Athletes Who Gave Their Nation Its Only Gold

Maria Isabel Urrutia (Colombia):

Colombia’s medal count at the Olympics is not much to boast about. The South American Country has managed a tally of just 11 medals so far. However, they had to wait a long time for their first and so far only gold. The only gold came at the Sydney Olympics, when Maria Isabel Urrutia , the former discus thrower switched to weight lifting and achieved glory for her country. Initially, she competed in shot put and discus throw, and participated in the 1988 Summer Olympics which was held in Seoul, South Korea. Urrutia won a gold medal in women’s 75kg class in 2000 Summer Olympics. She has now retired and become a politician; she holds the seat in the Chamber of the Representatives of Colombia since 2002 and has been twice elected in 2002 and 2006.

Maria Mutola (Mozambique):

She is without doubt Mozambique’s biggest name when it comes to sport. Her days of glory started right at the Atlanta Olympic in 1996, when she managed a bronze in the women’s 800 meters, finishing well behind Russian Svetlana Masterkova and Cuban Ana Quirot. However, four years later in the Sydney Olympics, she more than made up for the disappointment by winning gold, outpacing her rivals. It was Mozambique’s first, and so far only gold. Mutola is often ranked as the greatest female 800 meter runner of all time. In 2008, the 800 meters African record held by Mutola, was beaten by Pamela Jelimo of Kenya. Mutola had decided that the 2008 Olympics would be her last major championship, and she finished fifth in the 800 meter Olympic final. She publicly called an end to her 21-year long athletics career immediately after the Olympics. She was appointed an honorary United Nations youth ambassador in 2003.