Puerto Rico's First Olympic Gold Medalist Scores Huge Honor

Tennis star Monica Puig clearly left her mark on the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Monica Puig of Puerto Rico reacts after defeating Angelique Kerber of Germany in the Women's Singles Gold Medal Match on Day 8 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
Monica Puig of Puerto Rico reacts after defeating Angelique Kerber of Germany in the Women's Singles Gold Medal Match on Day 8 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
Clive Brunskill via Getty Images

Tennis player Monica Puig made history when she won Puerto Rico’s first Olympic gold medal ever at this summer’s Rio Games.

And on Tuesday, Puig added to her victory when she won the award for Best Female Athlete at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) Awards held in Doha, Qatar. The ceremony honored the best sporting achievement’s at this summer’s Olympic Games.

The 23-year-old Boricua tweeted out a photo to celebrate:

At the 2016 Rio Olympics, Puig, who was ranked 34 the in the world, beat out second seed Kerber for the gold medal.

I think I united a nation,” Puig said in an emotional interview following the match. “And I just love where I come from.”

We’re pretty sure the love is mutual.

Before You Go

It's home to the only tropical rainforest in the national forest system.

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