Sports in Puerto Rico can be traced from the ceremonial competitions amongst the pre-Columbian Native Americans of the Arawak (Taíno) tribes who inhabited the island to the modern era in which sports activities consist of an organized physical activity or skill carried out with a recreational purpose for competition. One of the sports which the Taíno's played was a ball game called "Batey". The "Batey" was played in U-shaped fields two teams; however, unlike the ball games of the modern era, the winners were treated like heroes and the losers were sacrificed.
The Spanish Conquistadores who conquered the island introduced various sports such as horse racing, cockfighting, dominoes and a game similar to "Bowling" called "Boliche". The Spaniards however did not participate in team sports.
Spain ceded Puerto Rico to the United States as a result of their defeat in the 1898 Spanish–American War. American soldiers who organized games as part of their training introduced the sport of boxing and basketball to the people of Puerto Rico. The sport of baseball, which was invented in the United States, was introduced to the island by a group of Puerto Ricans and Cubans who learned the sport in the United States.
Puerto Rico participates in the Olympics as an independent nation even though it is a territory of the United States. Puerto Rico has participated as such since the 1948 Summer Olympics celebrated in London. On 2 March 1917, Puerto Ricans became citizens of the United States as a result of the enactment of the Jones–Shafroth Act (Pub.L. 64–368, 39 Stat. 951) and as such Puerto Ricans who resided in the United States mainland were and still are permitted to participate and represent that country in international sports events. However, their achievements representing the United States are part of the intertwined history of sports in the United States and Puerto Rico.
The following is the list and history of the most common sports practiced in Puerto Rico and other countries and of the Puerto Ricans or people of Puerto Rican descent who have excelled in those sports locally and/or in international events as representatives of Puerto Rico or any other country.
Brief history of sports in Puerto Rico
Pre-Columbian era
View of the Indigenous ballparks in the Tibes
The Taínos who inhabited Puerto Rico before the arrival of Christopher Columbus in 1492, played a series of games which were both ceremonial and diversional, such as races, contests involving body strength and fishing. However, the two most important of these sports were the simulated warrior fights (similar to the gladiators) and ball playing. The ball game was played in a field, which they called "Batey", situated in the middle of the village. The fields were either shaped like a triangle or like a "U". The ball was made of vegetable leaves, which gave it flexibility. Two teams played against each other. The objective of the game was to keep the ball in constant motion. The players were allowed to use their heads, elbows, shoulders and knees. The team would lose a point, if for any reason the ball stopped moving. The score was kept with a mark on the ground and the game would end after the losing team received a certain number of points. The winners were treated like heroes and the losers were sacrificed. The game had changed by the time the first Spanish settlers arrived. According to Fray Bartolomé de las Casas the game was played in the following manner: "One team served the ball and the other team returned it, using anything but the hands. If the ball arrived at shoulder height, it was returned like lightning. When it came in near the ground, the player rapidly hit the ground, striking the ball with his buttocks. Play continued from side to side until an error was made." In 1975, archaeologists from the Guaynia Society of Archeology and History at the Catholic University of Puerto Rico, members of the Archeological Society of the Southwest announced the discovery of the ruins of a "Batey" in an area called Tibes, on the outskirts of the city of Ponce. A total of 9 ball fields were discovered under thick forest overgrowth dating back to AD 25 in the area which is now known as "Centro Ceremonial Indigena de Tibes" (The Tibes Indigenoius Ceremonial Center). The site is now a tourist attraction and is open to the public. Artifacts found on the site are on display and can be seen in a museum on the site and in the Ponce Museum of Art.[1]
Spanish colonization
The first Spaniards to inhabit the island were soldiers (Conquistadores), later they were followed by farmers, miners and their families. Team sports were virtually unheard of however, there were other types of competitions and sports in which they participated. The most common sports were horse racing, cockfighting and dominoes. The first horse track was built in San Juan in 1887. One of the most popular sports was "Boliche". The men would gather in the town plaza and roll a small ball made of wood with the objective of knocking down pins. "Boliche" was similar to bowling. Another popular sport was bullfighting, which was limited to the larger cities of Ponce and San Juan.
American (United States) colonization
In the late 19th century "new" sports were introduced in Puerto Rico, after Puerto Rico became an American territory when the United States defeated Spain in the Spanish–American War. Baseball, which was invented in the United States, was introduced to the island by a group of Puerto Ricans and Cubans who learned the sport in the United States. The sport was also played by the American soldiers who organized games as part of their training. Puerto Ricans were also introduced to the sports of boxing and basketball by the occupying military forces.
Modern era
Puerto Rico and Puerto Ricans in the Olympic Games
Flag of Puerto RicoLaurie HernandezMonica Puig won the first Olympic gold medal for Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico participates in the Olympics as an independent nation but because of Puerto Ricans having American citizenship, Puerto Rican athletes have the option of representing Puerto Rico or moving to the United States, living there for 3 previous years or more and then representing that country in the games. Some Puerto Ricans, such as Gigi Fernández in tennis, have won gold medals for the U.S.
The 1948 Summer Olympics celebrated in London, was a historical one for Puerto Rico because it was the first time that the island would participate as a nation in a major international sporting event. The island's delegation consisted of only three members, two of which finished among the ten best in pole vault.[2] In their regional participations, the Puerto Ricans had carried the United States flag into the games.[3] The United States protested, claiming that two nations could not use the same flag at the same time. The decree of Commonwealth on 25 July 1952 would give the Puerto Rican delegation a flag of their own.
In 1980, the United States boycotted the Olympic Games in Moscow, Russian SFSR, USSR in protest of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. Germán Rieckehoff, who was then the president of the Puerto Rican Olympic Committee, was against the boycott because he believed that politics should not get involved with sporting events. He was, therefore, denied economic support from the local government. Rieckehoff did however, manage to send one athlete to represent Puerto Rico in boxing, Alberto Mercado, who became the only American citizen to participate in the 1980 Olympics.
