This post is part of our special coverage London 2012 Olympics.

The Olympic athlete Javier Culson (@JavierCulson) has made history by winning the bronze medal in the 400 metre hurdle event in the London 2012 Olympic Games.  This is the first Olympic medal ever to be won by an athlete from Puerto Rico in an event other than boxing.  With Culson's medal, Puerto Rico now has a total of seven Olympic medals:  six bronze and one silver.  This is also the first medal won by an athlete from Puerto Rico since the 1996 Olympics.  The Caribbean region was jubilant as the Dominican Félix Sánchez “Super Félix” won the gold medal in the same event.

Javier Culson won the bronze medal in the 400m hurdles in London (archive photo). Photo by Quique Aparicio, courtesy of the Olympic Committee of Puerto Rico.

The bronze medal was something of a bitter-sweet victory for Puerto Ricans.  Although their athlete was unable to win the much coveted gold medal for the country, they were far from disappointed and expressed their joy at Culson's medal via Twitter:

@hiramart:¿Falló Culson? Yo lo ví en el podio y tenía una medalla, que hasta donde sé, es la única de Puerto Rico.

@Flamencole: @JavierCulson como quiera que sea hiciste historia!

‏@adriibabiix3: Estoy mas q.orgullosa qk @JavierCulson puso a PR en.alto. Lograste unir nuestra.isla por algo positivo de pura sepa

‏@hilda920: Gracias Culson! “@csantarrosa: ¡Orgulloso de nuestro @JavierCulson, pa’ lante caballo!! Gracias por poner el nombre de Puerto Rico en alto!”

‏@exorKshii58_PR: @JavierCulson orgulloso de tu logro y de poner nuestra islita en lo mas alto…para nosotros si t ganastes la de #ORO caballete exito :)

The Puerto Rican basketball player José Juan Barea also showed his support for Culson:

@jjbareapr: @JavierCulson felicidades tremendo trabajo voy a ti siempre …coqui

Another historic event for Puerto Rico

The gymnast Tommy Ramos (@TommyRamos_pur) became the first Puerto Rican to compete in the rings event, finishing with a score of 15.6.  Although he did not win a medal (he finished in sixth place), never before has a Puerto Rican progressed so far in a gymnastics event.

This post is part of our special coverage London 2012 Olympics.