Dionicio Gustavo

Dionicio Gustavo (born January 18, 1983 in Santo Domingo) is a karateka from the Dominican Republic who twice won the gold medal at the Pan American Games.

Dionicio Gustavo
Personal information
Full nameDionicio Gustavo
Nickname(s)Violin, El capitan
NationalityDominican
Born (1983-01-18) 18 January 1983
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Weight75 kg (165 lb)
Sport
Country Dominican Republic
SportKarate
Medal record
Men's Karate
Representing the  Dominican Republic
Pan American Games
Gold medal – first place 2007 Rio de Janeiro Under 75 kg
Gold medal – first place 2011 Guadalajara Under 75 kg
Bronze medal – third place 2003 Santo Domingo Under 68 kg
Central American and Caribbean Games
Gold medal – first place2010 MayagüezUnder 75 kg
Silver medal – second place2002 San SalvadorUnder 70 kg
Bronze medal – third place2002 San SalvadorTeam Kumite
Bronze medal – third place2010 MayagüezTeam Kumite

Early age and personal life

Gustavo started practicing karate at the age of six and joined the National team in 1999.[1] He was influenced by Jackie Chan and Bruce Lee films.[2]

He suffered a minor gunshot wound in his right thigh in 2001 during a robbery.[3]

Career

Gustavo won the gold medal in the 2000 and 2006 Pan American Karate Championships,[1] the silver medal at the 2002 Central American and Caribbean Games after losing to Emilio Oviedo in the gold medal round,[1][4] and the bronze medal at the 2003 Pan American Games.[5]

He also won the 2007 Pan American Games gold medal in the 75 kg category.[6] This win was accompanied by a promise of a house for his mother who lost her home in 1998 because of Hurricane Georges.[7] For his successful year in 2007, the Dominican Republic Olympic Committee awarded him Karate Athlete of the Year in 2008.[8]

While fighting Chilean David Dubó, Gustavo suffered an injury in his left eye during the 2009 Pan American Karate Championship in Willemstad, Curaçao.[9] He would later receive full support from the Dominican Republic Minister of Sports for full recovery.[10]

Alongside María Dimitrova, Gustavo was awarded Karate Athlete of the Year in 2010 by the National Olympic Committee.[11] That same year he won the gold medal in under 75 kg and the bronze in kumite at the 2010 Central American and Caribbean Games.[2][12] For this medal he was recognized by the Chief of Staff of the Dominican Navy, where he had the Ensign rank.[13]

On January 31, 2011, Gustavo was awarded by the Dominican Republic Youth Ministry as the National Youth Award for Sport Merits.[14] The Dominican Republic Sports Minister gave him a house in Monte Plata, just before he departed to Guadalajara, Mexico, to compete at the Pan American Games.[15] He was selected to replace Gabriel Mercedes as the Dominican Republic flag bearer, because Mercedes had to compete the next day following the inaugural parade.[16] He not only carried the national flag, but won the gold medal, defeating the American Thomas Scott in the final match.[17] The medal was dedicated to the Sport Minister, Mr. Jay Payano, for his support to the athletes and the national sport.[18]

Gustavo has also been competing in full contact karate with the Karate Combat organization and has a record of 2-1-0 as of 2020.

References
  1. "Gustavo Dionisio tras la consistencia en Karate". Hoy (in Spanish). 2009-02-26. Archived from the original on 2012-06-05. Retrieved 2011-10-31.
  2. "Lesiones no impidieron oro a Dionisio". Listin Diario (in Spanish). 2010-08-24. Retrieved 2011-11-01.
  3. "Dionisio Gustavo libra su combate más difícil en barrio Simón Bolívar". Listin Diario (in Spanish). 2007-08-07. Retrieved 2011-11-01.
  4. "Cosecha de medallas para R. Dominicana". La Prensa Grafica (in Spanish). 2002. Archived from the original on 2008-05-27. Retrieved 2011-11-14.
  5. "Karate". La Red 21 (in Spanish). AFP. 2003-08-13. Retrieved 2011-11-14.
  6. "Gustavo Dionisio conquista el oro". Diario Libre (in Spanish). 2007-07-27. Retrieved 2011-10-31.
  7. "Dionisio Gustavo espera apartamento". El Nacional (in Spanish). 2010-08-10. Archived from the original on 2012-04-07. Retrieved 2011-11-01.
  8. "Campeones panamericanos dominicanos ganan distinción como 'Atleta del Año'". 7 Dias (in Spanish). 2008-06-04. Archived from the original on 2012-04-22. Retrieved 2011-10-31.
  9. "Lesionan ojo Dionicio Gustavo". El Nacional (in Spanish). 2009-05-30. Archived from the original on 2012-04-07. Retrieved 2011-11-01.
  10. "PARNI cubrirá gastos de lesión Gustavo Dionisio, campeón panam kárate". 7 Dias (in Spanish). 2009-06-04. Archived from the original on 2012-04-22. Retrieved 2011-11-01.
  11. "Luguelin Santos, el Atleta del Año 2010". Diario Libre (in Spanish). 2011-02-11. Retrieved 2011-10-31.
  12. XXI Juegos Deportivos Centroamericanos y del Caribe (2010). "Karate Do - GUSTAVO Dionicio". Archived from the original on 2012-09-05. Retrieved 2011-10-31.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  13. Marina de Guerra de la República Dominicana (2010-08-06). "Medallistas Marina de Guerra". Archived from the original on 2012-05-18. Retrieved 2011-12-19.
  14. Ministerio de la Juventud (2011). "Ganadores del Premio Nacional de la Juventud 2011" (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 2012-04-26. Retrieved 2011-10-31.
  15. "Entregan casa Gustavo Dionisio en Bayaguana". Hoy (in Spanish). 2011-10-10. Archived from the original on 2011-11-05. Retrieved 2011-10-31.
  16. "Dionisio es el nuevo abanderado RD en Panam". Hoy (in Spanish). 2011-10-05. Archived from the original on 2011-10-07. Retrieved 2011-10-31.
  17. "Campeón panamericano de los 75 kilogramos". El Nacional (in Spanish). 2011-11-09. Archived from the original on 2013-01-06. Retrieved 2011-10-31.
  18. "Dionisio cumplió la promesa de ganar oro". Hoy (in Spanish). 2011-10-29. Archived from the original on 2011-10-31. Retrieved 2011-10-31.
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