Women's Olympic Boxing: USA's Marlen Esparza Given Bronze; 'If It's Not Gold, It's Not Good Enough'
USA women's boxer Marlen Esparza told everyone, "In the U.S., if it's not gold, it's not good enough, so I'm trying to get a gold."
Unfortunately though, on Wednesday's women's flyweight (51kg/112 ibs) semifinals, Esparza,23, took home the bronze after a 10-8 scoring secured the gold for the reigning champion, Ren Cancan of China.
Esparza was paired with Cancan at this year's World Championships where Cancan also won the gold medal. The rematch was a chance for Esparza to beat her stiffest competition but the Chinese athlete prevailed once again.
According to the Washington Post, Esparza's drive, determination mixed with her other strong qualities has solidified her as someone who is a force in the field of women's boxing.
"Blunt, contemplative, more than a bit self-critical. That personality drove her to the top of a sport that allowed no Olympic aspirations when she took it up over a decade ago," the Post reported. "And that drive has secured her a place in the sport's history no matter what happens in her semifinal bout Wednesday."
Esparza began training at the age of 11 and, unlike most beginners that tire quickly, "she was inexhaustible, bouncing and whaling away at the punching bad with a deranged intensity," according to Vogue.
The magazine featured a story about Esparza in their July issue, mentioning that the athlete was 69-2 in her career, giving her a 97 percent chance of winning in the Olympic Games. Floyd Mayweather Jr. was 84-6 with 93 percent and Mike Tyson was 48-6 and 89 percent.
In her Olympic debut this year, the athlete can at least be glad that she gold a medal around her neck, regardless of what kind it is.
