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Fourth-Place Medal, a Yahoo! Sports blog covering the Summer Olympics in Beijing

Fourth-Place Medal

Tue Aug 19, 2008 10:01 am EDT

Paraguayan heartthrob breaks our collective hearts

By Chris Chase

Leryn Franco is just your run-of-the-mill javelin thrower/pageant queen/model with her own calendar. But during the Beijing Olympics the 26-year old Paraguayan became so much more to the American people; she became our javelin thrower/pageant queen/model with her own calendar. So, my fellow Americans, it is with a heavy heart that I regret to inform you that our favorite Paraguayan athlete (sorry Jose Luis Chilavert) was eliminated from the Olympics on Tuesday after failing to qualify for the javelin finals. Take all the time you need.

Ms. Franco became the object of our attention after she was noticed by NBC cameras during the Parade of Nations at the Olympic Opening Ceremony. Fourth-Place Medal's fledgling Investigative Unit discovered her identity eight magical days ago and since then our schoolboy crush blossomed into unrequited love. 

Leryn -- can we call you Leryn? -- didn't return our collective calls, but we didn't mind. We knew she was busy preparing for her event: the javelin throw. She competed this morning, finishing second-to-last in the qualifying round with a throw that was 12 meters short of her personal best. It was a disappointment, to be sure, but not altogether surprising. After all, Leryn's goal was never to medal; it was to win the hearts of men and women worldwide. And in that event, Leryn Franco won gold.

Photo via Getty Images

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80 Comments

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  1. Black-n-Gold
    1. Posted by Black-n-Gold Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:42 pm EDT

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    She's great.
    Now sorry to be off-topic here on the first comment, but I can't help but notice a distinct lack of FPM coverage of Jenn Stuczynski's trash-talking that fueled her Russian rival to new heights in the women's pole vault. (http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/news?slug=ap-insidetherings&prov=ap&type=lgns)
    This in contrast to the lightning-quick post after the men's 4x100 freestyle swim race calling out the French side for doing the same.
    Equal time, anyone?
  2. harish
    2. Posted by harish Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:16 pm EDT

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    I have traditionally seen, the medal count table starting with the country with the most gold. why is it that now its medal counts? because China is got more gold than US. Isnt that Hypocrisy?
  3. Jeka
    3. Posted by Jeka Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:32 pm EDT

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    She has been busy cheering for Serbian tennis player Djokovic during his matches, so she did not have time to practise too much ;) Nadal won tennis gold - Novak won tennis bronze and real 'gold' medal (she is obviously #1 at this Olympics)
    What would you prefer in this case to be Rafa or Nole?
    Vote here:
    I will start:
    Rafa 0, Nole 1 :D
  4. saltskins
    4. Posted by saltskins Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:01 pm EDT

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    '' WWOWW ''
  5. Vixen
    5. Posted by Vixen Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:11 pm EDT

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    S'pose it was YOUR daughter ???
  6. Bill Fitzgerald
    6. Posted by Bill Fitzgerald Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:34 pm EDT

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    I know it was you, Franco. You broke my heart. You broke my heart.
  7. Brian S (brianguy)
    7. Posted by Brian S (brianguy) Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:19 pm EDT

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    "I have traditionally seen, the medal count table starting with the country with the most gold. why is it that now its medal counts? because China is got more gold than US. Isnt that Hypocrisy?"
    no...you're just a confused Chinese. I'll make it easier:
    my official, unofficial POWER RANKINGS!! thru events of 5/19/2008 Overall Ranking (Points)
    1 China 215 56 57 328
    2 U.S. 130 104 81 315
    3 Russia 50 56 54 160
    4 Great Br 80 36 24 140
    5 Australia 55 48 36 139
    6 Germany 55 32 27 114
    7 France 20 44 42 106
    China's point lead yesterday was 9, they upped it to 13 but U.S. still hanging in there tough ready to strike. Great Britain jumps from 5th to 4th and Aussies from 4th to 5th. France falls from 6th to 7th and Germany 7th to 6th.
    FYI, 5 points for a gold, 4 for a silver, 3 for a bronze... yes they all count.
  8. Cal
    8. Posted by Cal Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:42 pm EDT

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    Mr. Chase is a whiner and a sour looser.
    In his spare time, Mr. Chase enjoys female gawking.
  9. hermine m
    9. Posted by hermine m Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:18 pm EDT

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    leave the girl alone she is breathtaking zip it up guys you go girl
  10. LL23
    10. Posted by LL23 Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:23 pm EDT

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    GOD. I HATE CHRIS CHASE. Why are you even allowed to write for Yahoo???
    Can we get on with the REAL events?
  11. bigboo's bro
    11. Posted by bigboo's bro Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:38 pm EDT

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    Probably not underaged and definitely not deformed like those misshapen little gymnasts.
  12. Tonygetz
    12. Posted by Tonygetz Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:16 pm EDT

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    I wished all females athletes looked like her, most of them look like men.
  13. Bill
    13. Posted by Bill Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:48 pm EDT

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    WOW............Where the Hell is Paraguay
  14. Nice
    14. Posted by Nice Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:43 pm EDT

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    She got a sexy body!!! Why can't they all !!!!
  15. Honesty in Action
    15. Posted by Honesty in Action Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:56 pm EDT

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    They should have canceled the event after Ms. Franco was out of it.
  16. Carlos C
    16. Posted by Carlos C Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:30 pm EDT

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    Wow. and i missed it
  17. Dana K
    17. Posted by Dana K Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:45 pm EDT

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    Well I know where I'm going for my next vacation! Thank you Mr. Chase!
  18. Joe E
    18. Posted by Joe E Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:38 pm EDT

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    Black and Gold,
    I am sure they are giving equal time in Russia. And why should we give equal time on American news for other countries? You are a dingbat. Go to France or Russia if you want "equal" coverage. But, I guarantee you won't get it.
  19. fordadux
    19. Posted by fordadux Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:01 pm EDT

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    All i See is this Girl Is a HOTTIE....:)
  20. Kris S
    20. Posted by Kris S Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:35 pm EDT

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    Wow what a nugget...
  21. jerry t
    21. Posted by jerry t Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:42 pm EDT

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    looks like she's wearing a wig lmao
  22. bill
    22. Posted by bill Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:09 pm EDT

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    china love!
  23. Lou B
    23. Posted by Lou B Thu Sep 03, 2009 6:57 pm EDT

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    selma hayek type, latin women are the best looking in the world, i know. i been thriugh the races.
  24. Jonesy
    24. Posted by Jonesy Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:41 pm EDT

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    She's very beautiful
  25. Travis A
    25. Posted by Travis A Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:19 pm EDT

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    this chick is pretty hot. AND she's athletic. hopefully she will do better next olympics

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