Sports in Puerto Rico - Birthplace of Roberto Clemente!

body">greatest triumph was captaining his team to their ninth
From Boxing to BaseballWorld Series title in 1971. For his achievements, he was
Basketballnamed "Most Valuable Player" in the mid-1960s.
Did you know- Puerto Rico 's basketball playerSubsequently, he was elected to the National Baseball
Teófilo Cruz, a veteran of the Puerto Rican nationalHall of Fame. Unfortunately,he died in 1972. Without a
squad, competed in five Olympic Games: Rome 1960,doubt, Mr Clemente will be remembered as the most
Tokyo 1964, Mexico 1968, Munich 1972, and Montrealremarkable Puerto Rican athlete of all time.
1976.San Juan de Puerto Rico
BoxingDid you know- San Juan de Puerto Rico hosted the
Did you know- By 1975, in the Caribbean Boxing8th Pan American Games in 1979. Lord Killanin, former
Championship in Guatemala City, the national teamPresident of the International Olympic Committee, said,
won five medals ( two gold and three silver) and took"I have happy memories of my visit to San Juan,
second place in unofficial team standings, outpacingPuerto Rico for the VIII Pan American Games, and of
Cuba, Colombia and Mexico. A year ago, the Puertothe excellent organization and atmosphere prevailing
Rican team came in seventh place in the Worldthere. I hope the Pan American Games will continue to
Boxing Championship, ahead of Venezuela, Bulgaria,flourish".
East Germany, and France.Sports
Caribbean GamesDid you know- Traditionally, baseball, basketball, and
Did you know- A 537-member team from Puerto Ricobowling are the most popular sports on the Island.
competed in the Central American and CaribbeanSwimmers
Games in the early 1980s.Did you know- Since 1966, Puerto Rico has had many
Don German Rieckehoffnotable swimmers in Latin America: From Carlos
Did you know- Don German Rieckehoff, formerBerrocal, Ricardo Busquets, and Fernando Canales to
President of the Puerto Rican National OlympicFiliberto Colon, and Ana Lallande. In addition to these
Committee, was one of the Latin America's mostathletes, the Island is the birthplace of Jesse Vassallo.
respected Olympic leaders. Under his leadership, SanThe Puerto Rican-born athlete, who competed for the
Juan de Puerto Rico hosted the VIII Pan AmericanUnited States, was one of swimming's greatest
Games in the late 70s.performers in the late 1970s. By 1979, Mr Vassallo won
Roberto Clementefour medals (three gold and one silver) at the VIII Pan
Did you know- Puerto Rico was once home toAmerican Games. A year ago, in August 22, 1978, Mr
Roberto Walker Clemente, one of the greatestVassallo set a new world record in the men's
professional players in the history of baseball. Between400-meter individual medley at the FINA World
1955 and 1972, he played for the Pittsburgh Pirates. HisChampionships in Berlin (West Germany).