In 1982, the Government of Puerto Rico, headed by then governor Carlos Romero Barceló, withheld economic support from the athletic delegation headed to Cuba, where the Central American and Caribbean Games were going to be held. The Puerto Rican Olympic Committee, under the leadership of Rieckehoff, had to appeal directly to the people for donations and were able to send the delegation. The Puerto Rican Olympic Committee is also the organization in charge of selecting the Puerto Rican athletes which represent the island in the Pan American Games and the Central American and Caribbean Games.
The Puerto Rican national baseball team won a bronze medal at the 1988 Summer Olympic Games in Seoul, South Korea, but that medal is not counted among Puerto Rico's Olympic medals totals because baseball was only an exhibition sport during those games.
The 1988 Winter Olympics, officially known as the "XV Olympic Winter Games", was celebrated in Calgary, Alberta, Canada between 13 and 28 February. It was the first Winter Olympics ever held in Canada. It was also the first time that a Puerto Rican team was sent to represent the island in an Olympic ski competition. No Puerto Rican had ever skied in the Olympics. The six-person Puerto Rican ski team was made up of native Puerto Ricans. They were Félix Flechas, Walter Sandza, Kevin Wilson, his sister Mary Pat Wilson and Jason Edelmann. Mary Pat Wilson is Puerto Rico's first and only female Olympic skier. Even though the team did not do well in the competition, they were highly respected by their competitors.[4] Since then. Puerto Rico has participated in all but three of the Winter Olympic Games, missing those of 2006, 2010, and 2014.
At the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Monica Puig made Olympic history[6] when she became the first person to win an Olympic gold medal for Puerto Rico by defeating Germany's Angelique Kerber in the women's singles tennis final. She became the first Puerto Rican female medalist in any sport.[7] On 2 August 2021, Jasmine Camacho-Quinn won Puerto Rico's second Olympic Gold Medal. She won the medal in the Women's 100m Hurdles in the Olympic games which were celebrated in Tokyo, Japan.[8]
Olympics medalists
The following table has a list of Puerto Ricans, including people of Puerto Rican ancestry, who won Olympic medals. "Puerto Rican" is a term also used to describe a resident of the United States who was "born in Puerto Rico or who traces their family ancestry to Puerto Rico."[9] Not all represented the island, some represented the United States. Puerto Ricans have won a total of 38 Olympic medals, 28 representing the United States and 10 representing Puerto Rico.
Puerto Rico debuted in the Paralympic Games on 1988.[10] In this event, Isabel Bustamante was awarded the first medals for the delegation, winning one gold and two silver medals in athletics.[10] In the 2000 Summer Paralympics, Alexis Pizarro became the first male athlete to win a medal for Puerto Rico, reaching bronze in athletics.[10] Pizarro repeated this performance in the 2004 Summer Paralympics.[10]
On 20 August 2008, David Bernier awarded the flag of Puerto Rico to Nilda Gómez, who was selected to be the flag bearer in the opening ceremonies of the 2008 Paralympics.[11] Three athletes that registered A-marks attended the ceremony, which also included Alexis Pizarro in athletics and Julio Reguero in sailing. Puerto Rico's first medal in this edition of the Paralympics was won by Gómez, who won bronze in rifle shooting.[12] She won bronze in the 10-meter trial, finishing with 489 points.[12]
Puerto Rico at the Special Olympics
Puerto Rico's Special Olympics program was founded in 1970, since then it has offered services to more than a thousand athletes.[13]
Puerto Rico won a total of 34 medals in the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games, including 7 gold, 18 silver and 9 bronze medals. Due to the team's performance, the Senate of Puerto Rico organized a ceremony where the athletes and trainers received recognitions.[14]
Ron Rivera became the first NFL player of Puerto Rican descent when he played for the Chicago Bears in the 1980s. In 1986, Rivera also became the first NFL player of Puerto Rican descent to win a Super Bowl championship ring.
American Football has been played in the island for many decades, dating back to the installment of American military bases. Puerto Rico currently has 4 football leagues. PR Pee Wee league, for children 8-16, PRHSFL, for high school students, the newly created AFAF, for college students, and PRAFL, a semi-professional league. Although football has been in the island for so many years, it is not widely known. Many things attribute to this, for example lack of proper funding and advertising, lack of high school affiliated teams, both attributing to lack of good coaching. In July 2012, the Puerto Rico American Football Federation became a member of the International Federation of American Football.[15]
Pee Wee Football League
This federation has 4 divisions, with areas in: Baldrich, Parque Central, University Gardens, Parkville, Ft. Buchanan, Carolina, and lastly Caguas.[16] The league is played from January to March at "El Complejo Deportivo Roberto Clemente" in San Juan Saturday mornings. The following is a table with the years and weight distribution for each division:
C Division
B Division
A Division
AA Division
8 Years - No limit
10 Years - No limit
12 Years - No limit
14 Years - No limit
9 Years - No limit
11 Years - No limit
13 Years - No limit
15 Years - 200 lbs
10 Years - 105 lbs
12 Years - 130 lbs
14 Years - 150 lbs
16 Years - 200 lbs
11 Years - 80 lbs
12 Years - 105 lbs
13 Years - 130 lbs
PRHSFL
This league has 6 Varsity teams and 3 teams at Junior Varsity level. the league is made up of 2 schools, Antilles High School Pirates, and Commonwealth Comets, and four clubs, Carolina Blittz, Bayamón Wolfpack, University Garden Dolphins, and Parque Central Blue Wave.[16]
AFAF
This league was founded in 2009 to rival the PRAFL and to one day be a part of local college athletics. There are four teams, Cataño Gators, San Juan Hurricanes, Carolina Blittz, and Baldrige Falcons.[16]
PRAFL (Puerto Rico American Football League)
A semi-professional league founded in 1985, with 5 teams. The Bayamón Wolfpack, Baldrich 57 Falcons, Carolina Blitzz, Cataño Lancheros, and Fajardo Cariduros.
The Cataño Lancheros were the 2011 PRAFL Champions.
