Mexico wins its first gold medal at Beijing Games

BEIJING — Guillermo Perez became Mexico's second medalist, and first gold medalist, of the 2008 Summer Games with a victory in the 58-kilogram taekwondo competition.

It was a historic night as Afghanistan won its first Olympic medal ever, with a third place for Rohulla Nikpai.

Perez defeated Dominica's Yulis Gabriel Mercedes for the gold medal. It was Mexico's second gold medal in the last five Olympics, the other going to women's weightlifter Soraya Jiminez in 2000.

Mexico's flagbearer in the opening ceremony, Paolo Espinosa, and Tatiana Ortiz combined for the country's only other medal here, a bronze in synchronized platform diving. She and Ortiz have qualified for the finals in the women's solo platform competition.

-- Randy Harvey

Photo: Mexico's Guillermo Perez shows off his gold medal for the 58-kilogram class of men's taekwondo at the Beijing Olympics. Credit: Matt Dunham / Associated Press

Comments

[Sulema]

Thank you Guillerma I'm happy for our country.. VIVA MEXICO...

[Marth G. LImon]

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CONGRATULATIONS PAISANO. I AM VERY PROUD OF YOU NOT ONLY BECAUSE YOU GOT THE GOLD MEDAL BUT ALSO BECAUSE YOU ARE MEXICAN. TAE KWON DO ITS MY FAVORITE SPORT AND I HOPE ONE DAY I WOULD BE ABLE TO GO TO THE OLIMPIC GAMES TOO.........
DIOS TE BENDIGA Y SIGUELE HECHANDO GANAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

DESDE CALIFORNIA MUCHA SUERTE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ATTE:

maRTHiTa

:p

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[eloy]

it's Paola :D

[Bea O.]

I want to know why the Chinese ushers kept yanking the Mexican flag away from Mr. Perez. What right did they have to do that when they allowed their atheletes to swing their own flags around. Aren't we entitled to the same thing? All Mr. Perez was doing was showing his patriotism and loyalty to his country. It was very upseting to watch such a memorable be tarnished by this heinous act.

[william]

Yeah, why were those Chinese ushers taking the Mexican flag away from Perez, when a moment earlier they allowed their woman's winner to run around the stadium with the Chinese flag?

[zezar]

CONGRATULATIONS mEn!!We nEeD MoRe pEoPlE hOw tHaT GuY Im mExIkO!!!
ThAnKs fOr mAdE Me vErY HaPpY !!! fOr tHe gOlD 4 U AnD Ur fAmIlY AnD 4 MeXiKo!!!
CONGRATULATIONS

[Robert]

Well, Mexican athletes all the time in Mexico are complaining about money resources, and all the time excuse in this problem. In the last year Mexican government allowed 20 million dollars for high level in sports (specifically for Olympic games) and if this no were enough now are complaining because Mexican government didn't take Mexican athlete's families to Beijing.

Athletes have to know that the most important issue in Mexico is poverty not sports, and with 20 million dollars is enough to get at least 8 medals according to population, resources, economical status and historical competition.

Examples like Guillermo Perez are pride for Mexico, but if all athletes do it as him did, another history were we writing.

Felicidades Gullermo, tu si eres un deportista.

[Nadeem Ghausy]

WOW I am soo exited that Afghanistan got its first medal in its history, Congratulation to all Afghan people around the world...

I am regret of only the last seconds which one point the Mexican got more... but it is ok, cause it is also his first medal ...

I am proud to be an Afghan, no matter what we had or what we lost... but we are starting from zero and go ahead....

I am wishing for our second participant Mr. Nesaar Ahmad Bahawi, we all pray for you to bring the gold medal to our beloved country...

:-)

[Luis]

Congratulations Guillermo!!!!!!!

You made all Mexicans proud.

My mother was a black belt in Tae Kow DO in Mexico City in the 80's. I love that sport, you are the best.

Felicidades.!!!!!!

[mariam]

Congradulations to all the countries and espacially to Afghanistan.
I am so proud of Afghans ingeneral. I am so proud of my country.

Muchas Felizidades a Mexico!! (tambian)

[Angie Aldana]

Do the Chinese ushers yank away all the flags from the gold medalists except their own? Or did they only yank the Mexican flag away from Mr. Perez? It's very common for athletes to wave their flags around after winning gold. So why do the Chinese organizers have a problem with this? It's done at all the Olympics!

[Rosendo S.]

CONGRADULATIONS PRIMO...

CUANDO ME DI CUENTA QUE ERA UN PRIMO MIO QUIEN GANO EL ORO, ME DIO MUCHO GUSTO...TE LO MERECIAS PRIMO...YA LOS COMONICAMOS CON TU ABUELITA...TE MANDAMOS TODOS ACA EN STOCKTON, VACAVILLE Y SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA A SALODAR!!!!

UNA VES MAS CONGRATS.....