Touching stories behind the first Olympics gold medals at Rio

Gold medalist Monica Puig of Puerto Rico reacts after receiving her medal. [Photo/Agencies]

Puerto Rico：Monica Puig, the first Puerto Rican woman to win a medal

Monica Puig lifted Puerto Rico's first-ever Olympic gold medal after she clinched the women's singles title in the Rio Games tennis competition.

Puig also became the first female athlete representing the country to win a medal of any color at any Olympics after she beat Germany's world number two Angelique Kerber 6-4, 4-6, 6-1.

The world number 34, who has never reached a grand slam quarterfinal, sent Wimbledon runner-up Angelique Kerber running around the court as the crowd cheered her on.

The 22-year-old fell to the court and kissed it after sealing victory as fans yelled "Monica, Monica, Monica."

"It was the greatest moment of my life," Puig told reporters. "I wanted it so badly, I fought and my put my heart and soul on the court."