Venezuela competed at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, from July 27 to August 12, 2012. This was the nation's seventeenth consecutive appearance at the Olympics, since its debut at the same host city in 1948. Celebrating the anniversary of the nation's Olympic debut, the British Embassy in Caracas invited former track cyclist Julio César León to travel back to the United Kingdom, and revisit his memories as the first Venezuelan athlete in history to compete at the games.
With the absence of baseball and softball at the Olympics, the Venezuelan Olympic Committee (, COV) sent the nation's second-largest delegation to the Games. A total of 69 athletes, 43 men and 29 women, competed in 15 sports. There was only a single competitor in artistic gymnastics, shooting, and table tennis. Among the sports, Venezuela marked its Olympic debut in beach volleyball.
Notable Venezuelan athletes included sisters Andreína and Yanel Pinto in freestyle and open water swimming, all-around gymnast Jessica López, and track cyclist Daniela Larreal, who made her Olympic comeback in London after an eight-year absence. Table tennis player Fabiola Ramos, who competed at her fifth Olympics, was the most experienced athlete and became Venezuela's second consecutive flag bearer at the opening ceremony, and the fourth in Olympic history.
Venezuela left London with its first gold medal since 1968, and its second in Olympic history. It was awarded to fencer Rubén Limardo, who won the men's individual épée.
Medalists
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Medal Name Sport Event Date Fencing Men's individual épée
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Medals by sportSport TotalFencing 1 0 0 1Total 1 0 0 1
Competitors SportMenWomenTotalArchery 1 1 2Athletics 8 5 13Boxing 2 1 3Cycling 7 5 12Diving 2 1 3Fencing 3 3 6Gymnastics 0 1 1Judo 2 1 3Sailing 2 0 2Shooting 0 1 1Swimming 7 3 10Table tennis 1 0 1Volleyball 2 0 2Weightlifting 1 2 3Wrestling 5 2 7 Total 43 26 69
Archery
Venezuela qualified two archers.
AthleteEventRanking roundRound of 64Round of 32Round of 16QuarterfinalsSemifinalsFinal / Score Seed OppositionScoreOppositionScoreOppositionScoreOppositionScoreOppositionScoreOppositionScoreRankElías MalavéMen's individual66625 (39)L 5–6Did not advanceLeidys BritoWomen's individual63445 (20)L 4–6Did not advance
Athletics
Venezuelan athletes have so far achieved qualifying standards in the following athletics events (up to a maximum of 3 athletes in each event at the 'A' Standard, and 1 at the 'B' Standard)):
Men Track and road events AthleteEventHeat SemifinalFinalResultRankResultRankResultRankAlbert Bravo400 m45.615 q46.227Did not advancePedro MoraMarathoncolspan=4 2:22.4062José Peña3000 m steeplechase8:24.068colspan=2 Did not advanceEdward Villanueva1500 m3:43.1111Did not advanceAlbert BravoOmar LongartJosé MeléndezAlberto AguilarArturo Ramírez4 × 400 m relay3:02.624 q colspan=2 3:02.187
Women Track and road events AthleteEventHeat SemifinalFinalResultRankResultRankResultRankYolimar PinedaMarathon colspan=4 2:45:1694Milángela Rosales20 km walk colspan=4 1:42:4655Nercelis Soto200 m23.548Did not advance
Field events AthleteEventQualificationFinalDistancePositionDistancePositionYusbely ParraJavelin throwDid not advanceRosa RodríguezHammer throw67.3427Did not advance
Boxing
Venezuela has qualified boxers for the following events
Men AthleteEventRound of 32Round of 16QuarterfinalsSemifinalsFinalOppositionResultOppositionResultOppositionResultOppositionResultOppositionResultRankGabriel MaestreWelterweightW 13–8W 18–13L 9–20Did not advanceJosé EspinozaMiddleweight L 13–16Did not advance
