Argentine Olympic taekwondo athlete
Sebastián Eduardo Crismanich [1](born 30 October 1986 in Corrientes)[2] is an Argentine taekwondo athlete. He won the gold medal in the men's 80 kg division at the 2012 Summer Olympics.[3][4]
Sebastián has the distinction of being the second individual athlete to win a gold medal for Argentina, the inaugural taekwondo medal for Argentina. The gold medal honor was established at the 1948 Summer Olympics, when Delfo Cabrera entered the stadium concluding the marathon.[5]
In his quest for the gold medal, Crismanich beat New Zealander Vaughn Scott 9-5, and then Afghan Nesar Ahmad Bahawi 9-1 in the quarterfinals.
After a fierce battle in the semifinals, Crismanich defeated Armenian Arman Yeremyan 2-1 and proceeded to the Olympic final.
In a narrow victory against Spaniard Nicolas Garcia Hemme, Crismanich was only able to take the advantage needed to win in the final round, seconds from the end.[5][6]
He was honored as the national flag bearer at the London 2012 Summer Olympics Closing Ceremony Parade of Flags.
Biography
Sebastián Crismanich was born in Corrientes, Corrientes Province, into a Croatian immigrant family (Croatian: Krizmanić).[7][8] His brother, Mauro, is also a well-known taekwondo practitioner who won the bronze medal in men's flyweight (under 58 kg) at the 2009 World Taekwondo Championships in Copenhagen.
References
