Fencer Rafael “Fito” Western won the silver medal, to be the first medal in the history of individual men’s saber fencing. The first medal of this modality was achieved in Havana 1982 by teams.
“Too many emotions. Very happy to have come second place. Fulfill my goal, fulfill my dream. I feel very happy,” Western said.
The fencer based in the United States and who has competed for Puerto Rico since the 2018 Barranquilla Games was the leader in the preliminaries, winning all the bouts in his pool, for which he had the privilege of going directly to the quarterfinals. In the bout to secure the medal he eliminated his compatriot Adrián Figueredo, 15-12.
“For me, Barranquilla was like… I’m on the team, what are we going to do. But, coming to my second time, my second games were impressive, because it comes with the certainty that yes, now, we are going to put Puerto Rico on a high”, the saberman narrated tearfully.
After two hours of rest, he took the court for the semifinal match against Venezuelan José Quintero. This was an energetic and vibrant one like Western fencing. The victory was secured 15-14, to discuss the gold medal.
Western competed for the Dominican Republic at the Veracruz 2014 Central American and Caribbean Games where he won a bronze medal. Later, she decided to honor her grandmother’s homeland, Puerto Rico.
“The decision to compete for Puerto Rico was made by my grandmother, for defending her national colors, of Puerto Rico. I feel proud to represent Puerto Rico,” said the fencer.
Puerto Rico’s first medal in saber was by teams with fencers Ulpiano Parrilla, Juan Caraballo, José. M. Perez, Victor Diaz and Rafael Diaz. This medal is the first for fencing in San Salvador 2023. The events that remain to be competed are in the team modality in foil (Jonathan Lugo, César Colón, Carlos Padua) on Thursday and saber on Friday with Western, Figueredo and Dylan woodward.
Team silver in bowling
The bowlers Cristian Azcona, Edgar Burgos, David Márquez, Israel Hernández, Jean Francisco Pérez and Jorge Rodríguez scored the team silver medal, on the last day of bowling at the XXIV Central American and Caribbean Games San Salvador 2023.
The men’s team bowled for 222.33 sticks, beating Venezuela that added 212.25 sticks. The gold went to Mexico with 222.58 sticks.
This is the third medal for Azcona, who won in trios, all events and teams. It is the fourth medal for Puerto Rico in the discipline, joining Taishayé Naranjo’s individual bronze medal.
Bronze in synchronized platform mixed pair in diving
Divers Emmanuel Vázquez and Maycey Vieta won the bronze medal in the mixed pair synchronized platform event at the XXIV Central American and Caribbean Games San Salvador 2023.
The Puerto Ricans won third place with 254.40 points. The podium was completed by the Mexicans Viviana del Ángel and Diego Ballez, winning gold with 307.44. Cuba, with Anisley García and Carlos Ramos, hold the silver medal (286.08).
It is the first medal for Puerto Rico in mixed couples in history. In turn, it is the first since Veracruz 2014 where double Olympian Rafael Quintero won two bronzes in Veracruz 2014.
