Cuban Weightlifter Ivan Cambar Takes the Bronze in London

HAVANA TIMES — Cuban weightlifter Ivan Cambar won the bronze medal on Wednesday in the 77 kg class in the London Olympics. It was the first time Cuba won an Olympic medal in this discipline in 16 years ago.

“I was hoping to finish in the top five. I trained well so I was able to get this bronze medal,” said Cambar just moments after the conclusion of the awards.

The champion of the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Cambar, 28, admitted that after an injury to his right elbow, for which he underwent two surgeries, he hadn’t wanted to continue in the sport.

Nonetheless, Cambar is now the first Cuban Olympic weightlifting medalists since Pablo Lara (76 kg), who stepped up onto the awards podium in Atlanta in 1996.