1924 poster announcing a game between a team from Puerto Rico (Porto Rico) and a team from New York made up of Puerto Ricans
During the late 19th century Puerto Rico was to witness the introduction of organized team sports. The game of baseball was first introduced to the island by a group of Puerto Ricans and Cubans who had learned the game in the United States. At first the sport was not well received by the local press and general public, it was looked upon as a silly game. The first two baseball clubs were founded in 1897. They were the Almendares Baseball Club, owned by Francisco Alamo Armas and the Borinquen Baseball Club owned by Santos Filippi.[17]
According to the daily newspaper El País, on 11 January 1898, the first organized baseball game was played in Puerto Rico at the old velodrome which was located at the Pda.15 in Santurce, San Juan. The Borinquen team beat the Almendares with a score of 3 to 0. The first game to go a complete nine innings was played on 30 January 1898 and the Borinquen once again beat the Almendares with a score of 9 to 3.[17]
Puerto Rico became an American territory when the United States defeated Spain in the Spanish–American War. The American soldiers stationed in Puerto Rico were permitted to organize a baseball club to play against the local clubs as diversional outlet. On 4 November 1900 the Almendares Baseball Club composed of Puerto Ricans and Cubans beat the American Baseball Club of the Second Regiment of Infantry with a score of 32 to 18.[17] In the early 1920s, teams from Puerto Rico, such as the San Juan Stars, would travel to New York City and play against some of teams there which included teams made up of Puerto Ricans who lived there.
Modern era
Puerto Rico has over 100 Major League Baseball players who are currently active, in addition to the hundreds others who have participated in the past. These facts combine to make baseball one of the most popular sports in the island.
Hall of Famer Orlando CepedaIn 2018 Alex Cora, became the first Puerto Rican to manage a World Series winning team
On 11 January 1898, the first organized baseball game is played in Puerto Rico between the Borinquen team and the Almendares team. The Borinquen won 3 to 0.
In 1942, Hiram Bithorn of the Chicago Cubs became the first Puerto Rican to play in the major leagues.
In 1949, Luis Olmo (El "Jíbaro" Olmos) of the Brooklyn Dodgers became the first Puerto Rican to play in a World Series game and the first one to hit a home run and to get three hits, in the same game.
In 1995, Leon Day, a Pitcher in the Negro leagues who played for "Los Tiburones de Aguadilla" the "Aguadilla Sharks" was inducted into the Hall of Fame. His love for the island is reflected in the fact that he is the only Hall of Famer to be enshrined with a cap of a team outside the mainland United States; his plaque depicts him as a "Aguadilla Shark".[18]
In 1999, Orlando "Peruchin" Cepeda became the second Puerto Rican born player to be enshrined in the Baseball Hall of Fame.
In 2011, Roberto Alomar became the third Puerto Rican born player to be enshrined in the Baseball Hall of Fame.
In 2017, Iván "Pudge" Rodríguez became the fourth Puerto Rican born player to be enshrined in the Baseball Hall of Fame.
In 2018, Alex Cora became the first Puerto Rican to manage a World Series winning team when the Boston Red Sox defeated the LA Dodgers.[19]
In 2019, Edgar Martinez became the fifth Puerto Rican born player to be enshrined in the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Currently
Puerto Rico national baseball team logo
Puerto Rico has a winter baseball league named the Puerto Rico Baseball League that has operated since the early 20th century. The champion of the Puerto Rico league represents Puerto Rico is in the annual Caribbean World Series. It currently has five teams:
Basketball was used by the American soldiers in Puerto Rico as part of their physical training. When the soldiers played basketball, they used a plain straw basket which was cut open at both ends and placed it on the highest end of a pole. For a ball, they used a football and the game was played without any established set of rules.[20]
In 1913, the YMCA of Puerto Rico organized the first game played using the official rules of basketball and in 1916, the YMCA organized the first basketball tournament in Puerto Rico. Teams organized in the other YMCAs in the island participated in the tournament. The first basketball organization in Puerto Rico was the San Juan Basketball League. Río Piedras and Bayamón later followed and formed their own leagues.[20]
Basketball became a popular sport in Puerto Rico, due in part to the BSN, which has been around since the 1930s. During the early 1980s, with many games shown on television, the sport's popularity increased. There is also a women's professional league, which is affiliated to the BSN. Street basketball is also popular among Puerto Rico's youth.[20]
Chronological order of major events
In 1913, the first game of basketball was played in Puerto Rico.
In 1916, the first basketball tournament in Puerto Rico was organized.
Alfred "Butch" Lee, a member of the 1976 Olympic basketball team, became the first Puerto Rican in the NBA when in 1978 he was drafted by the Atlanta Hawks. Lee was also the first Puerto Rican to play on the NBA play-offs as a member of the 1979–80Los Angeles Lakers. He was awarded an NBA Championship ring, even though he did not participate in that season'sNBA Finals because of his injuries.
Dick Versace became the first person of Puerto Rican descent to coach an NBA team in 1988. He was the head coach of the Indiana Pacers from 1988 to 1990.
In 2016, Carmelo Anthony, whose father is Puerto Rican, won his third Olympic Gold Medal in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil as member of the U.S. Olympic Basketball Team.
Puerto Rico's national basketball team has reached the Olympic Games multiple times, including the 2004 Athens Olympics, where they became the first team to defeat the United States Dream Team during Olympic competition. Puerto Rico's national team has won gold medals in other international competitions.
Puerto Ricans have also been members of the Harlem Globetrotters. In 1995, Orlando Antigua, whose mother is Puerto Rican, became the first non-black in 52 years to play for the Harlem Globetrotters.[24] In 2008, Orlando Melendez a.k.a. "El Gato" became the first Puerto Rican-born player and the second Hispanic to play for the Harlem Globetrotters.[25]
Bobsled
Puerto Rico had a Bobsled team in the 1992, 1994 and 1998 Winter Olympics.
