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Rodolfo Da Ponte, the first Paraguayan Olympic athlete dies after battle against COVID-19
Rodolfo Da Ponte. (Photo by Paraguayan Olympic Committee)
ASUNCIÓN, April 7, 2021 - The fencer Rodolfo Da Ponte, the first Paraguayan athlete to represent the country in the Olympic Games, died on April 6, at the age of 82, after battling for two weeks against the coronavirus.
Rodolfo Da Ponte, who marked the history of Paraguayan sport when he participated in Mexico 1968, was born on November 26, 1938. Of Italian origin and a family of athletes, as grandfather, father and son practiced fencing, Rodolfo was a South American undefeated champion in Argentina, which led to him being appointed to carry the Paraguayan flag in the opening ceremony of the most important sporting event in the world.
Rodolfo secured his place in the history books, despite the fact that he was not on the list of participants in the aforementioned games, but the elimination of the football team and the withdrawal of the rowing team changed his plans. Mexico had sent a special invitation, with tickets and a room in the Olympic Village, for Paraguay to participate in the Olympic Games for the first time, and that was how the National Sports Council, the now Olympic Committee, made its appointment. Rodolfo managed to arrive at the opening ceremony the same day along with his father Rodolfo Ítalo who was his coach and only companion.
MEXICO 1968
After a long journey, Rodolfo arrived in Mexico and the next day his participation began, being eliminated in the first round. He played five matches, with 11 touches in favor and 25 against, which left him in the last place of his group, in which there was, among others, Daniel Revenu, the French winner of six Olympic medals.
FACTS
His grandfather, who came from Italy, was the first coach of this sport, his father continued with that heritage and from there his love for fencing was born, in addition, his father was the one who trained him as an athlete, then Rodolfo also became a coach.
He was honored as an illustrious citizen of the city of Asunción.
The main hall of the first Olympic House in Los Laureles neighborhood was named after him.
Rodolfo had to make "at last minute" the logo, the seal and the letterhead of what until 1970 would not be officially the Paraguayan Olympic Committee.
Rodolfo Da Ponte, who marked the history of Paraguayan sport when he participated in Mexico 1968, was born on November 26, 1938. Of Italian origin and a family of athletes, as grandfather, father and son practiced fencing, Rodolfo was a South American undefeated champion in Argentina, which led to him being appointed to carry the Paraguayan flag in the opening ceremony of the most important sporting event in the world.
Rodolfo secured his place in the history books, despite the fact that he was not on the list of participants in the aforementioned games, but the elimination of the football team and the withdrawal of the rowing team changed his plans. Mexico had sent a special invitation, with tickets and a room in the Olympic Village, for Paraguay to participate in the Olympic Games for the first time, and that was how the National Sports Council, the now Olympic Committee, made its appointment. Rodolfo managed to arrive at the opening ceremony the same day along with his father Rodolfo Ítalo who was his coach and only companion.
MEXICO 1968
After a long journey, Rodolfo arrived in Mexico and the next day his participation began, being eliminated in the first round. He played five matches, with 11 touches in favor and 25 against, which left him in the last place of his group, in which there was, among others, Daniel Revenu, the French winner of six Olympic medals.
FACTS
His grandfather, who came from Italy, was the first coach of this sport, his father continued with that heritage and from there his love for fencing was born, in addition, his father was the one who trained him as an athlete, then Rodolfo also became a coach.
He was honored as an illustrious citizen of the city of Asunción.
The main hall of the first Olympic House in Los Laureles neighborhood was named after him.
Rodolfo had to make "at last minute" the logo, the seal and the letterhead of what until 1970 would not be officially the Paraguayan Olympic Committee.
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