Puerto Rico competed at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki, Finland. 21 competitors, all men, took part in 19 events in 4 sports.
History On November 25, 1950, Avery Brundage contacted Department of State advisor Forney Rankin about the participation of Puerto Rico at the inaugural Pan American Games. The Departments of State, Interior and Defense opposed the idea, as noted in their reply dated December 14, 1950. Brundage argued in favor of sending Puerto Ricans along the USOC, but allowing them the use of their flag. His attempts continued into 1951. Not all American officials in the United States Committee opposed the participation of Puerto Rico in the event, as the participation was favored by organization member General Rose. The issue of having two delegations with the same flag and anthem was also contentious. Ultimately, Puerto Rico did not participate in the games and it became apparent that its participation in such events was done for the foreseeable future.
However, Finland invited the delegation to the 1952 Summer Olympics. The subject became a topic of discussion between Governor Luis Muñoz Marín and Secretary of the Interior James P. Davis. Funding for the delegation was raised locally. The games coincided with the implementation of the Commonwealth, which despite its continuing territorial status recognized the flag of Puerto Rico as official. Due to this, the flag of the United States was used in the opening ceremony, but replaced on July 25. The athletes (among them Eugenio Guerra) were aware of the historic significance of the event, which marked the first time that the flag of Puerto Rico had been used as an official symbol in international events (tough it had been used as an unofficial symbol of protest and resistance prior to it).
Athletics
Track events EventAthletesHeat Round 1Heat Round 2SemifinalFinalResultRankResultRankResultRankResultRank400 mFrank Rivera 49.3 =39Did not advance800 mFrank Rivera 1:57.6 =43Did not advance110 m hurdlesTéofilo Colón Molinaris 15.2 19Did not advanceJuan Lebrón González 15.4 =22Did not advance400 m hurdlesAmadeo Francis 54.0 =9Did not advance
Field events EventAthletesQualificationFinalResultRankResultRankTriple jumpFrancisco Castro 13.37 35Did not advanceShot putRamón Rosario Rodríguez 14.21 16Did not advanceJavelin throwReinaldo Luis Oliver Martínez 52.40 25Did not advanceHammer throwJaime Annexy Fajardo NM Did not advance
Boxing
AthleteEventRound of 32Round of 16QuarterfinalsSemifinalsFinalOppositionResultOppositionResultOppositionResultOppositionResultOppositionResult Pablo LugoFlyweight (-51 kg) L PTS 1:2Did not advanceÁngel FigueroaBantamweight (51-54 kg) W PTS 3:0 L PTS 0:3Did not advanceJuan CuretLight-welterweight (60-63.5 kg) W KO R2 L PTS 0:3Did not advance
Legend: PTS = Points KO = Knockout R = Round
Shooting
Five shooters represented Puerto Rico in 1952.
Men AthleteEventFinalScoreRankErnesto Rivera25 m pistol54629José Rua55322Alberto Guerrero50 m pistol51727Ramiro Ortíz49244José Ángel GaliñanesTrap11739
Weightlifting
References
Footnotes
Bibliography
External links Official Olympic Reports