A 28-year-old boxer named De Pina from Santiago, the largest of Cape Verde’s 10 islands in the Atlantic Ocean, made history by winning a bronze medal in the men’s flyweight category at the Olympics in Paris.
Even though he’s only five foot four inches tall, he’s now seen as a hero in his homeland.
After his quarter-final win, De Pina received a congratulatory call from Cape Verde’s prime minister and was overwhelmed by the thousands of messages he received on social media.
He felt a deep sense of gratitude and guilt for not being able to respond to everyone, acknowledging the outpouring of love and respect he has received.
De Pina is planning a return to Cape Verde to celebrate with his fellow citizens and share his medal with them.
Cape Verde, with its population of just over 560,000, has had some success in football but had never achieved an Olympic medal before.
De Pina’s unique appearance, marked by two large black buns on either side of his head, drew comparisons to Mickey Mouse and set him apart during the opening ceremony in Paris.
His coach had suggested the distinctive look to help him stand out.
De Pina began boxing at age 15 to defend himself from bullying in his neighborhood.
He made his Olympic debut in Tokyo 2020 but lost in the first round.
Afterward, he was awarded an Olympic scholarship, which allowed him to train in Lisbon, Portugal.
This move was challenging as it meant leaving his young daughter, Hellen, back in Cape Verde and balancing his training with work as a carpenter to support himself.
Despite these hardships, De Pina’s dedication paid off.
He won bronze at the 2022 African Championships and qualified for Paris 2024.
There, he secured a bronze medal in the 51kg category after defeating Zambia’s Patrick Chinyemba.
His commitment to the sport was evident as he seized the opportunity to bring a medal home to his country.
Although he was defeated in the semi-final, De Pina hopes his story will motivate young athletes across Africa, showing them that with perseverance and determination, achieving their dreams is possible.