What happened to the life of Sebastián Crismanich, the Argentine taekwondo player who managed to win gold in London 2012

What happened to the life of Sebastián Crismanich, the Argentine taekwondo player who managed to win gold in London 2012

Representing your country in an Olympic game should be one of the greatest achievements any athlete wishes to experience. At the 2012 London Olympics, the Argentine delegation brought 137 athletes and won a total of 4 medals: two bronze (Juan Martín del Potro in tennis, Juan de la Fuente and Lucas Calabrese in 470 class sailing), one silver (the Lionesses in Hockey) and one gold in Taekwondo.

Being the Argentine flag bearer at the closing ceremony, Sebastián Crismanich remained in the history of national sports being the only one to bring gold to the country in that edition of the Olympic Games. 14 years after his feat, the man from Corrientes no longer competes professionally, but he continues to dedicate his time to the great passion that brought him to fame.

Sebastián Crismanich was born on October 30, 1986 in Corrientes. From the age of seven he began practicing taekwondo. Throughout his childhood and youth, he developed his skills in this sport, which would eventually lead him to compete at the international level.

After finishing high school, Crismanich moved to Córdoba with his brother to study Agronomy at the National University of Córdoba. There, he continued his training in the University’s Sports Area, combining his studies with athletic preparation. His dedication and effort bore fruit when, after four years of intense training, he won the Olympic Qualifiers in Mexico, thus ensuring his participation in the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Sebastián Crismanich’s gold medal in London 2012

In the round of 16, Crismanich faced the New Zealander Vaughn Scott. He dominated the first round with a 6-2 run. Although Scott made up ground in the second round with a 3-2 lead, Crismanich maintained his advantage and He closed the fight with a 9-5 victory.

In the quarterfinals, Sebastián faced Nesar Ahmad Bahawi from Afghanistan. After a first round of mutual evaluation, the man from Corrientes demonstrated his superiority by winning all the rounds, culminating with a score of 9-1.

Sebastian Crismanich.

Sebastian Crismanich.

Already in the semis, the Argentine faced the Armenian Arman Yeremyan. After a scoreless first round, Crismanich scored two points in the second round. Yeremyan scored one in the third round due to a penalty committed by Sebastián, but the Argentine won 2-1securing their place in the final.

In the final, Crismanich faced the Spanish Nicolás García Hemme. The fight was extremely close and neither competitor managed to score points until the last moments. During the first round, Crismanich received a penalty warning. Finally, in the third round and only 27 seconds left, Crismanich hit the kick that meant the only point of the duel. Although García Hemme desperately tried to tie, Crismanich defended his advantage and became champion on English soil.

What happened to Sebastián Crismanich’s life after his Olympic gold?

Thanks to his gold medal, the untraditional sport in Argentina began to take on more popular significance in the country. After his historic achievement in London, the Corrientes native was forced to retire from high-level competitions due to several injuries. However, his passion for taekwondo and his desire to contribute to the growth of the sport in Argentina led him to open several taekwondo centers. Currently, he directs the Correntina Taekwondo Federation and runs academies in Corrientes and Buenos Aires.

“I want to inspire confidence in many young people and continue with the task of discovering talents throughout the country. I love touring Argentina and sowing that seed of hope wherever I go. Taekwondo in Argentina continues to grow,” Crismanich expressed in an interview with the dam of the Government of the nation in 2022.

Fourteen years after his gold medal and just days before the start of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, Sebastián Crismanich continues to be an inspiring figure in Argentine sports. His transition from Olympic champion to mentor and promoter of taekwondo demonstrates his commitment and passion for this discipline, ensuring that his legacy lives on in new generations of athletes.

Source: Ambito

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