SANTO DOMINGO, 5 August 2003 — Cuba’s wrestlers produced an unprecedented clean sweep to send the Caribbean nation to the top of the medals table on the second day of the Pan American Games on Sunday.
Twice Olympic champion Filiberto Azcuy led the charge as Cuba took gold in all seven Greco Roman wrestling categories.
Away from the action, Pan American Sports Organization (ODEPA) president Mario Vazquez Rana was taken to hospital with pneumonia and Colombia’s soccer coach remembered late Cameroon midfielder Marc-Vivien Foe after his side lost 4-0 to Brazil in sweltering conditions.
Azcuy, who took Pan American gold in Mar del Plata eight years ago but lost his crown in Winnipeg, was in defiant mood after winning the 74 kilos category.
“I came to avenge Winnipeg ‘99 and I did it,” he told reporters. “I’ll try for my third Olympic gold medal in Athens (next year).”
Lazaro Rivas, Roberto Monzon, Juan Luis Maren, Luis Mendez, Ernesto Pena and Mijail Lopez were victorious in the other categories.
The Cubans took their day’s total to nine golds when Eric Lopez won the men’s individual all-round gymnastics and Boris Camilo was first in the men’s individual epee fencing. Cuba lead the medals table with 11 golds, five ahead of the United States, who won the men’s doubles bowling and the men’s trap shooting with Lance Bade.
