PR wrestler Espinal wins silver medal

Espinal was bested by Azerbaijan’s Sharif Sharifov in the 84kg freestyle finals in London, marking the first time Puerto Rico has medaled in Olympic wrestling.

The 27-year-old’s historic showing was being celebrated across Puerto Rico, especially the island’s large Dominican community. Espinal, who attended the University of Puerto Rico, is from the Dominican capital of Santo Domingo.

To reach the final, Espinal beat the Nigerian Andrew Adibo Dick in the first round, Georgia's Dato Marsagishvili in the quarterfinals and Soslav Gattsiev of Belarus in the semifinals.

It is the second medal of the London games for Puerto Rico. Ponce native Javier Culson won bronze in the 400-meter hurdles earlier this week, the island’s first-ever Olympic medal in a track & field event.