Other names: LINARES IZQUIERDO, Omar

Born: 23 October 1967

Birthplace: Pinar del Rio (Cuba)

Nationality: Cuba

Sport: Baseball

ATTENDANCE AT THE OLYMPIC GAMES

Barcelona 1992

Atlanta 1996

Sydney 2000

AWARDS

Olympic medals:

Gold: 2

Silver: 1

Other results:

World Cup

Gold: 2 (98, 01)

Third baseman Omar Linares joined the Cuban national team at the age of seventeen, earning himself the nickname, "El Ni?o" ("The Kid"). He played in all three of the first official Olympic baseball tournaments, winning two gold (1992 and 1996) and a silver medal (2000), and compiled an extraordinary record. In 1992 Linares batted .500 (20 hits in 40 at bats) with four home runs and eight runs batted in (RBIs). At the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, he recorded 20 hits in nines games once again, this time with 42 at bats for a batting average of .487. He also drove in sixteen runs and hit eight home runs. Among his home runs were three in the final game -one to each field - as he led Cuba to a 13-9 victory over Japan. In 2000, Linares batted .333 and hit two home runs. His Olympic career batting average is an amazing .444. Linares holds Olympic career records for most hits (51), most at bats (115) and most home runs (14). He is also the only baseball player to appear in 27 games. In 2002, Linares turned professional and began playing for the Chunichi Dragons in Japan.