Felix Sanchez, who is Brooklyn-born of Dominican parentage, returned to Santo Domingo on Sunday to revel in the grand welcome the city, government and sports groups had prepared in his honor. As a two-time world champion, Felix Sanchez most recently took the gold medal in the 400-meter hurdle event in the Athens Olympics, netting the DR its first gold and only its second Olympic medal ever. Hundreds were on hand to receive Sanchez at the airport, and thousands more expressed their admiration as he drove in a specially-designed open vehicle down Las Americas expressway and on to the Malecon, where a celebratory merengue party was taking place.
As he came through the airport terminal Sanchez was greeted by his father, Sports Minister Jay Payano and Olympic Committee president Luisin Mejia.
Sanchez’s gold medal in Athens was the climax of three years of straight wins in the race. His winning streak ended at 43, however, when an injury forced him to stop short during the Brussels IAAF Golden League jackpot race in early September.
Sanchez is a product of the New York and California public school systems’ sports programs and is an alumnus of the University of Southern California. While his best time is 47.25, he told the press that he hopes to lower this time and break the 46.78 record of the US’s Kevin Johnson.
Sanchez has said that he is proud of being Dominican and the DR’s first Olympic gold medalist. “One’s place of birth does not determine the love one can have for one’s true people,” he said.
Sanchez was then given the keys to the city from Santo Domingo’s Mayor Roberto Salcedo, whereafter he partied with the masses of people along the Malecon. He will be decorated today by President Leonel Fernandez at the Presidential Palace.
To read an extensive interview with Felix, see
http://www.oyemag.com/felix.html