Cuban, Luis Meliz, who also classified for the finals, finished in place 7 with 8.08 meters, a very good result taking into consideration that this is his first major international competition. Moreover, Meliz and Pedroso were the jumpers with best results during preliminaries, both with jumps over 8 meters. Pedroso deserved that victory for his constant work and efforts over the years, for the Cuban has three world outdoor championship titles and four world indoor supremacies. However, the Olympic title was the only important trophy he was missing. He was too young in Barcelona in 1992 and then finished in 4th place. Then, in Atlanta, after being operated on, concluded in place 12. He told the press that this is his greatest moment of satisfaction in his sports career. He said it's been a good year, without a trace of injuries and with strong physical preparation. Headcoach Milan Maton commented on Pedroso's jump: "It was a very interesting competition, in which I saw Pedroso with great possibilities to win gold or silver. The Australian had an 8.30 meter jump as his best mark, but his determination was reinforced in front of his local fans. Nevertheless, I was confident. I'm also satisfied with Luis Meliz's performance. He has proven to be a great champion. He is very young and was very good in Sydney." Pedroso next shares his views: "I think this has been a good competition and the Australian jumper was very well prepared. But I felt pretty good and I knew it was a day in which it was impossible to beat me. My dream was to win the gold medal. I felt the public's support and I knew Cubans were expecting that medal from me. I want to dedicate this medal to my mom. It was her dream too and I made it real. I want to dedicate it in a very special way." Pedroso's mother passed away only two months ago. Surprisingly, even though great jumpers like Yago Lemala of Spain and James Beckford from Jamaica were eliminated from competition, the Australian jumper came to give fans an excellent confrontation with the Cuban athlete. Commenting about Taurima, Pedroso said the Australian jumper has great possibilities, a magnificent technique and was a difficult rival. Since the Seville World Track and Field championship, added Pedroso, Taurina has been showing his potentialities. Pedroso has become the 6th Cuban athlete to win gold in track and field Olympic competitions. Before him are: Alberto Juantorena with gold in men's 400 and 800 meters in Montreal, 1976; Maria Caridad Colon with gold in women's javelin in Moscow, 1980; Javier Sotomayor in men's high jump and Maritza Marten in women's discus at the Barcelona 1992 games. The 5th one was hurdle runner Anier Garcia who got the first gold in Sydney. Pedroso's triumph places him as successor of legendary Carl Lewis, who reigned in men's long jump between 1984 and 1996. TWO PARALLEL COMPETITIONS IN SYDNEY STOP THE HEARTS OF THOUSANDS OF CUBANS Sydney, September 28(RHC)-- During 104 minutes, filled with anxiety and emotions, the hearts of thousands of Cubans across the island were on the brink of collapse at the game between Cuba and Brazil in women's volleyball. Cuba defeated Brazil in tie break 15-9 and got the ticket for the finals, where it will be face to face with Russia, which beat the U.S., also in a very tight game. The game between Brazil and Cuba constituted a confrontation between two powerful squads that is considered a Latin American classic. Four years ago, it was the same story: Cuba won over Brazil, securing its second Olympic title. Brazilian players burst into tears, while Janina Conceicao, one of the very few that held back her tears, regretted the loss adimitting that at every important competition, Cuba always beat them. It's a great team, she added. The two teams were very even all throughout the game in which, at times, the Brazilians took the lead to later loose ground to their rivals. SAVON CONTINUES HIS CLIMB TOWARDS A THIRD OLYMPIC GOLD Sydney, September 28 (RHC)-- Six times world champion Cuban boxer Felix Savon continues his climb towards a third Olympic belt in the 91 kilo division in Sydney. Savon defeated German Sebastian Kober 14-8 in semifinals. This way, Savon secured silver for the island and is just one step from revalidating his title for the third consecutive time, to match Hungarian Laszlo Papp and Cuban Teofilo Stevenson. KINDELAN IS KNOCKING ON OLYMPIC GOLD Sydney, September 28(RHC)-- Cuba's Mario Kindelan, in the 60 kilo division, maintained the winning streak defeating Alexandr Maletin from Russia 27-15. Kindelan's victory was the second for the island after a sad beginning with the defeat of Maikro Romero in the 48 kilo division. The Russian boxer resisted the Cuban attack only in the first round and was only two points behind. However, in the third and fourth rounds, the world champion outclassed his opponent leaving no room for doubts. Kindelan will have Ucrarnian Andriy Kotelnyk as rival for the gold. Cuban boxers continue their powerful advance, despite some setbacks. Five men climbed into the ring today and Cuba lost just one, while the others will go for the gold. Diogenes Luna in the 63.5 kilo division goes for the silver tomorrow. Cuba, with a complete team, placed 10 men in quarterfinals and six advanced to semifinals. 