The sport of boxing was also introduced by the United States military which occupied Puerto Rico and, just as basketball was, boxing was used by the American soldiers as part of their physical training. Boxing competitions amongst the soldiers were open to the public. The first boxing match in Puerto Rico was held on 15 January 1899.
Boxing has, for many years, disputed the top spot for the Puerto Rican fan's favorite sport with Baseball and Basketball. Puerto Ricans have distinguished themselves both as amateurs and professionals. In 1917, Nero Chen became the first Puerto Rican professional boxer to gain international recognition.[26] Puerto Rico has also been the site of many championship fights.
Boxing in the Olympics
In 1948, boxer Juan Evangelista Venegas earned Puerto Rico's first Olympic medal, finishing his participation in London with a bronze medal that year. Subsequently, Puerto Rico has earned five more medals in Olympic boxing, including a silver one by Luis Ortiz in 1984. That silver medal is the only silver medal ever won by any Puerto Rican native at Olympic Games. Although he did not win a medal, Alberto Mercado became, in 1980, the only American citizen to actually participate in the Moscow Olympics.
In 2006, Puerto Rican Miguel Santana made boxing history by becoming the fighter who waited the longest after a title bout to have a losing world title bout recognized as a mistake by a major organization. The IBF recognized Santana's challenge of IBF Lightweight champion Greg Haugen (who originally beat Santana by an eleventh round technical decision) as erroneous because of a fight-fixing and betting scandal that took place during the era the contest happened, and gave Santana a special recognition.
Chronological order of major events
External audio
You may watch Wilfred Benítez vs. Antonio Cervantes, here
and a documentary titled Puerto Rico's Finest Fightershere
On 15 January 1899, the first boxing match was held in Puerto Rico.
In 1917, Nero Chen became the first Puerto Rican professional boxer to gain international recognition.
In May 1927, boxing was legalized in Puerto Rico by an order signed by US appointed governor Horace Mann Towner.
On 26 June 1934, Sixto Escobar became the first Puerto Rican to win an undisputed world championship
On 11 June 1937, Herbert "Cocoa Kid" Hardwick, a Welterweight, became the first Hispanic to win a title in the World Colored Championships.
On 1 September 1973, José Roman made sports history by becoming the first Puerto Rican to fight for the World Heavyweight title when he fought and lost to World Heavyweight champion George Foreman in Tokyo, Japan.[29]
On 20 February 1976, the first Heavyweight title fight in Puerto Rico was celebrated in San Juan between Muhammad Ali and Jean Coopman, Ali being the victor.
On 6 March 1976, Wilfred Benítez became the youngest world champion in history at 17 years old.
On 21 May 1977, Wilfredo Gómez won the WBC Super Bantamweight Championship. He eventually had a streak of 32 knockouts in a row.
In 1980, Alberto Mercado represented Puerto Rico in the Moscow Olympics. He was the only "American" citizen to actually participate in those Olympics.
On 25 November 1980, Carlos De León became the first Latin to be world's Cruiserweight champion.
On 30 January 1982, Wilfred Benítez outpointed legendary fighter Roberto Durán over 15 rounds.
On 20 May 1983, Edwin Rosario outpoints Jose Luis Ramirez over 12 rounds by unanimous decision (three judges scoring the bout 115-113) to win the vacant World Boxing Council's Lightweight title, his first of three reigns as world Lightweight champion and four world championship reigns overall.
In 1984, Luis Ortiz earned Puerto Rico's first Silver Olympic medal.
In 2016, Hector Camacho, a.k.a. Hector "Macho" Camacho, was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.
In 2018, the late Mario Rivera Martino, became the first Puerto Rican boxing sports writer and commissioner to be inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.
Among the international boxers who fought in Puerto Rico in a title bout are Muhammad Ali, Roberto Durán, and Alexis Argüello. The 1970s became known in Puerto Rico as the golden era of Borinquen's (Puerto Rico's) Boxing.
The youngest world champion in boxing history. WBA Light Welterweight Champion 1976 Mar 6 – 1977, WBC Welterweight Champion 1979 Jan 14 – 1979 Nov 30, WBC Light Middleweight Champion.
WBC Super Bantamweight Champion 1977 May 21 – 1983, WBC Featherweight Champion 1984 Mar 31 – 1984 Dec 8, WBA Super Featherweight Champion 1985 May 19 – 1986 May 24.
Ranks #36 on the list of "100 Greatest Punchers of All Time." according to Ring Magazine. WBC Lightweight Champion 1983 May 1 – 1984 Nov 3, WBA Lightweight Champion 1986 Sep 26 – 1987 Nov 21, WBA Lightweight Champion 199 Jul 9 – 1990 Apr 4, WBA Light Welterweight Champion 1991 Jun 14 – 1992 Apr 10.
Member of boxing's "Black Murderers' Row". World Colored Welterweight Championship - June 11, 1937 to August 22, 1938; World Colored Middleweight Championship - January 11, 1940 until the title went extinct in the 1940s; World Colored Middleweight Championship - January 15, 1943 until the title went extinct in the 1940s
Captured the IBF welterweight crown in his 20th pro bout. Won the WBA light middleweight title from David Reid in March 2000 and later that year unified titles with a 12th-round knockout against IBF champ Fernando Vargas. In 2001 became a three-division champion.
First boxer to be recognized as a septuple champion in history (counting championships from minor sanctioning bodies). WBC Super Featherweight Championship - August 7, 1983 – 1984, WBC Lightweight Championship - August 10, 1985 – 1987, WBO Light Welterweight Champion - March 6, 1989 – February 23, 1991, WBO Light Welterweight Champion - May 18, 1991–1992.
First Puerto Rican boxing sports writer to be inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame. He served Puerto Rican boxing for more than 50 years as a writer and eventual commissioner.
