Tokyo 2020: Santiago Gómez Cora, the coach who led rugby to a medal at the Olympic Games

07/28/2021 6:07 AM

• Clarín.com

• sports

Updated 07/28/2021 6:07 AM

Rugby brought the Argentine delegation the first medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games with the victory of

Los Pumas 7s

against Great Britain in the match for third place.

His coach,

Santiago Gómez Cora

, has a

lot to do with this success

, a man who dedicated his soul, heart and life to this discipline.

Gómez Cora's relationship with seven began in his time as a player, as he was part of the national team and long owned

the World Tour's try record

with 230 in 214 games played from 2000 to 2010. In 2017 was surpassed and today the leaders are the Englishman Dan Norton (354), the Kenyan Collins Injera (279) and the New Zealander Tim Mikkelson (239).

As a Los Pumas 7s player, Gómez Cora spent 10 years with the team participating in the 2005 and 2009 World Cups. His great experience led him to become the head coach of Argentina

 eight years ago

.

During this time, the team competed in two Pan American Games, a World Cup, the Rio 2016 Olympic Games and these in Tokyo. 

Santiago Gómez Cora gives directions during a training session.

(Photo: Natacha Pisarenko / AP)

The Argentine team of seven

won the World Tour in Los Angeles 2004 and San Diego 2009

leaving in second place none other than New Zealand and England.

In both cases, Gómez Cora had the luxury of sharing the pitch with his brother Pablo, whom he thanked in an interview with the

rugby.com.ar

website

.

 "The two stages that we won I shared with my brother, Pablo. He was a great architect of my career because at one point I had left

and he encouraged me to continue.

Playing with your older brother makes you feel extra protection. The truth is that he was always a great companion, "he assured.

#Rugby Santiago Gómez Cora, coach of Los Pumas 7, analyzes the game against South Africa and the attitude of the players: "There are times when the team needs to bring out their own love."

💪🏻🏉🇦🇷 @ gerardowerthein @ lospumas7arg @santygc #EquipoARG #VamosArgentina # ArgentinaEnTokio2020 pic.twitter.com/XdTU7MeGb5

- ARG Olympic Committee (@PrensaCOA) July 27, 2021

Now at the head of this team to which he dedicated a large part of his sporting life, the coach achieved the first medal for Argentina.

Look also

The Pumas, historical: the seven got the bronze in Tokyo 2020