54 kilo division fighter Guillermo Rigondeaux who won over Clarence Vinson from the US 18-6, sending him to the canvas twice, and so far has exhibited the best technical boxing of the tournament. ROMERO ELIMINATED IN SYDNEY Sydney, September 28 (RHC)-- French Brahim Asloun defeated Cuba's Olympic champion Maikro Romero in the 48 kilo division at the continuation of boxing competitions. Both fighters concluded with a tie in the first round, then the European outclassed the Cuban in the second and third. While Romero was better in the 4th round, he lost to the French boxer by the narrow margin of one point. Romero, gold in Atlanta in the 51 kilo division, was looking for his second title, now in 48. However, Romero concludes with a bronze medal for the island. Asloun will be facing Spain's Rafael Lozano in the fight for the gold. Solano defeated 15-10 South Korean Kim Un Chol. CUBA: SIXTH IN MEN'S VOLLEYBALLL Sydney, September 28 (RHC)-- Cuba lost the initial strength showed at the opening game against Brazil for the 5th place in men's volleyball and lost in tie break 15-11. Cuba, landing in an all time low position since Moscow, 1980, will be playing now for the 7th notch. The Cuban men's team, though it is powerful and players have the know how to reach top positions, is not consistent. But head coach Juan Diaz said it has to do with Latin temperament. He said while Europeans remain calm in the face of adversity or the emotion of being ahead, Cubans get either excited or frustrated and oftentimes end up loosing control. CUBA CLIMBS TO PLACE 12 IN THE GENERAL MEDAL STANDINGS Sydney, September 28 (RHC)-- Cuba appears this morning in place 12 with 5 gold, 8 silver and two bronze medals. After 13 days of competitions, the U.S. is up front with 32-18-26. China is number two with 26-15-15 and Russia in third with 19-18-21. Australia is number 4 with 15-22-14. MARION JONES: 2 FOR 2 IN TRACK AND FIELD Sydney, September 28 (RHC) -- The U.S.'s Marion Jones took Thursday another important step in her aspirations to win five titles in Sydney's track and field competitions. The American athlete earned the gold medal in the 200-meter event with her best mark of the season: 21.84 seconds. The silver and bronze medals were for Paula Davis-Thompson from the Bahamas and Susanthika Jayasinghe who gave Sri Lanka its first Olympic medal in 52 years. In this event, Australian Cathy Freeman finished in a far seventh place with 22.53 seconds, which was nevertheless also her best mark of the season. Jones had won the title in the 100-meter race last Saturday and classified for the women's long jump finals that will take place next Saturday. She also intends to participate in the U.S.'s 4x100 and 4x400-meter relays. In other action Thursday, Yanina Korolchik from Belarus won the gold medal in women's shot put with a 20.56-meter throw in her last attempt. Russian Larisa Peleshenko and world champion Astrid Kumbernuss from Germany took the silver and bronze medals, respectively. In men's decathlon, Estonian Erki Nool earned the gold medal with 8.641 points. The second and third places were for Roman Sebrle from the Czec Republic and the U.S.'s Chris Huffins, who had been ahead during the first 9 events but fell to the third place after the last event, the 1.500-meter race in which Nool enetered first. In other results, Greek Konstantinos Kenderis gave the biggest surprise of track and field after winning the title in the 200-meter race, setting a national record of 20.14 seconds and leaving British Darren Campbell and favorite Trinitarian Ato Boldon with t he silver and bronze medals. Kenderis took advantage of the absences of the U.S.'s favorites, Michael Johnson and Maurice Green, who had not classified for this event. NORWAY DOES AWAY WITH THE U.S.'S REIGN IN WOMEN'S SOCCER Sydney, September 28 (RHC) -- Norway proclaimed itself Olympic champion in the women's soccer finals after defeating defending champion United States 3-2 Thursday. Both teams fought vigorously for the victory and almost by the end of the game, in the 92nd minute when Norway was ahead 2-1, the Americans tied the game 2-2. However, in the first extra-time, Norwayan Dagny Mellgren took advantage of an error of the U.S.'s defense and scored