SANTO DOMINGO, 18 August 2003 — Russian-born weightlifter Boris Busov won a gold medal for his adopted Ecuador at the Pan American Games on Saturday while Cuba had their grip on the boxing loosened.
The Cubans also crashed to a shock defeat by hosts Dominican Republic in the women’s volleyball final which started more than half an hour late after teargas — used by police to stop fans forcing their way into a crowded arena — drifted on to the court.
Busov, who was born in Moscow in 1970 and became a naturalized Ecuadorean seven years ago, won the men’s 105 kilos category. He lifted 207.5 kilos in the clean and jerk and 185 kilos in the snatch for a total of 392.5 to retain the title he won four years ago in Winnipeg.
“Now, I’m going to try and qualify for the Olympics,” Busov, who speaks Spanish with a heavy Russian accent, told reporters.
Cuba, who won 11 of the 12 boxing gold medals at the 1991 games, seven in 1995 and nine in 1999, finished with a more modest six out of 11 this time after winning only two of Saturday’s five finals. Yuriolkis Gamboa outpointed Juan Carlos Payano of the Dominican Republic to win the flyweight final and Odlanier Solis beat Trinidad’s Kerston Manswell in the heavyweight.
Colombia’s Likar Ramos won the featherweight, Patric Lopez of Venezuela the super lightweight and Juan Ubaldo of the Dominican Republic the middleweight.
Last month, Cuba’s dominance also ended at the world amateur boxing championships as they picked up only three golds in Bangkok compared to nine at the previous event in Belfast.
Like the boxing, the women’s volleyball is usually seen as a foregone conclusion for the Cubans. But the Dominican Republic, perhaps inspired by Venezuela’s win over Cuba in the men’s final on Friday, had other ideas as they raced into a two-set lead.
Cuba pulled a set back, saved three match points in the fourth but finally fell 25-16, 25-17, 14-25, 26-28, 15-13.
Dominican Republic President Hipolito Mejia, watching from an air-conditioned booth, was among the 7,500 people in attendance. Hundreds more were left outside and police used teargas to stop them forcing their way in. The two teams, who had already been presented to the crowd and were warming up, rushed back to the dressing-rooms as the teargas floated on to the court. Previous events involving teams or athletes from the host nation have also suffered from overcrowding.
A Reuters reporter at the venue said it was already crammed with more than 5,000 fans eager to see the host team from the Dominican Republic take on Cuba as hundreds more gathered outside hoping to get in. Players from Brazil and the United States, who had completed their bronze medal match, were also affected.
Overcrowding has affected previous events in which local teams or athletes have competed. Brazilian Olympic Committee president Carlos Nuzman accused organizers of filling the venue of the men’s basketball final beyond its capacity for his team’s match against the hosts.
Nuzman said he feared for the safety of the Brazilian delegation and accused security forces of arguing among themselves.
There was also chaos when local hero Felix Sanchez ran in the 400 meters hurdles at the Olympic stadium. Dozens of people, unable to get into the public seating, forced their way past teenage soldiers on the gate and watched the race from the media interview area.
