TODAY(AUGUST 1, 2012) WAS HIS DAY!!! CUBAN BORN, DANELL LEYVA, WINS BRONZE AT THE OLYMPICS!!!!
WAY TO GO MY CUBAN BOY!!!---
Danell Leyva of Miami won the all-around Bronze medal for US Men’s Gymnastics on day six of the 2012 London Olympics. Leyva joins 2004 champion Paul Hamm as the only U.S. men to win Olympic all-around medals since 1984.
As a Cuban/ American myself I could not be prouder of this handsome, determined young man. GO DANELL!!!!His stepfather and coach, Yin Alvarez ( one of the most animated coaches I have ever seen) and mother, Maria Gonzalez, were both members of Cuba's national gymnastics team. Gonzalez and Leyva defected to Miami when Leyva was a year old.
Danell's journey to the USA parallels a lot of people I know & grew up with (mine included).
Most Cubans are grateful, patriotic citizens proud to represent the US anytime we can, in all walks of life.
Danell Leyva He is the 2011 U.S national all-around gold medalist and the 2011 world champion on the parallel bars.
In 2010, he was the U.S. gold medalist on the parallel bars and the all-around silver medalist. In 2009, he became the youngest member of the U.S. national Senior team at age 17, and won the gold medal on the horizontal bar and the silver medal on the parallel bars.
Today in St Louis he came in first!
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Yesterday I was watching a special "Piers Morgan Tonight" and I was highly impressed with the 4 young athletes-2 boys/2girls who will potentially go to London. Of course being from the New York area & Hispanic I was so impressed with John Orozco. A Bronx boy whose father found a flyer for a free gymnastic lesson while working sanitation in NY. The rest is inspirational history . The young man is modest & resolute. LOVED HIM! There was a zen quality to his determination that was infectious!
Today he is came in FIRST to Danell...YOU GO BOYS!!!!!
JULY 1, 2012 UPDATE:
While Leyva said he "very badly" wanted to win, the final results aren't all that important. Both are heading to London, along with three more team members and up to three alternates...
UPDATE JULY 30, 2012
The United States men's gymnastics squad suffered a major letdown in the all-around team competition, going from first in qualifying to fifth in the medal round, but they have plenty of chances at redemption in the coming days.
After scoring 275.342 in qualifying, a score that made them the team to beat in the finals, the Americans came back on Monday and absolutely laid an egg. John Orozco was horrendous and Danell Leyva was far from his normally standout self. They cam is fifth. So sad but fifth is still amazing (so many wished they would come in fifth)-- but sadly no medals.
HOWEVER , OUR BOY & GOLD MEDAL WINNER IN SWIMMING RYAN LOCHTE was born in Rochester, New York, to Steven Lochte and his Cuban-born wife, Ileana "Ike" Lochte.[1] His mother is Cuban and was born and raised in Havana, while his father is of Geramn descent.
Wow. Gymnastics is obviously a great workout. The Clifton NYSC started having some gymnastics equipment and I watch the stuff they do... I'd end up hurting myself LOL
ReplyDeleteTHEY ARE TRULY THE BEST ATHLETES!
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