Women AthleteEventRound of 16QuarterfinalsSemifinalsFinalOppositionResultOppositionResultOppositionResultOppositionResultRankKarlha MaglioccoFlyweight W 15–14 L 16–24Did not advance
Cycling
Venezuela has qualified in the following events
Road AthleteEventTimeRankTomás GilMen's road race5:46:3770Men's time trial57:05.1233Jackson RodríguezMen's road race5:46:3751Miguel Ubeto5:46:3745Danielys GarcíaWomen's road raceDid not finish
Track Sprint AthleteEventQualificationRound 1Repechage 1Round 2Repechage 2QuarterfinalsSemifinalsFinalTimeSpeed (km/h)RankOppositionTimeSpeed (km/h)OppositionTimeSpeed (km/h)OppositionTimeSpeed (km/h)OppositionTimeSpeed (km/h)OppositionTimeSpeed (km/h)OppositionTimeSpeed (km/h)OppositionTimeSpeed (km/h)RankHersony CanelónMen's sprint10.12371.1256 L W 10.43968.972L LDid not advance9th place finalL12Daniela LarrealWomen's sprint11.56962.23516 LLDid not advance
Team sprint AthleteEventQualificationSemifinalsFinalTimeSpeed (km/h)RankOppositionTimeSpeed (km/h)RankOppositionTimeSpeed (km/h)RankHersony CanelónCésar MarcanoÁngel PulgarMen's team sprint44.65460.4649Did not advanceDaniela LarrealMaría Estela VileraWomen's team sprint34.32052.4478 QL 34.41552.3027Did not advance
Keirin AthleteEvent1st RoundRepechage2nd RoundFinalRankRankRankRankHersony CanelónMen's keirin3 R2 Q512Daniela LarrealWomen's keirin3 R3 Q69
Omnium AthleteEventFlying lapPoints raceElimination raceIndividual pursuitScratch raceTime trialTotal pointsRankTimeRankPointsRankRankTimeRankRankTimeRankCarlos LinaresMen's omnium13.86316−1816144:36.47716181:06.773169617Angie GonzálezWomen's omnium15.11517209183:54.926171737.578179518
BMX AthleteEventSeedingSemifinalFinalResultRankPointsRankResultRankStefany HernándezWomen's BMX41.25312 155Did not advance
Diving
Venezuela has qualified in the following events.
Men AthleteEventPreliminariesSemifinalsFinalPointsRankPointsRankPointsRankEdickson Contreras3 m springboard301.4528Did not advanceRobert Páez382.6025Did not advance
Women AthleteEventPreliminariesSemifinalsFinalPointsRankPointsRankPointsRankJocelyn Castillo3 m springboard266.0023Did not advance
Fencing
Venezuela qualified 6 fencers.
Men AthleteEventRound of 64Round of 32Round of 16QuarterfinalSemifinalFinal / Opposition ScoreOpposition ScoreOpposition ScoreOpposition ScoreOpposition ScoreOpposition ScoreRankSilvio FernándezIndividual épéeW 15–12W 15–3L 9–15Did not advanceRubén LimardoW 15–13W 15-11W 15–12W 6–5W 15–10Hernán JansenIndividual sabreW 15–13L 4–15Did not advance
Women AthleteEventRound of 64Round of 32Round of 16QuarterfinalSemifinalFinal / Opposition ScoreOpposition ScoreOpposition ScoreOpposition ScoreOpposition ScoreOpposition ScoreRankMaria MartinezIndividual épéeL 10–15Did not advanceJohana FuenmayorIndividual foilW 15–9L 4–15Did not advanceAlejandra BenítezIndividual sabreW 15–9L 10–15Did not advance
Gymnastics
Artistic Women AthleteEventQualificationFinalApparatusTotalRankApparatusTotalRankJessica LópezAll-around13.90014.56614.26613.933 56.66513 Q13.80014.80013.90013.00055.50018
Judo
Venezuela has qualified 3 judokas
AthleteEventRound of 64Round of 32Round of 16QuarterfinalsSemifinalsRepechageFinal / OppositionResultOppositionResultOppositionResultOppositionResultOppositionResultOppositionResultOppositionResultRankJavier GuédezMen's −60 kgW 0111–0000L 0000–1000Did not advanceRicardo ValderramaMen's −66 kgL 0001–0010Did not advanceGiovanna BlancoWomen's +78 kgL 0000–0100Did not advance
