Belize at the 2008 Summer Olympics

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Belize at the
2008 Summer Olympics
IOC codeBIZ
NOCBelize Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association
in Beijing
Competitors4 in 2 sports
Flag bearer Jonathan Williams
Medals
Ranked -th
Gold
0
Silver
0
Bronze
0
Total
0
Summer Olympics appearances (overview)

Belize competed in the 2008 Summer Olympics, held in Beijing, People's Republic of China from 8 to 24 August 2008. Its participation in Beijing marked its eighth Olympic appearance under the name "Belize" and its tenth overall, as its first two appearances (1968 in Mexico City and 1972 in Munich) were under the name "British Honduras". The Belizean delegation in 2008 included four athletes: three participated in track and field events (Jonathan Williams, Tricia Flores, and Jayson Jones) and one in taekwondo (Alfonso Martínez). Belize did not medal in Beijing, and had not medaled before Beijing, but Jonathan Williams became the first Belizean athlete to advance past the first round of any Olympic event.

Background[edit]

Belize first participated in the Olympic games at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City and has appeared in every Summer Olympics since with the exception of the 1980 Summer Olympics in the Soviet Union, represented by a total of 46 competitors.[1] Belize was a British colony during the 1968 Mexico City Games and the 1972 Munich Games and participated under the name "British Honduras".[2][3] Between 1968 and 2008 Belize had no medalists.[1] Jonathan Williams, Belize's flag bearer in Beijing, was the first Belizean Olympian to advance past a preliminary round.[4]

Athletics[edit]

Main article: Athletics at the 2008 Summer Olympics

Men's competition[edit]

German-born runner Jayson Jones, who played football for Florida State University, represented Belize at both the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney and at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. He qualified for the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens despite an injury, but chose not to attend and thus his appearance at Beijing marked his third qualification but second appearance at the Olympic games.[5] At the Olympics Jones participated in the 200 meters dash. He was placed in Heat 6 during the first round of the event on 17 August; competitors in his heat included American Wallace Spearmon, Norwegian Jaysuma Saidy Ndure, and Guinean Nabie Foday Fofonah. Jones ran the event in 21.54 seconds, ranking sixth out of the eight athletes in the heat, scoring 0.14 seconds faster than Fofanah, and 0.34 seconds behind Latvia's Ronalds Arājs (5th place).[6] Overall, Jones ranked 53rd place out of 66 athletes. He did not progress to the next round on 18 August.[6]

The Olympic Stadium in Beijing, where track and field events took place.

Former UCLA student Jonathan Williams took advantage of his parents' Belizean citizenship to qualify on behalf of Belize's Olympic team.[7] Taking part in the men's 400 meters hurdles dash, his participation in Beijing marked his first Olympic appearance.[8] Williams completed his event in 49.61 seconds, placing fourth in a heat of seven, having been placed in Heat 1 in the first round on 15 August. Williams ran 0.02 seconds faster than fifth-place finalist Kenji Narisako of Japan and 0.16 seconds slower than third-place finalist Mahau Suguimati of Brazil. Overall, Williams ranked 16th out of 26 athletes in the first round. He progressed to semifinals.[9] In doing so, Williams became the first Belizean athlete to advance in an Olympic event.[4] Williams participated in Heat 2 of the semifinal round on 16 August, facing athletes that included American Kerron Clement and Jamaican Danny Mcfarlane. Williams ranked sixth in a heat of eight athletes, ahead of Suguimati by 0.52 seconds but behind South African Alwyn Myburgh by 0.48 seconds. He ranked 13th place out of 16 athletes and did not advance to finals.[9]

Women's competition[edit]

Former University of Belize athlete Tricia Flores participated on behalf of Belize at the Beijing Olympics as a long jumper. She was the only female to compete as a member of that year's Belizean delegation. Flores' participation at the Beijing Olympics marked her first appearance at any Olympic Games.[10] Flores participated in the first qualifying heat on 18 August, where she competed against 21 athletes that included Brazil's Maurren Higa Magi, the United States' Grace Upshaw, and Sweden's Carolina Klüft. Flores ranked 19th in the heat, finishing last ahead of Slovakia's Jana Veldakova and Ukraine's Liudmyla Blonska, whose scores were not ranked.[11] Overall, 42 athletes competed in women's long jump qualifiers and 38 completed the event. Flores ranked 38th and did not advance to semifinals, having jumped 5.25 meters.[11]

