So, Nairo Quintana gave Colombia a (slightly tardy, mind you) birthday present by becoming King of the Mountains, the best rider under 25, and second over-all in the ridiculously gruelling Tour de France (being beaten out by a Brit, my associate Paul Fowler hastens to point out) – it´s got to be the craziest, most intense sporting event in the world (apart from a night out in Bogota, of course), doesn´t it?
All of these titles are massive firsts for Colombia, a country slightly mad about cycling in general. Colombians can be slightly excitable, and Nairo has already been dubbed as a Great Colombian by some, but, we´d like to know, where exactly on the list of Greatest Colombian achievements does his success belong?
Below, we´ve mapped out a few candidates, and we´d like to know what you think about this.
What exactly are the greatest Colombian achievements?
Sports.
King of the mountains is a pretty admirable achievement. Is it the greatest Colombian sporting achievement, though? I´d argue, no.
For me, I´d give it to world-beating weightlifter, Maria Urrutia. Not only did her sporting career feature 8 medals at World Weightlifting championships, including two gold, but she also won Colombia´s first ever Olympic gold at the 2000 Olympics. And, not satisfied with that, she turned to a successful political career, having been elected twice in the Chamber of Representatives. A little more successful than Australian Rugby League´s Big Mal Meninga´s political career of 24 seconds, really.
Also in the sporting realm, we have the ridiculously rich and handsome Radamel Falcao, who also happens to be a goal-scoring phenomenon, and Carlos ¨El Pibe¨ Valderrama, who currently holds the title for Best Hair in Sporting History.
Politics.
Well, even though he was born in Caracas, Colombians claim Simon Bolivar as their own; and, as Venezuela was kinda technically part of Colombia at the time, I guess their claim´s not too outrageous. Going by the number of statues alone, Bolivar seems to have made the greatest achievements. Being heralded for kicking out the Spaniards from half of South America isn´t that shabby a claim to fame either.
Also in politics, there´s the pre-independence kingpin, Antonio Nariño, who was vital in stirring the flames of rebellion, and also had some of the finest sideburns you´re likely to see. There´s also former mathematician and Medellin mayor, Sergio Fajardo, integral in turning Medellin around, helping sow the seeds for Colombia´s second largest city to be named the Most Innovative City of the Year. There´s also the controversial former President, Alvaro Uribe, who was recently named The Greatest Colombian of All Time.
The Arts.
Well, it would be hard to go past Gabo here. Gabriel Garcia Marquez, winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature, is Colombia´s Godfather of Imagination. Pretty much inventing a genre of prose, and one of the leading lights of modern literature, this costeño is a world treasure. Amazing eyebrows too.
Also, Fernando Botero, artist and incredibly generous benefactor, has to be in the running, as do musicians Joe Arroyo and Toto Momposina. Did I forget Shakira? Did I?
I´ve missed a few Colombian High achievers. For example, there´s also renowned doctor, Manuel Elkin Patarroyo, who discovered a vaccine for malaria and saved millions of lives, comedian and politician, Jaime Garcon, and, of course, the beloved seamstress and spy, La Pola. Who would you say is the greatest?
Featured picture of Nairo Quintana from El Espectador
