Looking back at her first Olympic Games, Monica Puig, the single women champion of Rio 2016, still gets goosebumps.
About Monica Puig
Puig, who won Puerto Rico’s first Olympic gold medal in a sport when she defeated Angelique Kerber four years ago, said winning was just part of what made her experience in Rio de Janeiro so special.
“I loved my experience at my first Olympics,” Puig told ITFTennis.com when the world celebrated the Olympic Day. “Winning the gold medal was surreal, but being part of this whole experience and knowing that I was part of one of the biggest sports celebrations in the world still give me goosebumps when I think about it.
“It’s so nice to be a witness – for example the opening ceremony, how many people were there and the emotions are high. I really loved loving every part of Rio – not just winning, obviously winning was huge, but exactly what I experienced, especially in the Olympic Village and with our team. It was so nice. “
The Olympic Day, June 23, commemorates the day the International Olympic Committee was founded in 1894, two years before the first Olympic Games in Athens in 1896.
In 2020, the celebration of the COVID-19 pandemic that triggered it became particularly moving. The postponement of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics to next year continues to impact daily life around the world.
In this unprecedented time, the Olympic Movement has highlighted the inspiring work and words of Olympians around the world. With their energy and determination, athletes have helped fans overcome this crisis by sharing their daily training and tips for a healthy body and mind during the lockdown.
“June 23 is a very special day for all of us Olympians and for the whole world,” added Puig. “The Olympic Games are such a great event that they really bring together the best of both worlds, namely sports, unity and individuals.
“I was hoping to have the same experience in Tokyo this year, but I look forward to next year and hope to relive some of these amazing memories. It is a completely different backdrop for the games in Asia – it will be one Another experience, Japan is beautiful and Tokyo is such an amazing city and I am really interested to see what it will be like.
Rio was all that Latin American flair so I am very excited to see what it will be like in Tokyo and my second Olympics Playing games is going to be huge!
“I hope you really enjoy the Olympic Day – I know I will enjoy it and I hope to see you at the Tokyo Olympics.”
