In a historic day for Latin American sports at the Paris 2024 Olympics, both Guatemala and Argentina clinched their first-ever Olympic gold medals on July 31. Adriana Ruano Oliva, a 29-year-old Guatemalan shooter, made history by winning gold in the women’s trap shooting event with a record-breaking 45 hits out of 50 attempts. This performance not only secured Guatemala’s first Olympic gold but also set a new Olympic record.Ruano’s journey to Olympic glory was particularly poignant. A former gymnast, she switched to shooting after a back injury forced her to retire from gymnastics at age 16. ‘I’m still in a mix of emotions. I haven’t fully realized what this means. I know it means a lot to the country,’ Ruano said. She dedicated her medal to her late father, who passed away in 2021.On the same day, Argentina celebrated its own historic moment when José Torres Gil, known as ‘El Maligno’, won gold in the BMX Freestyle event. Torres, who was born in Bolivia to Argentine parents, scored an impressive 94.82 points in his first run of the final. ‘It’s incredible, I don’t believe it. It’s something I never imagined. My whole life I dreamed of being an Olympic athlete,’ Torres expressed after his victory.These victories mark significant milestones for both countries. For Guatemala, it’s only their third Olympic medal ever, following a silver in 2012 and a bronze earlier in these games. For Argentina, it’s their first gold medal since the 2016 Rio Olympics. The achievements of Ruano and Torres have sparked celebrations in their home countries and have been hailed as inspirational moments for Latin American sports.
Key points
- Adriana Ruano Oliva won Guatemala’s first-ever Olympic gold medal in trap shooting, setting a new Olympic record.
- José Torres Gil secured Argentina’s first gold medal of the Paris 2024 Olympics in BMX Freestyle.
- Both victories represent significant milestones for Latin American sports at the Olympic level.
