Damián Quintero from Malaga wins a silver medal for karate at the Tokyo Olympics

Damián Quintero from Malaga wins a silver medal for karate at the Tokyo Olympics

Damián Quintero from Malaga wins a silver medal for karate at the Tokyo Olympics. image: Twitter

Damián Quintero from Malaga wins a silver medal for karate at the Tokyo Olympics and will help close the games.

Damián Quintero, 37, from the province of Malaga in the region of Spain’s Andalucia, said: “I promised myself that I would come to the Olympic Games to enjoy it and I have done that,” as the heavy silver medal was placed around his neck in the historic Nippon Budokan, a temple of martial arts located in Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan.

“I have given everything I had. The truth is that I don’t care about the colour of the medal. I am smiling because getting on the Olympic podium in karate is something unique, ”said Quintero, while speaking with family members who live around Malaga and Gijón.

“The intention was to take a much more technical kata (form), “said Quintero, unravelling some of the smallest details which are looked at in the competition.

The silver medal will not be able to be defended in Paris 2024 as karate is excluded from the Olympic calendar for the next Games. “It was the only chance to get a medal at a Games and that added a bit more pressure. Because medals are a dream, but also a pressure. I feel angry for not being able to have the opportunity to defend my result ”, said the Torremolinos team leader.

Regarding his immediate future, Quintero explained that he will now take a few days holidays off to “disconnect and recharge the batteries” and that he will start training again to prepare for the Dubai World Cup in November, where he is sure that “there may be a higher level than in the Games themselves ”.

“It was the one that I was missing in the showcase and we will look for a good place at home to put it and enjoy it every day. It is different from a World Cup or a European Championship.”

Closing Ceremony
Along with Sandra Sánchez, Damián Quintero will be the standard-bearer for Spain at the closing ceremony. “It will be spectacular, it is an honour that Alejandro Blanco and the COE have chosen us to carry the flag. It is a privilege. We will be there to represent our country as we have always done on the tatami,” concluded the native Malaganian.
 
 


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Ron Howells

Ron actually started his working career as an Ophthalmic Technician- things changed when, during a band rehearsal, his amplifier blew up and he couldn’t get it fixed so he took a course at Birmingham University and ended up doing a degree course. He built up a chain of electronics stores and sold them as a franchise over 35 years ago. After five years touring the world Ron decided to move to Spain with his wife and son, a place they had visited over the years, and only bought the villa they live in because it has a guitar-shaped swimming pool!. Playing the guitar since the age of 7, he can often be seen, (and heard!) at beach bars and clubs along the length of the coast. He has always been interested in the news and constantly thrives to present his articles in an interesting and engaging way.

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