On the day Erislandy Alvarez Borges secured his spot in the Olympic World Qualification Tournament, his grandmother passed away. This profound loss fueled his determination as he not only qualified for Paris 2024 but also reached the gold medal match in the men’s 63.5kg boxing category.
Facing French boxer Sofiane Oumiha, backed by a supportive home crowd at Stade Roland Garros, Alvarez was undeterred. With his grandmother’s memory as his motivation, he was resolved to leave Court Philippe-Chatrier with the gold medal. “I wanted to dedicate this to my grandma, may she rest in peace,” Alvarez said to Olympics.com after pointing to the sky during the Medal Ceremony. “She died the day I qualified in Thailand. We promised her that we would qualify and make it, and now we have, and we dedicate this to her.”
Erislandy Alvarez Borges’ Golden Night in Paris
Alvarez celebrated in the ring when he was declared the winner by split decision. Throughout the bout, he showcased his skills against Oumiha, the fourth seed and home favorite. His strong performance in the opening round set the stage for Cuba’s first boxing gold of Paris 2024. Despite a fierce comeback from Oumiha, Alvarez remained confident in his ability to secure the victory.
This gold medal was not just a personal triumph for Alvarez but also a significant achievement for Cuba, which had waited until day 12 of the Games for their first gold medal. “I feel so proud to have this gold medal, one of such sacrifice, so many tears,” Alvarez said. “I want to thank my team who have always supported me and told me that I am a champion. They always told me that, so I always had it in my mind that I was a champion. Now my life is going to take a big turn.”
Life-Changing Olympic Gold for Alvarez
Winning the gold medal marks a life-changing moment for Alvarez, an Olympic champion on his debut and Cuba’s second gold medalist of Paris 2024, alongside legendary wrestler Mijain Lopez Nunez. Competing against a home fighter in the Olympic final added to Alvarez’s achievement.
Alvarez honored his late grandmother with this victory, motivated by the desire to create a better life for his son. “I have not had the chance to call them yet,” Alvarez said when asked if he had spoken to his family in Cuba after his win.
Throughout his journey to becoming an Olympic champion, Alvarez faced and defeated seeded boxers in four of his five bouts, including three consecutive victories by unanimous decision. This gold medal is a well-deserved title for Alvarez, who celebrated with joy and danced into the Parisian night.
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