Sailing
Venezuela has qualified 2 boat for each of the following events
Men AthleteEventRaceNet pointsFinal rank12345678910M*Daniel FloresRS:X37372932302432292319EL25231Jose Miguel RuízLaser45463437423633443528EL33341 M = Medal race; EL = Eliminated – did not advance into the medal race;
Shooting
Women AthleteEventQualificationFinalPointsRankPointsRankMaribel Pineda25 m pistol56038Did not advance10 m air pistol36545Did not advance
Swimming
Venezuelan swimmers have so far achieved qualifying standards in the following events (up to a maximum of 2 swimmers in each event at the Olympic Qualifying Time (OQT), and potentially 1 at the Olympic Selection Time (OST)
Men AthleteEventHeatSemifinalFinalTimeRankTimeRankTimeRankAlejandro Gómez1500 m freestyle15:27.3823colspan=2 did not advanceMarcos Lavado200 m butterfly1:59.3127Did not advanceErwin Maldonado10 km open watercolspan=4 1:50:52.913Cristian Quintero200 m freestyle1:48.7122Did not advance400 m freestyle3:50.4416colspan=2 Did not advanceAlbert Subirats100 m butterfly53.1829Did not advanceCrox AcuñaOctavio AlesiAlejandro GómezMarcos LavadoCristian Quintero4 × 100 m freestyle relay3:22.6815colspan=2 Did not advance
Women AthleteEventHeatSemifinalFinalTimeRankTimeRankTimeRankAndreína Pinto400 m freestyle4:08.4515colspan=2 Did not advance800 m freestyle8:26.436 Qcolspan=2 8:29.288200 m butterfly2:11.2322Did not advance400 m individual medley4:48.6427colspan=2 Did not advanceYanel Pinto10 km open watercolspan=4 1:59:05.814Arlene Semeco50 m freestyle25.5628Did not advance100 m freestyle56.9033Did not advance
Table tennis
Venezuela qualified one athlete.
AthleteEventPreliminary roundRound 1Round 2Round 3Round 4QuarterfinalsSemifinalsFinal / OppositionResultOppositionResultOppositionResultOppositionResultOppositionResultOppositionResultOppositionResultOppositionResultRankFabiola RamosWomen's singles L 3–4Did not advance
Volleyball
Beach
AthleteEventPreliminary roundStandingRound of 16QuarterfinalsSemifinalsFinal / OppositionScoreOppositionScoreOppositionScoreOppositionScoreOppositionScoreRankIgor HernándezJesus VillafañeMen'sPool EL 1 – 2 (18–21, 21–17, 10–15) L 0 – 2 (14–21, 16–21) L 1 – 2 (22–20, 16–21, 11–15)4Did not advance19
Weightlifting
Venezuela has qualified 1 man and 2 women.
AthleteEventSnatchClean & jerkTotalRankResultRankResultRankJunior SánchezMen's −69 kg148 4180 4328 5Betsi RivasWomen's −48 kg70 1098 6168 8Inmara HenríquezWomen's −53 kg81 14113 5194 10
Wrestling
Venezuela has qualified in the following events
Men's freestyle AthleteEventQualificationRound of 16QuarterfinalSemifinalRepechage 1Repechage 2Final / OppositionResultOppositionResultOppositionResultOppositionResultOppositionResultOppositionResultOppositionResultRankRicardo Roberty−74 kgL 1–3 Did not advance12José Daniel Díaz−84 kgL 1–3 Did not advance17
Men's Greco-Roman AthleteEventQualificationRound of 16QuarterfinalSemifinalRepechage 1Repechage 2Final / OppositionResultOppositionResultOppositionResultOppositionResultOppositionResultOppositionResultOppositionResultRankLuis Liendo−60 kg L 0–3 Did not advance12Wuileixis Rivas−66 kg L 0–3 Did not advance16Erwin Caraballo−96 kg L 0–3 Did not advance19
Women's freestyle AthleteEventQualificationRound of 16QuarterfinalSemifinalRepechage 1Repechage 2Final / OppositionResultOppositionResultOppositionResultOppositionResultOppositionResultOppositionResultOppositionResultRankMayelis Caripá−48 kg W 3–1 L 0–5 Did not advance10Marcia Andrades−55 kgL 0–3 Did not advance19
References