Colombian gymnast Ángel Barajas dazzled on the high bar during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, achieving an impressive silver medal. This achievement marks the first medal that Colombia has obtained in this edition of the Olympic Games.
News Sports.
The talented gymnast Ángel Barajas, only 17 years old, has achieved the first silver medal for Colombia in these Olympic Games. With a spectacular performance on the high bar. This young man from Cúcuta has marked a milestone in artistic gymnastics.
Read also:
Barajas, the third athlete to present his routine, managed to lift the entire stadium and the entire country with each movement on the high bar. His outstanding execution gave him a score of 14.533, the same score obtained by the Japanese athlete Oka Shinnosuke, who took home the gold medal.
This success is not only historic as it is the first medal for Colombia in Paris 2024, but also because it is the first time that a Colombian has won a medal in artistic gymnastics in the history of the Olympic Games. At 17 years and 359 days, Barajas became the youngest medalist in an individual men’s gymnastics competition since September 24, 1888, when Sergei Kharkov won gold at 17 years and 312 days.
In interviews with news outlets, the family has said that Barajas grew up watching Lazy Town’s Sportacus as a child, which fueled his passion for jumping. A neighbor who saw him “jumping like crazy” also suggested to his family that they enroll him in formal training.
The young athlete expressed his joy and gratitude: “It is a dream come true. At my young age I have achieved a lot and I have enjoyed what I love to do the most.” He also thanked his mother, his hometown of Cúcuta and the companies that have supported him:
“I dedicate this victory to my mother, who made a great effort to be here, to Cúcuta and to all the companies that have supported me.” Barajas, who today awards this medal to Colombia, will turn 18 on August 12.
#Olympic Games #Paris2024 #ArtisticGymnastics
[GA] ARTISTIC GYMNASTICS: Men’s horizontal bar exercise.Angel Barajas #CABBAGE 🇨🇴 (silver🥈, aged 17 years and 359 days) is the youngest Colombian athlete to win an Olympic medal. He surpasses Leydi Solís who won silver in… pic.twitter.com/xKOS4Ai6nT
— MisterChip (Alexis) (@2010MisterChip) August 5, 2024