He is a multiple-time world champion, and the first Puerto Rican boxer to win world titles in four weight classes, from light welterweight to middleweight. In 2007 and 2009,
= Indicates the person is no longer alive
Cockfights
Puerto Rican cockfighting ring, circa 1937
Unlike in most states of the United States, cockfighting was legal in Puerto Rico until 2018, and there are many places that draw large crowds to see bantams fighting every weekend. It is known as the Gentleman's Sport due to the common practice of wagers being a verbal contract between two individuals and may range from $1 to thousands of dollars. Across the world, Puerto Rico has been seen as the largest capital for the controversial sport, as it is incredibly popular and often televised as other sports are. Roosters are specially bred to fight, first entering the ring between one and two years of age.
In 2018, the United States announced that it would ban cockfights in all its territories, including Puerto Rico. The ban began in January 2019.[32]
Equestrian
The sport of equestrianism has certain popularity in Puerto Rico, more so among members of higher classes. Puerto Rico frequently sends contestants to different international tournaments, such as the Olympics. On 16 August 2003, Mark Watringl from the town of Aguadilla, represented the United States in the Pan American Games celebrated in the Dominican Republic. There he won the "Gold Medal" with a final total of 13.66 penalties compared to the 21.87 posted by Mexico. When presented with the Gold Medal, Watring unfurled and waved the Puerto Rican Flag. This win secured a berth in the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece. Watring represented Puerto Rico in the 2004 Olympics.
While golf is not very popular in Puerto Rico, there are many golf courses across the island such as the one at Club Deportivo del Oeste. The most famous Puerto Rican golfer is Juan "Chi-Chi" Rodríguez who was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1992. Rodríguez used to put his hat over the hole whenever he made a birdie or eagle. After he heard that other golfers were complaining about his little act, he decided to try something new. Rodríguez developed his signature "toreador dance", where he would make believe that the birdie was a "bull" and that his putter was a "sword" and he would terminate the "bull". Rodríguez represented Puerto Rico on 12 World Cup teams. In 1986, he won the Hispanic Recognition Award. In 1988, he was named "Replica's Hispanic Man of the Year".
Horse racing
Horse Racing is a sport which was first introduced to Puerto Rico by the Conquistadores. Horse Races continue to be a very popular sport in Puerto Rico til this day. During the earlier part of the 20th. century, races were held at El Comandante race track. Since 1972, El Nuevo Comandante now called "Hipodromo Camarero", in Canóvanas, has been the home of Puerto Rico's Sunday horse races, and of the annual Clasico del Caribe, a race that reunites important horses from many countries.
Road running have long been a part of Puerto Rico's sporting tradition. Many important races are run annually in the island, including the Maraton de San Blas in Coamo, long considered one of the most important half marathon races in the world, and the Ponce Marathon.
Martial arts sports, especially karate, have had a marked ascent in popularity in Puerto Rico since the 1970s, when Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan movies were very popular among Puerto Rico's youth.
Olympic-style wrestling
Jaime Espinal won a silver medal for Puerto Rico at the 84 kg Men's freestyle category at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, earning Puerto Rico its second ever silver medal at the Olympics, its first since boxer Luis Ortiz in 1984, and its first Olympic medal in wrestling.
Professional wrestling has enjoyed much popularity in Puerto Rico for a long time. Matches have been televised since the 1960s, and multiple, non televised matches are held each week across the island. World Wrestling Council is the main wrestling promoter in Puerto Rico.
Famous Puerto Rican wrestlers have included Barrabas, Carlos Colón and his sons, Carlito and Primo Colon, Los Invaders, Savio Vega, WWF* Hall of Famer Pedro Morales, and Los Super Medicos. In addition, many World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE, formerly WWF) stars, such as Randy Savage, and Ric Flair fought in Puerto Rico before. Women's wrestling has been gaining popularity in Puerto Rico since the 1990s with performers like La Tigresa, and Black Rose.
Two Puerto Ricans have been inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. They are Pedro Morales (1995) and Carlos Colon (2014).
Sailing
Sailing as a sport has picked up in popularity in Puerto Rico since the middle 1990s, under the leadership of Enrique Figueroa and his wife, Carla Malatrasi. The pair have combined to win many international medals, and they competed at the 2000 Olympic Games. Figueroa also participated at the 1992 Olympics. On 2 February 2004, Figueroa and teammate Jorge Hernández, won the Olympic Games Rolex Regatta. They were named champions by topping 29 entries in the tornado fleet. The regatta winners had their sights set on the 2004 Olympics and Paralympic Games in Athens, Greece. 503 sailors participated with a fleet of 323 boats representing 39 nations. Figueroa went to the 2004 Olympic Games and represented Puerto Rico.
Puerto Rico has a Puerto Rico Soccer League which is sponsored by the Federación Puertorriqueña de Fútbol. Fútbol, unlike in many of the other Latin American countries, mainly because of the strong American culture influence on the Island, did not enjoy high popularity during the 20th century. But since the new millennium it has slowly increased its fan base on the island. Puerto Rico has a FIFA sponsored federation, the Federación Puertorriqueña de Fútbol and a Senior National Team which is ranked 106 by FIFA. Puerto Rico has only made it as far as the second round or regional play for a World Cup Qualifier, this was in 2008 when it beat Dominican Republic 1-0 in the first round and lost against Honduras in the second round with an aggregate score of 6-2.
The following are among the players who have played for Puerto Rico: Héctor Ramos, Alexis Rivera Curet, Andrés Cabrero. There are several other Puerto Rican players or players of Puerto Rican descent playing abroad in foreign leagues.
Softball
Women's softball has enjoyed certain popularity in Puerto Rico. The women's national softball team has won many international events and participated at many Olympics.
Lisa Fernandez has represented the United States as member of the U.S. Women's Olympic Softball Team, winning gold medals in the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia, 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia and in the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Greece. She established a women's softball record when she struck out 25 members of the women's Australian Olympic Softball Team. Ivelisse Echevarría who in 2003 was inducted into the International Softball Federation Hall of Fame is also considered by many to be the greatest pitcher born in Puerto Rico. Ten Puerto Ricans have been inducted into the International Softball Federation Hall of Fame so far.