the goal that gave the Europeans the Olympic title in women's soccer. DENMARK, SOUTH KOREA, NORWAY AND HUNGARY TO WOMEN'S HANDBALL SEMIFINALS Sydney, September 28 (RHC) -- Denmark and South Korea will repeat Friday the handball gold match of the 1996 Atlanta Games when they face each other in Sydney during semifinals of this event, while the other finalist will emerge from the game between Hungary and Norway. In quarter finals, South Korea took an easy win over Brazil 35-24 while Denmark, 1996 Olympic champion, had to play an extra-time to defeat France 28-26. In other results, Hungary beat Austria 28-27 and Norway topped Romania 28-16. THE U.S.'S BASKETBALL DREAM-TEAM ADVANCES TO SEMIFINALS Sydney, September 28 (RHC) -- Quarterfinals of the Olympic basketball event for men took place Thursday. The U.S.'s Dream Team defeated Russia 85-70 and in semifinals will face Lithuania, winner over Yugoslavia 76-63. In other results, Australia beat Italy 65-62. In the next round, the Aussies will take on France, scourge of Canada 68-63. SOUTH KOREA AND THE NETHERLANDS GO FOR THE GOLD IN FIELD HOCKEY Sydney, September 28 (RHC) -- The South Korean field hockey team will try to win the first title of its Olympic history in this discipline after defeating Pakistan in semifinals 1-0. However, they will have a strong rival: the Dutch squad that will try to revalidate the gold medal earned four years ago in Atlanta. In semifinals, the Netherlands had to sweat before defeating Australia 5-4 in penalties. Also on Saturday, Pakistan and Australia will face each other in the bronze medal dispute in a match filled with disappointment. On the one hand, the Pakistani's believed they could become Olympic champions after their victory over their eternal rival: India. And, on the other hand, Australia, being the host country, hoped to at least reach the finals. THE UNITED STATES AND RUSSIA GET TITLES IN TENNIS Sydney, September 28 (RHC) -- With a little help from her sister Serena, American tennis player Venus Williams became the first women to win two titles in Olympic tennis competitions after her victory Thursday in doubles 6-1 and 6-1 over Dutch Kristie Boogert and Miriam Oremans. Venus had also claimed the gold in singles Wednesday over Russian Elena Demetieva 6-2, 6-4. The U.S.'s athlete remains unbeatable in 32 consecutive matches since last June when she won in Wimbledon and the U.S. Open. In women's doubles, Belgians Els Callens and Dominique van Roost walked away with the bronze after beating Olga Barabanshikova and Natasha Zvereva from Belarus 4-6, 6-4 and 6-2. Meanwhile, in men's, Russian Yevgueni Kafelnikov earned the Olympic gold medal in singles playing against German Thomas Haas 7-6, 3-6, 6-2, 4-6 and 6-3 in a 3 hour, 35 minute match held before 10.000 spectators. The bronze medal went to French Arnaud di Paquale, winner over Swiss Roger Federer 7-6, 6-7, and 6-3. GOLD MEDALS FOR THEW U.S. AND SOUTH KOREA IN TAEKWONDO Sydney, September 28 (RHC) -- The U.S.'s Steven Lopez won for his country the Olympic title in 68 kilos during Thursday's taekwondo competitions. Lopez defeated Sin Joon-Sik from South Korea in the gold medal match. In this division, the bronze went to Hadi Saeibonehkohal from Iran. Meanwhile, in women's, South Korean Jung Jae-Eun claimed the gold medal in the 57-kilo division beating Vietnamese Tran Hieu Ngan in finals. The bronze was for Hamide Bikcin from Turkey. SCANDAL FOLLOWS DOPING OF ROMANIAN GYMNAST Sydney, September 28 (RHC) -- The President of the Romanian Olympic Committee, Ion Tiriac, presented Thursday his resignation in light of the scandal caused by the case of Romanian gymnast Andrea Raducan, who was stripped of one of the two gold medals she earned in Sydney after testing positive in an anti-doping control. On Thursday, the Sports Arbitration Committee ratified the sanction imposed on the young Romanian athlete, though they recognized that it had been an involuntary doping. One day before the competition, Raducan caught a cold and the team's doctor prescribed her a couple of pseudo ephedrine tablets -a substance accepted by the International Gymnastics Federation but forbidden by the International Olympic Committee. Although Raducan was stripped of the all-around medal, she kept the gold of the competition by teams and the silver she earned in the vault. (c) 2000 Radio Habana Cuba, NY Transfer News. Todos los derechos reservados. ================================================================= NY Transfer News Collective * A Service of Blythe Systems Since 1985 - Information for the Rest of Us 339 Lafayette St., New York, NY 10012 http://www.blythe.org e-mail: nyt@blythe.org ================================================================= rhc-eng-9886 2000-Oct-02 11:14:55