Dominican President Leonel Fernández congratulated the country’s two Olympic winners, Félix Díaz and Gabriel Mercedes, who brought home gold and silver medals from Beijing this year. Díaz won the top prize, a gold medal, in boxing and Mercedes took a silver medal in Taekwondo.

President Fernández gave the two medal winners each a check for 75 million pesos, according to the President’s press office.

President Fernández congratulated the two athletes in a ceremony held in the Ambassador Hall of the National Palace where they were also received by the Vice President Rafael Alburquerque.

President Fernández gave the two medal winners each a check for 75 million pesos, according to the President’s press office.

“I have been closely following the athlete’s participation,” said President Fernández recalling the opening day of the Olympic Games which he watched on television with special attention for the Dominican delegation. He said there should be an increase in the number of medals won by Dominicans in the coming Olympics to be held in London in 2012 and he promised to do all he can to make that happen.

President Fernández said it is essential to support school, neighborhood and regional sports activities as a way of developing discipline and to keep children and teens away from bad habits. He added that participation in sports also promotes better health in Dominican young people.

In addition to giving the two athletes apartments, President Leonel Fernández appointed Félix Díaz to First Lieutenant of the National Police and Gabriel Mercedes to Second Lieutenant in the Dominican Air Force.

Trainers and coaches, Pedro Luis Díaz, Juan José Anderson and José Mora were awarded 750,000 pesos each. The Dominican Boxing and the Taekwondo Federation were also given one million pesos each.