The ten Puerto Ricans in International Softball Federation Hall of Fame are: Juan Pachot, Carlos Velasquez Class of 1997; Ismael "Chavalillo" Delgado, Jorge Tanco, Alejandro "Junior" Cruz Class of 1993 and Ivelisse Echevarria, Betty Segarra, Clara Vazquez, Jose "Tuto" Agosto, Rafi Serrano Class of 2003.
Jesus "Jesse" Vassallo is considered by many to be the greatest swimmer to have been born in Puerto Rico. In 1997, he became the first and so far the only Puerto Rican to be inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame. He currently heads the Puerto Rico Swimming Federation.
In 1966, 17-year-old Anita Lallande set a new record in the Central American and Caribbean Games celebrated in San Juan, when she won a total of 10 gold medals.
Fernando Cañales was a 100-meter freestyle finalist in the 1978 Berlin World Championships, earning a 5th place. He was the "first" Puerto Rican swimmer to final in the World Championships. He earned 5 gold medals and 1 silver medal during the 1978 Central American Championships in Medellín, Colombia. He became the first Puerto Rican to medal in the Pan American Games by winning silver in the 100 meters free in 1979 (San Juan, Puerto Rico) and repeating that feat in 1983 (Caracas, Venezuela).
Maritza Correia, is the first black Puerto Rican woman in history to make the U.S. Olympic Swimming Team. She earned a silver medal swimming prelims of the 400m free relay at the 2004 Olympic Games celebrated in Athens, Greece.
Years after the demolition of the Escambrón Swimming Complex, San Juan Mayor Jorge Santini opened the new roofed San Juan Natatorium, developed by San Juan Sports Director María Elena Batista, herself a former Olympic Swimmer. The official opening of the San Juan Natatorium was 15 December 2006. A second natatorium was scheduled to open in time for the 2010 Central American and Caribbean Games in Mayagüez.
Gigi Fernandez, as a tennis ambassador, speaking at a Hispanic Engagement Tennis Event
Tennis is not very popular as a fan sport in Puerto Rico, but many Puerto Ricans practice it as a means of exercise. The 1984 television match between Martina Navratilova and Gigi Fernández was one of the most watched events of the year in Puerto Rican television. Gigi Fernández is arguably Puerto Rico's most famous tennis player ever, having won doubles championships in Grand Slam tournaments, including Wimbledon, winning gold medals for the USA doubles team in the 1992 and 1996 Olympics, being ranked no. 1 in the world for women's doubles tournaments, and being ranked among the top 30 singles players for most of her career. She is widely considered to be one of the greatest doubles players of all time.
Charlie Pasarell was another noted Puerto Rican Tennis player. He lost to Pancho Gonzalez in 1969, in the second longest singles match by number of games before the introduction of the tiebreaker. It took Pancho Gonzales 112 games to defeat Charlie Pasarell in the first round 22–24, 1–6, 16–14, 6–3, 11–9.
Rafael Jordan was a player that many considered had potential to become a men's professional tour champion, but he died after an automobile accident during the mid-1990s.
Monica Puig became the first person to win an Olympic Gold Medal for Puerto Rico at the 2016 Summer Olympics. She defeated Germany's Angelique Kerber in the women's singles tennis final.[14]
Track and field
Javier Culson
Track and Field, also known as athletics, has been another noteworthy sport in Puerto Rico, with Puerto Rican runners, hurlers and throwers have participated at the Olympic and Paralympic Games with two and five medals, respectively, as of 2021. Most schools base their field days only on track and field events.[35]Enrique Laguerre held it in high regard for its nature as a "fair [or loyal] competition".[36] It is taken to be one of the sports that should be considered outside of the traditional baseball, volleyball and basketball offerings, for children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, as "the child manages to function better in sports where the emphasis is on improving their own performance".[37] Famous Puerto Rican track and fielders include Rebekah Colberg and Angelita Lind.
Juan Juarbe Juarbe, who would later serve as Pedro Albizu Campos' personal secretary,[38] was the first Puerto Rican to participate in any international sporting event, competing in the 1930 Central American and Caribbean Games,[39] and the first to win a gold medal at an international track and field competition.[38]
Rebekah Colberg, considered the "Mother of Women's Sports in Puerto Rico", was the Puerto Rico tennis champion for fourteen consecutive years, from 1932 till 1946. In 1938, she won two gold medals at the IV Central American and Caribbean Games, celebrated in Panama, in the discus and javelin events. In 1946, when the games were celebrated in Mexico, she won a gold medal in softball. While studying for her master's degree at Columbia University, she was in the university's field hockey and lacrosse championship teams. She was also a member of the undefeated women's basketball team of the University of Mexico.
Heriberto Cruz Mejil, who as a kid, lacking access to a running track, used to run from the Guánica pier to the Caña Gorda baths. He went on to win silver and gold at the 110 metre hurdle event in the 1962 Kingston and 1966 San Juan Central American Caribbean Games, respectively, beating the then-fourth best runner in the world Víctor Maldonado in the latter. After which, he retired at age 27. Additionally, he was a LAI champion three consecutive years, competing at the Justas 110 metre hurdle, high jump and 4 x 400 metre relay events. Both his hometown's track and a tournament bear his name.[41]
Professional baseball player Roberto Clemente was Julio Vizcarrondo Coronado high school's most valuable player for three consecutive years, and was described as "excellent in the sport of track and field."[42] While Julio "Buyín" Camacho Mattei, who is better known for his professional volleball career, also competed in track and field events, among other sports.[43][44] Eduardo Hernández, who played for the Adjuntas Giants baseball team, was part of the Colegio Ponceño's track and field team.[45]
Puerto Rican athletes participated in the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games, competing in the 12, 50, 100, 200, 400, 800 and 1,500 metres, as well as relay and shot put.[47]
A survey in 2011 found that 75% of Puerto Rican university student athletes that attended private institutions of higher learning partake in this discipline.[48]
The Department of Education has pushed for field day events to not be limited to track and field since 2015, arguing that "it must allow the participation of all students regardless of differences and interests."[35]
In 2019, 16 track and field athletes competed in the Lima Pan American Games, of which 12 achieved minimum marks to qualify.[50]
The first event held at the Basilio Rodríguez Cruz Athletic Track, Carolina's running track, after its million-dollar recontrsuction after hurricanes Irma and María was the XV Spring Athletics Classic (Clásico Primaveral de Atletismo) a March 2021 Olympic and Paralympic qualafying event.[53]
Long considered the dormant sport among major sports in Puerto Rico, Volleyball has enjoyed much popularity since the 1990s, both in its professional and beach volleyball versions. Puerto Rico's Liga Superior de Voleibol has thrived in recent years, both in the men's and women's tournaments.
