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Constantin Henriquez, First Haitian Olympic champion in 1900

Constantin Henriquez, First Haitian Olympic champion in 1900

Constantin Henriquez de Zubiera arrived in France in 1893 on the steamship La Bretagne, from Port-de-Paix. In October 28, 1900, he became the first African-Caribbean Olympic champion for France

Constantin Henriquez de Zubiera was a Haitian-born French rugby union footballer. His name is worth remembering for many reasons. He was not only the first black athlete to compete at the Olympics, Henriquez was the first black athlete and the first African-Caribbean Olympic champion in the Olympic Games and by extension, the first to become an Olympic gold medalist, because he was a member of the France squad in 1900 that won the Olympic title at the first Rugby Olympic Tournament in France. He also won the silver in the tug of war at the same Games. He introduced football in his country Haiti in 1904, and scored the first goal in Haiti during a competition. He came back in Haiti in the 1950's and became a Senator and was engaged in the promotion of sport in his country. With his brother Alphonse, he co-founded "the Union Sportive Haïtienne". Henriquez was born in Haiti, but moved to France in 1893. Alongside his schooling at the Albert the Great College of Arcueil, he also enjoyed playing rugby. Becoming professional, he played in the biggest clubs in France.

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