Mónica Puig: 'Difficult to assimilate' that 10 years have passed since Puerto Rico's first Olympic gold

Ten years ago today, Mónica Puig achieved a monumental feat for Puerto Rico, securing the island's first-ever Olympic gold medal in women's singles tennis at the Rio 2016 Games. Reflecting on the anniversary, Puig expressed that the magnitude of the accomplishment remains "difficult to assimilate."

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It's hard to grasp that 10 years have passed since this incredible day. Sometimes it still feels like yesterday, and other times it's a distant memory.

"It's hard to grasp that 10 years have passed since this incredible day. Sometimes it still feels like yesterday, and other times it's a distant memory," Puig shared on Instagram, accompanying her message with photos from that historic event. She reiterated that winning an Olympic gold medal had been a lifelong dream, and representing Puerto Rico on the world's biggest sporting stage "meant EVERYTHING" to her.

At the time ranked 34th in the world, Puig defeated the second-ranked Angelique Kerber of Germany in a thrilling three-set final. This victory marked the most significant achievement by a Puerto Rican athlete in Olympic history up to that point. Puig described the day as one where "the stars aligned" and her "wildest dream came true," still finding it hard to believe it was real.

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Representing Puerto Rico on the world's biggest sporting stage meant EVERYTHING to me.

The impact of her win resonated across Puerto Rico, with daily life pausing to witness history. Even Catholic masses were delayed so priests could follow the match on their phones. A charity basketball game featuring former NBA player Carlos Arroyo also paused for participants and fans to watch Puig's triumph.

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The stars aligned on that perfect day and my wildest dream came true. Sometimes I still can't believe it and it may sound crazy to say, but it remains a 'pinch me, this can't be real' moment.

Puig concluded her message by expressing gratitude to Puerto Rico, Rio, and the sport of tennis, stating that the week of the Games remains the "most incredible week of my professional career." Her gold medal was Puerto Rico's eighth Olympic medal overall, adding to a history that includes boxing medals and individual achievements in track and wrestling. The island has since added another gold medal through Jasmine Camacho-Quinn in Tokyo 2020 and subsequent medals in Paris 2024.

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All the stories, all the moments, all the photos and memories. It was simply the most incredible week of my professional career. 10 years have passed, but it will remain etched in history forever. Thank you Puerto Rico, thank you Rio, thank you tennis.