Brazilian Youth Olympics gymnast "goes to bed wearing medal"

Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-14 03:33:12|Editor: mym
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BUENOS AIRES, Oct. 13 (Xinhua) -- Brazilian gymnast Diogo Soares said he went to bed wearing the medal after winning a bronze in men's all-around competition at the ongoing Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires on Friday.

Soares became the surprise of the competition contested by 16 young athletes when he scored a total of 80.295 points for the bronze, ascending the podium along with the gold medalist Takeru Kitazono of Japan and the silver medalist Sergei Naidin of Russia.

"It's an enormous joy, I can't find a way to describe it. I think the word 'happiness' is even too weak for this feeling I have. It's something different from anything else," said the gymnast.

"My goal was to be among the top eight," Soares said. "I got very nervous when I saw that I had chances to be on the podium. I still don't believe what I've achieved. I think I'm just starting to absorb that I am a Youth Olympic medalist."

His bronze is Brazil's fifth medal in gymnastics discipline. The South American country has earlier won one gold, two silvers and another bronze in major events including the Olympic Games for adults. However, Soares' achievement was Brazil's first ever medal in an all-around competition.

"I knew that if I won I would be the first, but that doesn't make me special than the other athletes. They are all an honor to my country," Soares said.

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