Cuban-born Spaniard Orlando Ortega has ended the country's run of 12 years without an athletics medal at the Olympics by claiming silver in the 110 metre hurdles in Rio de Janeiro.
An incredibly tight race saw Ortega sandwiched between Jamaican Omar McLeod, who won gold, and the man who took bronze, Dimitri Bascou of France.
El huracán de emociones de Orlando Ortega
Following in the footsteps of his grandmother Cristina, who represented Cuba at the 1968 Games, Ortega insisted this was the beginning of something great in track and field for Spain.
De Llopart a Ortega, 13 medallas en atletismo
"This country has no limits," he said.
"Now is the beginning of something great for me and Spanish athletics."
Overall, Spain have struggled in the event, only having three finalists, in 1980 and 1984, and Ortega's emotion in the aftermath was evident.
Running in a time of 13.17, he fell to his knees before grabbing a flag and doing a lap of the track in celebration.
An incredibly tight race saw Ortega sandwiched between Jamaican Omar McLeod, who won gold, and the man who took bronze, Dimitri Bascou of France.
El huracán de emociones de Orlando Ortega
Following in the footsteps of his grandmother Cristina, who represented Cuba at the 1968 Games, Ortega insisted this was the beginning of something great in track and field for Spain.
De Llopart a Ortega, 13 medallas en atletismo
"This country has no limits," he said.
"Now is the beginning of something great for me and Spanish athletics."
Overall, Spain have struggled in the event, only having three finalists, in 1980 and 1984, and Ortega's emotion in the aftermath was evident.
Running in a time of 13.17, he fell to his knees before grabbing a flag and doing a lap of the track in celebration.
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