Alora wraps up Philippine odyssey in Rio Olympics

RIO DE JANEIRO, Aug. 21 — The Philippine campaign in the 2016 Rio Olympics came to a close Saturday evening with taekwondo’s Kirstie Elaine Alora breaking down in tears after absorbing two bitter defeats at the Carioca 3 of the Olympic Park. Alora, the last Filipino athlete to vie for a medal, bowed to Olympic champion Maria Espinoza of Mexico, 4-1, in her opening match. Then she blew her chance to salvage at least a bronze when she lost to Wiam Dislam of Morocco, 7-5. The loss to Espinoza, gold medal winner in the 2008 Beijing Olympics and bronze medalist in London four years ago, left Alora figuring in the repechage (losers round). She needed two wins to get the bronze but could not get past the first challenge. Photo courtesy of TieBreakerTimes.com Dislam stood 5-foot-11 and was easily three inches taller than Alora. But it didn’t turn out to [...]