Two-time silver medalist Marileidy Paulino received her RD$8 million check for her 400 m run in Tokyo 2020, plus a fifth of the RD$8 million check she shared with four members of the silver-winning 4×400 mixed relay in the Olympics. President Luis Abinader delivered the checks on Thursday, 19 August 2021 at the Presidential Palace.
“Champions and champions, welcome back to your country, which receives you rejoicing on your great feat in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, a historic performance which makes us proud,” said the President.
The Dominican team of 66 athletes delivered five medals. The DR placed 68th of 86 medal-winning countries. In Latin America, the DR did better than sport powerhouses such as Argentina and Mexico.
The Financial Times placed the Dominican Republic 13th of 242 countries in their Alternative Medal Table. The table ranks countries not by their total medal haul but by the difference to the tally they are expected to achieve, according to an economic model that considers their economic, social and political characteristics.
The president of Creating Olympic Dreams (CRESO), Felipe Vicini said the Dominican athletes were national heroes just for qualifying to play in the Olympic Games. Creso is a leading private sector backer of elite athletes in the Dominican Republic.
Vice President Raquel Peña, the Minister of Sports, Francisco Camacho and the president of the Olympic Committee, Antonio Acosta were also present.
The winners of cash awards are:
Marileidy Paulino, who received a silver prize of RD$8 million for her silver medal in the 400m.
Marileidy Paulino, Luguelín Santos, Anabel Medina, Lidio Féliz, Alexi Ogando, Fiordaliza Cofil, RD$8,000,000 divided among the five, or RD$1.6 million each for the silver medal in the 4 x 400m mixed relay.
Zacarías Bonnat, weightlifting, RD$8 million for his silver medal.
Crismery Santana, RD$6 million for her bronze in weightlifting
The baseball team, RD$6 million for winning a bronze.
The medal-winning athletes cashed in RD$36 million, but there were also cash prizes for their coaches, sports federations and others key in their preparation.
The Tokyo Olympics participation, in number of medals, was the best ever for the Dominican Republic.
Read more:
Olympic Games
Wikipedia
Financial Times
Listin Diario
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20 August 2021