Jessica Haro–Assistant Editor, Hispanic Business
Aug. 29, 2008
With the political season moving in, the 2008 Olympics are fading fast from the front pages. Before they do, though, we wanted to give you one last unique look at how our athletes did in Beijing.
HispanicBusiness.com compiled our own list highlighting U.S. Hispanics who won medals for Team USA. With five gold, seven silver and two bronze medalists, for a total of 14, our U.S. Hispanic athletes had a fine showing. Here is a quick look at those who gathered the gold, silver and bronze for the USA in 2008.
Carmelo Anthony, Gold, Basketball
Twenty-four-year-old Carmelo “Melo” Anthony won a gold medal with the men’s basketball “Redeem Team.” The forward scored 13 points to help Team USA win 118-to107 over Spain.
Henry Cejudo, Gold, Wrestling
In an emotional finish, freestyle wrestler Mr. Cejudo became the first American ever to win gold in the 55kg weight class, and wept upon winning, wrapping himself in an American flag in one of the most dramatic moments in the entire Olympics.
Stephanie Cox, Gold, Soccer
Ms. Cox, maiden name Lopez, played in five of the team’s six matches including the gold medal final, and completed the only assist in the team’s 1-0 win over Japan earlier in the Games.
Amy Rodriguez, Gold, Soccer
Forward Amy Rodriguez, the second youngest member on the women’s soccer team, helped the team prevail over Brazil in overtime by gaining an assist in setting up the winning goal.
Diana Taurasi, Gold, Basketball
Though she played only 11 minutes in the women’s basketball final against Australia, Ms. Taurasi was instrumental in getting the team there. She won her second Olympic gold after scoring 21 points and making nine rebounds in the semifinal versus Russia.
Crystal Bustos, Silver, Softball
A returning Olympian, Ms. Bustos hit six home runs during the Beijing games. Though the team lost in the finals to Japan, her three-run home run in the ninth inning was ranked 27th in Fox Sports’ Top 50 moments of the Games.
Jessica Mendoza, Silver, Softball
Ms. Mendoza helped the team win the silver medal and organized a creative plea for the return of softball to the Olympic Games in 2016.
Andrea Duran, Silver, Softball
Ms. Duran played third base as is one of the younger members of the American softball team.
Vicky Galindo, Silver, Softball
A first-time Olympian, Ms. Galindo earned her silver medal by hitting a single at the bottom of the seventh, though she was the only American player to reach a base during the final inning of the gold medal match.
Patty Cardenas, Silver, Water Polo
Attacker Patty Cardenas scored two goals as a first-time Olympian.
Brenda Villa, Silver, Water Polo
The women’s water polo team captain, Ms. Villa added a silver medal to her collection, now totaling two silver and one bronze. Villa has been a member of every U.S. team since women’s water polo became an Olympic sport in 2000.
Mark Lopez, Silver, Taekwondo
One of a trio of siblings who won medals for taekwondo in Beijing, Mark Lopez won silver in the men’s featherweight division, despite breaking two bones in his left hand during the first exchange of his first match.
Steven Lopez, Bronze, Taekwondo
The two-time defending Olympic welterweight champion suffered his first loss in six years after a questionable call during the quarterfinal. The oldest of the three Lopez siblings who competed in Beijing, Steven went on to win the Bronze Medal.
Diana Lopez, Bronze, Taekwondo
The first of the Lopez siblings to compete in Beijing, Ms. Lopez took home a bronze in the women’s taekwondo featherweight division. After her 3-2 victory, Lopez nearly lost her voice cheering for her two brothers.
*Originally published on HispanicBusiness.com*