New Episode of Olympic Channel's Against All Odds Features Colombian Weightlifting Hero Oscar Figueroa

The inspiring story of how Olympic weightlifter Óscar Figueroa lifted the hopes of a country and never gave up on gold is featured in an all new episode of the Olympic Channel original series Against All Odds presented by Bridgestone.

Figueroa helped to premiere the episode, titled Against All Odds: The Óscar Figueroa Story, earlier today on Facebook Live via an interview with Colombian fitness influencer Fausto Murillo from Cali, Colombia, where he provided details behind his emotional story of dedication, injury, and success as well as his plans for the future.

"If you believe in yourself, nothing is impossible," said Figueroa. "I have touched glory, but I never got a hold of it. But attaining glory is not easy. Even when nobody believed in me, quitting was never an option."

Figueroa, 33, is a two-time Olympic medallist in weightlifting born in Zaragoza, Colombia. At the age of nine, Figueroa and his family were displaced due to the country’s civil conflict to the city of Cartago and where Figueroa discovered his love for sports. He went on to represent Colombia at four Olympic Games winning silver at London 2012 and gold at Rio 2016. After clinching the gold medal in Rio, Figueroa famously took off his shoes and placed them on the mat signalling his retirement from the sport.

The journey behind athletes who embody the Olympic spirit are at the heart of the Olympic Channel’s documentary series Against All Odds presented by Bridgestone. Each episode is inspired by the story of an athlete who offers a first-person account of a key turning point in their life that demonstrates how personal will and determination helped them to overcome adversity and reach their goals.

The fifth instalment of the eight-episode series is now available on the Olympic Channel digital platform. Previous episodes of Against All Odds featuring the inspirational journeys of blind swimmer Enhamed Enhamed (ESP), bobsledder Bill Scheffenhauer (USA), rugby sevens’ Jerry Tuwai (FIJ) and cross-country skier Petra Madjic (SLO) are also available. Future episodes from the current season of Against All Odds will be announced in the coming months.

Against All Odds was produced in association with MediaPro from Spain.

The Olympic Channel is a ground-breaking global platform where fans can experience the power of sport and the excitement of the Olympic Games all year round, and is available worldwide via mobile apps for Android and iOS devices and at olympicchannel.com.

Olympic Channel Episode Guide: Against All Odds

Episode 1 - Against All Odds: Enhamed Enhamed: Desert and Gold

Enhamed grew up blind in Laayoune, Morocco, but an incredible journey began when he moved to Spain and started swimming.

Episode 2 - Against All Odds: Bill Schuffenhauer: Silver Tale from Salt Lake City

As a child, Team USA’s Bill Schuffenhauer came from a broken home and often lived on the streets, but his Salt Lake City story ended in Olympic glory.

Episode 3 - Against All Odds: Jerry Tuwai: Bringing Hope from the Slum to the Nation

Jerry Tuwai grew up in a poor shanty in Fiji playing rugby with plastic bottles, and went on to win his country’s first Olympic medal.

Episode 4 - Against All Odds: Petra Majdic and the Miracle of Vancouver

Despite four broken ribs and a punctured lung, the Slovenian Snow Queen Petra Majdic overcame the pain to win cross-country skiing bronze in Vancouver.

Episode 5 - Against All Odds: The Óscar Figueroa Story

After a serious injury derailed his previous gold medal hopes, Óscar Figueroa put in all on the mat with one final attempt for glory at the Olympic Games Rio 2016.

Schedule is subject to change.

For more information, please contact:

Catherine Philbin

Olympic Channel Communications Manager

Email: catherine.philbin@olympicchannel.com

25 Years at #1: Your best source of news about the Olympics is www.aroundtherings.com, for subscribers only