The Dominican Sports Hall of Fame inducted Olympic medalists Felix Sanchez (gold in 400 m hurdles in Athens 2004 and London 2012) and taekwondo fighter Gabriel Mercedes (silver in Beijing Olympics 2008) on Sunday, 14 November 2021.
“The people of this country are fighters. I am very grateful to represent this country abroad, today (yesterday). I am moved by the emotions of the two times I was on the medal podium in Athens and London when I won the Olympic medals,” said Felix, after his exaltation at the 55th Ceremonial.
“I will never forget the first time I wore the colors of the tricolor flag at the Pan American Games in Winnipeg ’99,” he said. While born and raised in the United States, Sánchez took the sports nationality of his Dominican father.
During the 55th induction ceremony, baseball great David Ortiz was also inducted, honored for his 541 home runs. Others inducted for baseball feats in the same ceremony were Rafael Furcal and Julián tavárez.
Others honored with a place in the Sports Hall of Fame were Nieve Xue Wu (table tennis), José Luis Saint Claire (softball, deceased in 2014), Miosotis Heredia (weight lifting) and sports promoters Carlos Lamarcha Rey and Nelly Manuel Doñe (decased in 2019).
Retired basketball player Nate Archibald (Tiny) was present for the ceremony. He is regarded as one of the great NBA basketball players of all times. He frequently is in the country to give clinics invited by his friend, Sports Hall of Fame member Eduardo Gómez.
On the evening Felipe Vicini, of Grupo Inicia, was recognized for the millions of dollars in financial support and in his own personal time and effort to the development of excellence in sports in the country.
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El Dia
El Dia
15 November 2021