Men
Athlete Event Heat Quarterfinal Semifinal Final
Result Rank Result Rank Result Rank Result Rank
Jayson Jones 200 m 21.54 6 Did not advance
Jonathan Williams 400 m hurdles 49.61 4 q — 49.64 6 Did not advance
Women
Athlete Event Qualification Final
Distance Position Distance Position
Tricia Flores Long jump 5.25 38 Did not advance
Key
  • Note–Ranks given for track events are within the athlete's heat only
  • Q = Qualified for the next round
  • q = Qualified for the next round as a fastest loser or, in field events, by position without achieving the qualifying target
  • NR = National record
  • N/A = Round not applicable for the event
  • Bye = Athlete not required to compete in round

Taekwondo[edit]

Main article: Taekwondo at the 2008 Summer Olympics

Taiwan-based athlete[12] Alfonso Martinez was the sole representative of Belize in taekwondo, and in any sport other than a track and field event, at the Beijing Olympics. Martinez took part in the men's under 58 kilogram category, otherwise known as flyweight.[13] At the Olympics Martinez was placed in the first round's seventh match, which took place on 20 August. His opponent was Juan Antonio Ramos, a taekwondo martial artist from Spain. In the course of the match Ramos scored two points on Martinez, while Martinez scored only one on Ramos. Thus Ramos defeated Martinez and advanced to the next round, while Martinez did not. Ramos ultimately placed fifth in the final round.[14]

Athlete Event Round of 16 Quarterfinals Semifinals Repechage Bronze Medal Final
Opposition
Result 		Opposition
Result 		Opposition
Result 		Opposition
Result 		Opposition
Result 		Opposition
Result 		Rank
Alfonso Martínez Men's −58 kg  Ramos (ESP)
L 1–2 		Did not advance

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Belize". Sports-reference.com. 2008. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 2 June 2012.
  2. ^ "Official Report of the Organizing Committee for the Games of the XIX Olympiad" (PDF). International Olympic Committee. 1968. Retrieved 2 June 2012.
  3. ^ "Official Report of the Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXth Olympiad" (PDF). International Olympic Committee. 1972. p. 550. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 2 June 2012.
  4. ^ a b "Jonathon Williams Makes History for Belize in Beijing". News 7 Belize. 15 August 2008. Retrieved 29 May 2012.
  5. ^ Alex McVeigh (29 August 2008). "On Your Mark: A Conversation With Olympic Sprinter Jayson Jones". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 29 May 2012.
  6. ^ a b "2008 Summer Olympics Results – Track and Field – Men's 200m Results". Beijing 2008. ESPN. 2008. Retrieved 29 May 2012.
  7. ^ Kristine Breese (1 July 2008). "Jonathan Williams '05 – 400m Hurdles". University of California, Los Angeles. Retrieved 29 May 2012.
  8. ^ "Jonathan Williams". Sports-reference.com. 2008. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 29 May 2012.
  9. ^ a b "2008 Summer Olympics Results – Track and Field – Men's 400m Hurdles Results". Beijing 2008. ESPN. 2008. Retrieved 29 May 2012.
  10. ^ "Tricia Flores". Sports-reference.com. 2008. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 30 May 2012.
  11. ^ a b "2008 Summer Olympics Results – Track and Field – Women's Long Jump Results". Beijing 2008. ESPN. 2008. Retrieved 30 May 2012.
  12. ^ "Belize Sending 4 Athletes to Beijing Olympic". 7 News Belize. 6 August 2008. Retrieved 30 May 2012.
  13. ^ "Belize Taekwondo at the 2008 Beijing Summer Games". Sports-reference.com. 2008. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 30 May 2012.
  14. ^ "2008 Summer Olympics Results – Taekwondo – Men's Under 58kg Results". Beijing 2008. ESPN. 2008. Retrieved 30 May 2012.
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