In 1997, debut of foreign player in Women League. The most dominated are Laura Salinas from Monterrey, Mexico, lead the Mexico national team to several international competition. The foreign player debut in Women's League in 2000.
Some of Puerto Rico's famous volleyball players are Willie De Jesus, Raúl Papaleo and Héctor Soto. Papaleo and Ramón 'Monchito' Hernández participated in 2004 Olympic Games in Athens in Beach Volleyball, first ever volleyball team in the Island Olympic history. Laura Daniela Lloreda, meanwhile, is a Puerto Rican who played in Mexico's national volleyball team.
Héctor "Picky" Soto is the first Latin American player that has led the scoring in the World Championship's history. Soto won the Best Scorer award in 2006 FIVB World Championship in Japan and 2007 FIVB World Cup in Japan. During the World Cup, he scored 43 point against Korea, in the process establishing a scoring record. Outside of his international performance, Soto has played in the professional leagues of Italy, Tunisia, Japan and Russia.
First formed in 2020, Puerto Rico's national ice hockey team has competed in multiple regional tournaments featuring other Latin American and Caribbean teams. The Puerto Rican Ice Hockey Association became an IIHF associate member in 2022 and the sport continues to grow as more players register with the organization.[62]
^"Pioneros Puertorriqueños en Nueva York"; by Joaquin Colon Lopez; pages: 229, 230; Publisher: Arte Publico Press (November 2001); ISBN978-1-55885-335-5; ISBN978-1-55885-335-5
Disambiguazione – Se stai cercando il fumetto tratto dalla serie, vedi Sonic X (fumetto). Sonic XソニックX(Sonikku Ekkusu)Logo della serie Genereazione[1], commedia[2], fantascienza[2], fantastico[2], avventura[3], drammatico[2] Serie TV animeAutoreHajime Kamegaki RegiaHajime Kamegaki SoggettoMatato Mastumoto, Takeshi Sasamura Char. designSatoshi Hirayama Dir. artisticaYukiko Iijima MusicheYoshihiro I...
Mansour bin Nasser Al SaudBorn1959 (age 64–65)Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaAlma materUniversity of Salford (MA)HouseAl SaudFatherNasser bin Abdulaziz Al SaudOccupationBusinessman Styles ofMansour bin Nasser bin Abdul Aziz al SaudReference styleHis Royal HighnessSpoken styleYour Royal Highness Mansour bin Nasser Al Saud is a Saudi diplomat. He acted as Saudi Arabia´s Ambassador to Switzerland and previously acted as Economical Advisor with the rank of a minister to King Abdullah bin Abdula...
AkmerkezLokasiEtiler, Istanbul, TurkiTanggal dibukaDecember 18, 1993PengembangAkkök-Tekfen-İstikbalJumlah toko dan jasa246Total luas pertokoan180,000 m² (total wilayah tertutup)Situs webwww.akmerkez.com.tr Pemandangan Akmerkez Pemandangan bagian dalam Akmerkez adalah sebuah mal yang terletak di perempatan Etiler, distrik Beşiktaş, Istanbul, Turki. Sebagai mal ketiga di negara tersebut setelah Galleria Ataköy dan Capitol, mal tersebut dibuka melalui sebuah joint venture dari perusahaan A...
Nerve carrying auditory information from the inner ear to the brain Cochlear nerveDiagrammatic longitudinal section of the cochlea. (Cochlear nerve is in center, shown as striped.)Part of the cochlear division of the acoustic nerve, highly magnified.DetailsFromVestibulocochlear nerveIdentifiersLatinnervus cochlearisMeSHD003056TA98A14.2.01.133TA26318FMA53431Anatomical terms of neuroanatomy[edit on Wikidata] The cochlear nerve (also auditory nerve or acoustic nerve) is one of two parts of t...
New South Wales government ministry led by Sir Patrick Jennings Jennings ministry23rd Cabinet of the Colony of New South Wales Premier Sir Patrick Jennings and the Colony of New South Wales (1863–1900)Date formed26 February 1886 (1886-02-26)Date dissolved19 January 1887 (1887-01-19)People and organisationsMonarchQueen VictoriaGovernorThe Lord CarringtonPremierSir Patrick JenningsNo. of ministers10Member partyunalignedStatus in legislatureMinority governmentOppo...
Gereja Reformed Injili IndonesiaLogo GRIIPenggolonganReformedPemimpinPdt. Dr. Stephen TongWilayahIndonesiaDidirikan1989Umat7000+ [1]Situs web resmihttps://grii.org Artikel ini memiliki bagian pembuka yang mungkin tidak cukup meringkas isinya. Untuk mematuhi pedoman bagian pembuka Wikipedia, harap pertimbangkan untuk memodifikasi pembuka untuk memberikan ikhtisar yang mudah dipahami dari poin-poin kunci artikel sedemikian rupa sehingga dapat berdiri sendiri sebagai versi singkat dari a...
