Borrero Wins Cuba’s First Olympic Medal in Rio de Janeiro

Greco-Roman wrestler Ismael Borrero (59kg) won Cuba’s first gold medal of this year’s Río Olympic Games, after defeating Shinobu Ota of Japan, by technical superiority in the final

Ismael Borrero (59 kg) filled Cuba with joy on August 14, after winning gold in the Greco-Roman wrestling competition of the Río Olympic Games.

The 2015 World Champion defeated Shinobu Ota of Japan by technical superiority (8-0) to complete his perfect run.

Borrero won his first bout against Arsen Eraliev of Kyrgyzstan 6-3, which saw him advance to the quarter finales where he defeated China’s Lumin Wang (8-0) by technical superiority.

The young Cuban secured his ticket to the final after defeating Elmurat Tasmuradov of Uzbekistan (4-1) in a rematch following Borrero’s defeat two years ago by Tasmuradov in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

Borrero’s win represents the first of what Cubans hope will be more golds to come, with the island’s standard-bearer to the Games and two-times Olympic Champion Mijaín López scheduled to compete today, August 15.