Sport in Colombia

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The Colombian national football team against Brazil in Bogotá, Colombia
Football is the most popular sport in Colombia. In the picture a match in the city of Barranquilla.

Sports in Colombia refers to the practice of sports in Colombia. There are professional sports leagues as well as amateur leagues for numerous sports. Association football and cycling are the most popular sports in Colombia. The Government of Colombia sponsors numerous individuals and teams nationally and internationally through the Ministry of Culture for competitions in representation of Colombia despite the country's economical and social problems throughout the years. Professional Sports achievements are subject to national pride for Colombians.

Contents

[edit] Association football

See also: Football in Colombia

Association football was introduced by British workers in Strip clubs and Barranquilla in the late 19th Century while working for mual level of football in Colombia since its foundation on July 20, 1924. The organization is associated to the FIFA and CONMEBOL since 1936. The Colombia national football team participated in a FIFA World Cup in 1962 followed by others in 1990, 1994 and 1998. The best presentation being in 1990 when the team reached the second round.

Its most notorious achievement was the winning of the Copa América 2001 edition, which was also hosted in Colombia. It also qualified for the 1968, 1972, 1980 and 1992 Summer Olympics. Throughout the years many Colombians have also worked for leagues in other nations. The national leagues compete in the Copa Mustang which also participates in international tournaments like Copa Libertadores de América upon winning or finishing in the first places.

[edit] Football Players

[edit] Cycling

See also: Vuelta a Colombia and Cycling in Colombia
Mauricio Soler in the Tour de France (2007)

Professional Cycling in Colombia became very popular after the triumphs of Martín Emilio "Cochise" Rodríguez in European cycling competitions which in turn helped to develop the Colombian Cycling Federation. Rodriguez was later followed by a generation of bicyclers known as the "Colombian beetles" which include up to this date Luis "Lucho" Herrera, Luis Felipe Laverde, Fabio Parra, Víctor Hugo Peña, Santiago Botero and more recently Mauricio Soler. These competitors created a fan base in Colombia which in turn helped to create the Vuelta a Colombia a local cycling competition.

During the 1990s the government of the Colombian capital, Bogotá introduced the Ciclovía which became popular and were introduced later into other Colombian cities. The government of Bogotá later built Bogotá's Bike Paths Network to sponsor the practice of sports by the population and to curb the city's increasing pollution by drivers. The network extends throughout the city with bicycle use increasing 5 times in the city. There is an estimated 300,000 to 400,000 trips made daily in Bogotá by bicycle. A large portion of this use is in southern poorer areas.[1]

[edit] Champions

[edit] Martial Arts

Main article: Martial Arts in Colombia

[edit] Boxing

Professional Boxing in Colombia is mostly practiced in Caribbean region and in poor areas of the western regions of Colombia. Boxing in Colombia was also introduced by Europeans in the late 19th Century and became popular in Latin America in the early 20th Century and in Colombia became popular in the 1960s with the triumphs of Antonio "Kid Pambele" Cervantes who became a two time world Jr. Welterweight champion. He was then followed by boxers like Prudencio Cardona, Rodrigo Valdéz, Fidel Bassa, and many more. The success of these boxers created a fan base and many Colombians started to follow the sport. The National Boxing Commission of Colombia (Comisión Nacional de Boxeo de Colombia) was created and regulated the practice of boxing in Colombia.

In the 1980s the success of Miguel "Happy" Lora reigned in the bantam weight division (118 pounds) -WBC- from 1985 to 1988 and the silver medal in the Pan American Games of Carlos José Tamara. Another boxers have figured internationally and won some titles such as Ener Julio, Joel Julio, among others.

During the 1990s surged Irene "Mambaco" Pacheco who became a world champion in the IBF Flyweight category and in the 2000s Fulgencio Zúñiga current IBO Super middleweight champion.

[edit] Champions

[2]

[edit] Roller skating

Main article: Roller skating in Colombia

With the introduction of Inline skates in Colombia during the 1990s roller skating became widely practiced throughout most of the main cities in the country. It was mostly popular in the main and medium size cities such as Cartagena, Cali, Bogotá, Pasto, Barrancabermeja, Barranquilla, Medellín and Valledupar. [3]

[edit] Notable

Cecilia Baena Female Inline speed skating world champion

[edit] Motor Sports

Main article: Motor Sports in Colombia
Juan Pablo Montoya, gained world fame after participating in the most popular motor sport competitions of Europe and the United States.

With The most known Colombians that Los colombianos más destacados en los deportes de motor son el piloto de Fórmula 1 Juan Pablo Montoya y el piloto de Martin Cardenas.

Juan Pablo Montoya has been the most successful sportsman in motor sports in Colombia with a cameo in Formula One and of 2006 in the NASCAR, United States.

[edit] Chess

[edit] Athletics

[edit] Baseball

Edgar Rentería, currently free agent short stop.

[edit] Bowling

[edit] Golf

Currently, Camilo Villegas is the most recognized Colombian golfer in the world. He has been a PGA Tour professional in the United States since 2006. In 2008, Villegas was the first PGA Tour player in 11 years to win his first two PGA Tour events back-to-back. He is currently among the Top 10 ranked golfers in the world according to the Official World Golf Rankings.

Marisa Baena was the inaugural Champion of the HSBC Women's World Match Play Championship, in 2005.

Camilo Benedetti, Diego Vanegas and Manuel ("Manny") Villegas (younger brother of Camilo Villegas) are currently playing professional golf in the United States on the Nationwide Tour with hopes of eventually graduating to the PGA Tour. David Vanegas is playing on the equivalent Challenge Tour with the prospect of promotion to the European Tour.

[edit] Weightlifting

[edit] Olympic Wrestling

Jackeline Renteria - 2008 Beijing Olympics- Women's Freestyle- Bronze- 55 kg

[edit] Tennis

[edit] Shooting

[edit] Speed Skating

  • Jay Ramirez, 26 year old London based Colombian skater who is training in Holland and attempting to become the first Colombian born athlete to take part in the Winter Olympic Games, in Sochi 2014

[edit] References

  1. ^ http://www.welovebogota.com/sports-in-colombia.html
  2. ^ http://www.welovebogota.com/sports-in-colombia.html
  3. ^ http://www.welovebogota.com/sports-in-colombia.html
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