Road to London 2012!

Algeria

Did you know- On May 20, 1990,Algeria’s athlete Yasmina Azzizi established a new African record of 6,056 points in the women’s heptathlon. Together with Hassiba Boulmerka, Reda Abdenouz, and Noureddine Morcelli, she was one of the most popular athletes in the North African nation, an ex French colony until 1962.

Cote d’Ivoire

Did you know- Handball — an Olympic sport since 1972– is one of the most popular sports in Cote d’Ivoire, a French-speaking nation in West Africa. By 1988, the women’s handball team, under coach Tokou Bleou’s tutelage, won the right to compete in the Olympic Handball Tournament in the Republic of Korea. The members of that team were Zomou Awa, Gouna Irie, Elizabeth Kovassi, Wandou Guehi, Hortense Konan, Emilie Djoman, Alimata Doumba, Julienne Vodoungbo, Doumbia Bah, Adjoua Nadri, Clementinea Ble, and Mahoula Kramo. Although the African champion had a difficult event, losing all five matches: Norway (34-14), USSR (32-11), China (37-12), Czechoslovakia (34-12), and the United States (27-16).The continent of Africa competed in the Olympic event since 1980 when the People’s Republic of the Congo sent handball players to the Soviet Union, home to the XXII Summer Games. On the other hand, in the 1990s, the women’s handball squad of Cote d’Ivoire participated in three global events: 1995 (18th), 1997 (14th), and 1999 (20th).

The Gambia

Did you know- The Gambia – a peaceful country in West Africa- sent three sportswomen to the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California (America). This English-speaking nation made its Olympic debut in the Los Angeles Games.

Guinea-Bissau

Did you know- On April 13, 1974, in Maputo (Mozambique), Guinea-Bissau’s sprinter Binta Sané established a new national mark of 13.4 seconds in the women’s 100m.

Madagascar

Did you know- The women’s basketball team of Madagascar qualified for the FIBA World Cup in Brazil in the early 70s. In South America, Madagascar -African winner– lost 120-39 to Czechoslovakia (now the Czech Republic).

Nigeria

Did you know- The team from Nigeria came in 11th place in the Women’s Olympic Games Basketball Tournament in Athens (Greece) in 2004. In the course of the tournament, Nigeria beat South Korea 68-64.

Rwanda

Did you know- By 1988, the nation’s runner Marcianne Mukamurenzi, the most respected athlete (male or female) in Rwanda in the 80s, established a new national mark of 32:19.11 in the women’s 10,000m. At that year, she came in 38th place in the women’s marathon at the Seoul Olympic Games. Miss Mukamurenzi lived in Bordeaux, France.

Somalia

Did you know- In November 1987, Somalia’s athlete Hawa Abdullahi set a new Somali record of 13.23 seconds in the women’s 100m. Athletics, together with soccer, is one of the most popular sports in the nation, among the world’s ten poorest nations.

By: Alejandro Guevara Onofre

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Road to London 2012!

1986 Goodwill Games

Did you know- At the 1986 Goodwill Games in Moscow, USSR (now Russia), the women’s volleyball squad, led by its world-class player Cecilia Tait Villacorta, came close to winning the gold medal. In the final, Peru (South American champion) lost 3-0 to the Soviet Union (Olympic gold medal in 1980). The USSR and Peru were followed by America (bronze medal), Japan, North Korea, Czechoslovakia, East Germany, West Germany, in that order. The Peruvian volleyball team included 14 athletes: Cecilia Tait (1.82m), Rosa García (1.74m), Denisse Fajardo (1.71m), Gina Torrealba (1.74m), Natalia Malaga (1.71m), Sonia Heredia (1.74m), Luisa Cervera (1.74m), Gabriela Pérez del Solar (1.94m), Miriam Gallardo (1.80m), Cecilia Arostegui (1.76m), Sonia Ayaucam (1.75m), Miriam Lazo (1.71m), Margarita Delgado (1.76m), and Katherine ***** (1.84m). Toward the end of 1986, surprisingly, the Peruvian team finished third — ahead of East Germany, USSR, and Brazil– in the Women’s Volleyball World Cup in Prague, Czechoslovakia. On the other hand, Peru’s athlete Denisse Fajardo, who played in Europe, was named one of the most outstanding players.

Pan American Games

Did you know- The women’s volleyball team of Peru picked up a silver medal in the 7th Pan American Games, which were held in Mexico City in October 1975. That year they also won the South American Championship in Asunción (Paraguay). In the final match, Peru beat Brazil. The Peruvian players were Mercedes Gónzales, Gaby Cardenas, Teresa Nuñez, Irma Cordero, Ana Cecilia Carrillo, Esperanza Hogan, Delia Córdero, Juana Flores, Luisa Fuentes, Ana Maria Ramirez, Maria Cervera, and Maruja Ostolaza.

Peru Vs Puerto Rico

Did you know- In October 1975, Peru routed Puerto Rico 3-0 (15-0, 15-8, 15-1). At that time, the women’s volleyball squad of Puerto Rico was one of the 10 best teams in the Americas. Thirty-four years later, Puerto Rico beat Peru 3-0 (25-17, 15-19, 25-23).In that year, by 2009, Peru was one of the seven best teams in the continent of the Americas. In 2002, the Puerto Rican team came in 12th place in the global event, among 24 teams; meanwhile the Peruvian women’s team did not qualified for the 2002 World Championships.

Gabriela Pérez del Solar Cuculiza

Did you know- By 1993, the women’s volleyball team of Peru, led by Gabriela Pérez del Solar Cuculiza, defeated Brazil (4th place in the Olympic Games in 1992) 3-1 and won the South American Tournament. Meanwhile, Pérez del Solar was named the tournament’s most valuable player. Under coach Man Bok Park’s rigorous training, she became one of the world’s best volleyball players between 1985 and 1993.

By: Alejandro Guevara Onofre

About the Author: