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

Fourth-Place Medal

Mon Aug 11, 2008 11:28 am EDT

The mystery of the hot Paraguayan -- solved!

By Chris Chase

During Fourth-Place Medal's award-winning* live blog coverage of the Olympic Opening Ceremony, one question haunted our panel and reading audience, and it wasn't whether the fireworks were real or how they managed to do that cool display with the blocks. No, we didn't care about that stuff. All we wanted to know was, who was that gorgeous woman who marched into Beijing National Stadium with the Paraguayan delegation?

After an exhaustive investigation by 4PM's crack investigative team, the mystery woman has been identified as Leryn Franco, an athlete with the Paraguayan delegation. Ms. Franco represents her native country in the javelin throw. 

The 26-year old Franco is competing in her second Olympics, thanks to a burgeoning modeling career that gave her the financial support to continue competing in javelin competitions. Since finishing 42nd in Athens, Franco has balanced her athletic career with both the modeling and pageant work (she was runner-up Ms. Paraguay in 2006 -- no word on whether throwing a javelin was her talent).

The javelin competition begins August 19 in Beijing.

* It didn't technically win an award, but a commenter told us it was the best live blog ever, so that's gotta count for something.

Photo via Getty Images

Related: Olympic Mystery Solved

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401 Comments

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  1. B S
    1. Posted by B S Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:13 pm EDT

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    lol 42nd in 2004... man, she's terrible, but she is determined to try anyway. even spending her modeling winnings on training for the event. too funny!!
    but hey I guess she loves the lifestyle and we don't mind looking. so that's cool
  2. Maggie Hendricks
    2. Posted by Maggie Hendricks Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:23 pm EDT

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    I was not, in fact, haunted by this question. I was wondering about some of the members of the Greek delegation. Chris, can you get to work for me on that? :)
  3. B S
    3. Posted by B S Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:13 pm EDT

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    man she's lucky she doesn't catch her javelin in those earrings... that would hurt!
    http://lh3.ggpht.com/_nejs1cBXmn0/RrjYJ20LySI/AAAAAAAABI4/_7stJsPUQDg/las+del+uni+023.jpg
    http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r188/paraguayo94/Leryn_Franco_191.jpg
  4. VincentB
    4. Posted by VincentB Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:36 pm EDT

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    She's good looking. I might watch javelin now!!! Go USA!!!
  5. Ron Jeremy
    5. Posted by Ron Jeremy Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:31 pm EDT

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    Is it just me, or did the Javelin just get eponentially more appealing. The hell with track and field, someone give that girl a leotard!!!!!!
  6. Miguel G
    6. Posted by Miguel G Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:44 pm EDT

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    She is a BEUTIFUL woman!!!
  7. rustywhitcomb
    7. Posted by rustywhitcomb Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:57 pm EDT

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    Im moving to S.A. Paraguay just marry her!!
  8. Dave
    8. Posted by Dave Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:21 pm EDT

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    Is that a Javelin in my pocket or am i just happy to see her!!!
  9. Dave
    9. Posted by Dave Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:21 pm EDT

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    BTW Some more photos of her....
    http://www.barstoolsports.com/article/wake_with_olympic_pole_vaulter/2563/
  10. devils own
    10. Posted by devils own Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:40 pm EDT

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    can someone plz give me her no.! God i cud happily give away my life for her.........
  11. Dave
    11. Posted by Dave Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:21 pm EDT

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    # 14... I think you and I would both get a "NO" from her........ Oh, wait you wanted her number.... Never Mind...
  12. ME S
    12. Posted by ME S Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:48 pm EDT

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    I played it over 5 times on the DVR ,her walking into the stadium I want to thank all of those who did the research to find out who it was. If she was an american she would be a household name like yummy Jennie Finch and Amanda Beard.
  13. Germán Nicolás M
    13. Posted by Germán Nicolás M Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:08 pm EDT

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    fuerza Leryn!!!!! un saludo paraguayo desde houston!!!!! nico.
  14. Sana
    14. Posted by Sana Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:41 pm EDT

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    Oh you men and you blog about beautiful women...
  15. A Yahoo! User
    15. Posted by A Yahoo! User Tue Aug 12, 2008 9:28 pm EDT

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    Where is the blog about the hot Spanish tennis player?
  16. Joseph K
    16. Posted by Joseph K Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:52 pm EDT

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    Hey dork, I recommend you help her to place higher this year by catching her javelin......... preferably with your head.
    carry on smartly...good luck with that
  17. cgivens
    17. Posted by cgivens Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:21 pm EDT

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    San Antonio!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    Kinda resembles the hot Old Spice "When She's Hot" Girl- Callie Cameron Garrison. Mas caliente!
  18. Waldemar R
    18. Posted by Waldemar R Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:40 pm EDT

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    Forget about jabelin and all these comments! Check out the pics from 4, 6 and, specially, 13. She's got talent (well, sort of).
  19. Nathan S
    19. Posted by Nathan S Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:04 pm EDT

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    WOW! So the guy commenting below this makes fun of her for finishing 42 in the world.... I wonder if he's better than 42nd best at anything in the world? Probably not.
  20. flecha.veloz
    20. Posted by flecha.veloz Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:00 pm EDT

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    A picture of Leryn www.ipcdigital.com/paginas/noticias/imagens/gd_4349leryn-v.jpg
  21. PedroVera
    21. Posted by PedroVera Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:00 pm EDT

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    dang im proud to say im glad that my parents are paraguayan n im american giving me chances to go see many hot babes like her over there. Love you Paraguay haha.
  22. Will
    22. Posted by Will Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:17 pm EDT

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    what about the gambian delegation? there was definitely a hot girl in there.
    plus there flag beared was a total G
  23. Justin B
    23. Posted by Justin B Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:11 pm EDT

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    Having been to Paraguay, I can tell you this: this chick is nothing compared to many of the chicks in Paraguay. There are some smoking chicks in Paraguay.
  24. pararf
    24. Posted by pararf Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:02 pm EDT

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    It's really sad that most of you are only reading this because she is a beautiful woman & your interested in javelin suddenly! Apparently you are not educated enough to appreciate the fact, she may not be great at what she is doing, it's that this woman spends her money to participate in such a large event, that MOST of us will never experience. She comes from one of the poorest countries in the world, & most of their people will do anything to help their families, she is probably ONE of the lucky ones in Paraguay that comes from a better off family ( your either RICH or poor there). So , before you make your next comment on something, maybe you should instead educate yourself before you speak. You might like it, & actually someday could travel to this beautiful poor country, & see these women, & find they are very humble, & you couldn't come within 500 ft of these women & you'd be apprehened, & you should call the US Embassy imediately, & a US lawyer ;}
  25. Logger J
    25. Posted by Logger J Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:31 pm EDT

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    take it easy Bars.....you might give yourself indigestion.
    Leryn may be 42nd best in the 2004 Olympics, but she's got the gold medal for the 2008 Babe-lympics
    Can I get an Amen from the congregation??????

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