Yuberjén Martínez will compete in the semi-final light flyweight boxing
On Day 6 just one Colombian competed. But attention now turns to the athletics, where we will get the chance to see a number of Colombia’s 33-strong track and field team in action for the first time.
Colombia’s only competitor on Day 6, windsurfer Santiago Grillo, recorded a 14th place finished in Race 9 of the RS-X category, but sits some way behind the leaders in 27th place overall.
Friday, by contrast, sees a number of Colombian athletes take to the Olympic Stadium for the first time at these Games. In the field events, South America’s top-ranked discus thrower – and the world’s fifteenth best – Mauricio Ortega, shall begin his challenge for an unprecedented Olympic medal.
Sandra Lemos competes in the women’s shot put, hoping to do better than her performance at London 2012 when she failed to make the final. Something approaching her lifetime best of 18.03m should be enough – but that is of course a big ask.
On the track, Rafith Rodríguez – semifinalist in the 2012 Games – will be running in the men’s 800m; while Muriel Coneo returns to the track on which she won gold at the 2016 Ibero-American Championships to compete in the women’s 1500m. Diego Palomeque returned to the sport in 2014 after serving a two-year ban for testing positive for exogenous testosterone. He will be running in the men’s 400m.
Current national record holder and 2015 South American champion, Evelis Aguilar, goes in the women’s heptathlon without a great deal of pressure in an exceptionally strong field. Tomorrow she will compete throughout the day in the 100m hurdles, high jump, shot put and 200m.
The big story of the day could be that of light flyweight boxer Yuberjén Martínez. His semi-final bout against 2015 junior world champion, Joahnys Argilagos of Cuba, could see him move into an Olympic final to fight for a first Colombian Olympic boxing medal in 28 years. Ingrid Valencia is also in the last 16 the women’s flyweight division, where she comes up against Judith Mbougnade of the Central African Republic.
Elsewhere, Éider Arévalo, the 23-year-old junior world champion from Pitalito, competes in the men’s 20km race walk. Luis Fernando López and Manuel Soto also go in that event – but it is likely to be Arévalo that finishes first of the three. How high up the leaderboard that is, we will have to wait and see.
Related: Luis Fernando Lopéz: ‘In Rio we are locals’
In the aquatic centre, caleña Isabella Arcila competes in the women’s 50m freestyle, and diver Diana Pineda goes in the women’s 3m springboard; having already represented Colombia in the Sydney and Beijing Games. And in the velodrome it is Santiago Ramírez and Fabian Puerta in Colombia’s corner, as they begin their track campaign in the men’s sprint event. Jason Kenny of Great Britain is the favourite for that title.
So, whatever time you tune in tomorrow, you’re likely to be able to catch a Colombian in action – and some of them, we hope, could even cause a few upsets.
One to watch for tomorrow:
Yuberjén Martínez has a great chance of making an Olympic final. A big effort from national record holder Mauricio Ortega in the discus could send shockwaves through a strong field – we are hoping for at least an appearance in the final for the big antioqueño.
What’s on tomorrow? (All times Colombia)
| 7.30 am | Athletics Men’s discus throw, qualification with Mauricio Ortega |
| 7:35 am | Athletics Women’s heptathlon, with Evelis Aguilar |
| 8.05 am | Athletics Women’s shot put, qualification with Sandra Lemos |
| 8.10 am | Athletics Men’s 800m, Round 1 with Rafith Rodríguez |
| 10.00 am | Boxing Men’s light flyweight 49 kg, Yuberjén Martínez, semifinals vs Yoahnys Argilagos (CUB) |
| 11.20 am | Swimming, Women’s 50m freestyle heats with Isabella Arcila |
| 11.15 am | Men’s RS-X windsurfing, Santiago Grillo |
| 12.30 pm | Athletics, Men’s 20km race walk with Eider Arevalo, Luis Fernando López and Manuel Soto |
| 1.30 pm | Diving, Women’s 3m springboard Preliminary with Diana Pineda |
| 2.14 pm | Cycling – Track, Men’s sprint with Fabian Puerta and Santiago Ramírez |
| 3.00 pm | Boxing, Women’s flyweight 51 kg, Round of 16, Ingrid Valencia vs Judith Mbougnade (CAR) |
| 6.30 pm | Athletics, Women’s 1500m, Round 1 with Muriel Coneo |
| 7.05 pm | Athletics, Men’s 400m, Round 1 with Diego Palomeque |
| 8.40 pm | Athletics, Women’s 100m heats, with Evelin Rivera and Eliecith Palacios |
By John Bartlett
