Puerto Rico competed at the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow, USSR. Notably, in partial support of the American-led boycott of the 1980 Summer Olympics athletes competed under the Olympic Flag.
History Despite the American boycott being supported by the administration of pro-statehood governor Carlos Romero Barceló, Germán Rieckehoff led the Puerto Rico Olympic Committee (COPUR) in defiance and declared that Puerto Rico would exercise its Olympic sovereignty and participate. The government cut funding and widespread discussion of the concept was held, after which delegation of five members (three of them athletes) was sent. Following internal debate within the COPUR, they paraded under the Olympic flag.
Results by event
Boxing Flyweight (– 51 kg) Alberto Mercado First round — bye Second round — lost to after referee stopped contest in first round
Featherweight (– 57 kg) Luis Pizarro First round — bye Second round — defeated after referee stopped contest in third round Third round — defeated on points (5-0) Quarterfinals — lost to on points (0-5)
Light-Welterweight (– 63.5 kg) José Angel Molina First round — defeated on points (5-0) Second round — defeated after referee stopped contest in third round Quarterfinals — lost to retired
References Footnotes
Official Olympic Reports
Bibliography