Para pendatang dan pengelana lain di sebuah kamar penginapan di sebelah timur Tonghua, Jilin. Chuang Guandong (Hanzi sederhana: 闯关东; Hanzi tradisional: 闖關東; Pinyin: Chuǎng Guāndōng, secara harfiah berarti Menuju Guandong; Guandong merupakan nama lama Manchuria) adalah istilah yang mendeskripsikan perpindahan orang-orang Han (terutama dari Semenanjung Shandong dan Provinsi Zhili) ke wilayah Manchuria dalam jangka waktu seratus tahun semenjak pertengahan abad ke-19. S...
Sports season 1920 Canton Bulldogs seasonCanton Bulldogs team.Head coachJim ThorpeHome fieldLeague Field[1]ResultsRecord7–4–2 Overall 6–2 APFALeague place8th ← 1919 Canton Bulldogs 1921 → The 1920 Canton Bulldogs season was the franchise's sixteenth and its first in the American Professional Football Association (APFA), which became the National Football League two years later. Jim Thorpe, the APFA's president, was Canton's coach and a back who played ...
American film critic (1919–2001) Pauline KaelAuthor portrait of Kael from the dust jacket of Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (1968)Born(1919-06-19)June 19, 1919Petaluma, California, U.S.DiedSeptember 3, 2001(2001-09-03) (aged 82)Great Barrington, Massachusetts, U.S.OccupationFilm criticAlma materUniversity of California, BerkeleyPeriod1951–1991Spouse Edward Landberg (m. 1955; div. 1959)[1]Children1 Pauline Kael (/keɪl/; June 19, 1...
Ali Zaidi Wakil Penasehat Iklim Nasional Gedung Putih ke-1PetahanaMulai menjabat 20 Januari 2021PresidenJoe BidenPendahuluJabatan dibentukPenggantiPetahana Informasi pribadiLahirPakistanPendidikanUniversitas Harvard (AB)Universitas Georgetown (JD)PekerjaanPengacara, penasehat politikSunting kotak info • L • B Ali A. Zaidi adalah seorang pengacara dan penasehat politik Pakistan-Amerika yang menjabat sebagai Wakil Penasehat Iklim Nasional Gedung Putih ke-1. Ia merupakan wakil ...
Questa voce o sezione sull'argomento centri abitati della Calabria non cita le fonti necessarie o quelle presenti sono insufficienti. Commento: vari paragrafi privi di fonti Puoi migliorare questa voce aggiungendo citazioni da fonti attendibili secondo le linee guida sull'uso delle fonti. Molochiocomune Molochio – Veduta LocalizzazioneStato Italia Regione Calabria Città metropolitana Reggio Calabria AmministrazioneSindacoMarco Giuseppe Caruso (lista civica) dal&#...
International athletics championship eventJunior women's race at the 2010 IAAF World Cross Country ChampionshipsOrganisersIAAFEdition38thDateMarch 28Host cityBydgoszcz, Województwo kujawsko-pomorskie, Poland VenueMyślęcinek ParkEvents1Distances5.833 km – Junior womenParticipation95 athletes from 26 nations← 2009 Amman 2011 Punta Umbría → The Junior women's race at the 2010 IAAF World Cross Country Championships was held at the Myślęcinek Park in Bydgoszcz, Poland, on March...
Questa voce sull'argomento cestisti svedesi è solo un abbozzo. Contribuisci a migliorarla secondo le convenzioni di Wikipedia. Segui i suggerimenti del progetto di riferimento. Kalis Loyd Nazionalità Svezia Altezza 184 cm Pallacanestro Ruolo Guardia Squadra Tolosa M.B. CarrieraGiovanili 2009-2013 Lamar L. CardinalsSquadre di club 2013-2014 Sepsi S. Gheorghe302014-2015 Tarbes192015-2016 Arras72016-2017 Basket Landes62017-2018 Flammes Carolo2620...
Winter HillWinter Hill from Blackrod. The mast can be seen for many miles around.Highest pointElevation1,496 ft (456 m)[1]Prominence715 ft (218 m)Parent peakHail Storm HillListingMarilynCoordinates53°37′48″N 2°30′54″W / 53.63000°N 2.51500°W / 53.63000; -2.51500GeographyWinter HillShown with LancashireShow map of LancashireWinter HillShown with Greater ManchesterShow map of Greater ManchesterWinter HillShown with Chorley Bor...
This article may need to be rewritten to comply with Wikipedia's quality standards. You can help. The talk page may contain suggestions. (July 2017) Fictional character ErikThe Phantom of the Opera characterLon Chaney as Erik, The Phantom, in Universal's 1925 silent film version of The Phantom of the OperaFirst appearanceThe Phantom of the Opera (1909)Created byGaston LerouxPortrayed byLon Chaney Claude Rains Herbert LomColm WilkinsonMichael CrawfordDave WillettsTimothy NolenSteve BartonRober...
Gedung pencakar langit di Jakarta Perkotaan atau kawasan perkotaan (bahasa Inggris: urban area) adalah wilayah yang mempunyai kegiatan utama bukan pertanian dengan susunan fungsi kawasan sebagai tempat permukiman perkotaan, pemusatan dan distribusi pelayanan jasa pemerintahan, pelayanan sosial, dan kegiatan ekonomi. Kawasan perkotaan yang besar dengan jumlah penduduk di atas satu juta orang dan berdekatan dengan beberapa kota satelit disebut sebagai wilayah metropolitan. lbsJenis pembagia...
French general and military strategist This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.Find sources: André Beaufre – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (May 2022) (Learn how and when to remove this message) André BeaufreAndré Beaufre in 1972 being interviewed in The World at WarBorn(1902-01-25)25 January 1902N...
Federazione Italiana Baseball SoftballLogo Discipline Baseball Softball Fondazione1948 Nazione Italia ConfederazioneWBSC Sede Roma Presidente Andrea Marcon Sito ufficialewww.fibs.it/ Modifica dati su Wikidata · Manuale La Federazione Italiana Baseball Softball (FIBS) si occupa della organizzazione e della promozione del baseball e del softball in Italia. È una federazione affiliata al CONI. Organizza tutti i livelli campionati italiani di baseball, il campionato per ciechi e ...
_(29236398233).jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
