Cuban wrestler Reineris Salas

Tokyo, August 7 (RHC)-- Cuban Reineris Salas, after three unsuccessful attempts in the past, took advantage of a new Olympic opportunity today and won the Bronze medal in freestyle wrestling at Tokyo 2020.

'El Gimnasta', as he is known, defeated Azerbaijan's Sharif Sharifov, in the 97 kilograms, in a duel that ended in a three-way tie, but the Cuban wrestler was the last to score.

We fulfilled the strategy in the bout and that was vital to come out on top, said in the mixed zone the double universal and fifth place winner in Rio de Janeiro 2016 in the next lower division (86).

Precisely five years ago in the 'Wonderful City', the gladiator was six seconds away from achieving the bronze metal, however, a small defensive slip cost him to stay far from the podium

Pan American and Central American champion, Salas dreamed of a result of this caliber, as it was the only one he was missing in his impressive track record.  "Blessed and happy. I trusted in the victory and we worked for it," he said.

After coming up blank in London 2012 and Rio 2016, the island's freestyle category now returns to stellar levels, although it did not manage to emulate the feats of Barcelona 1992 and Athens 2004, when Alejandro Puerto and Yandro Quintana, in that order, each won a crown.

However, in general, the sport obtained good dividends in Tokyo 2020, with gold medals in Greco-Roman by the legend Mijaín López (130) and the surprising Luis Orta (60).

Thus, Cuba marches in sixteenth place in the general awards table, with six Golds, three second positions and five third places -- records that exceed those achieved in Rio 2016, London 2012 and Beijing 2008.