medalist in track and field events until Yulimar Rojas in Rio 2016; Rojas won a silver medal, also in the triple jump. Opening ceremony Venezuela, per Finnish alphabetical order of countries, marched 65th in the Opening ceremony. There were 58 people representing Venezuela in the ceremony. The flag bearer for Venezuela at the 1952 Olympics was Asnoldo Devonish. Competitors In 1952, women were part of the Venezuelan Olympic delegation for the first time, with the country including two female athletes, both fencers: Gerda Muller and Ursula Selle. On only four occasions has the country not included female athletes, in 1948 and 1956 (the Games immediately before and after this instance), and later in 1968 and 1980. Until the 2000s, female participation was low. Competing for Venezuela were 38 athletes in 37 events across eight sports. The male Venezuelan competitors were housed in building seven of the Käpylä Olympic Village, along with a few athletes from hosts Finland (most Finnish athletes were housed in an elite athletic facility on the island of Santahamina), and eight other countries' athletes, including those of Spain, Uruguay, and Mexico. Venezuela's female competitors, along with all female competitors from non-Communist countries, were housed in a local nursing college that had been transformed for the Olympics, called the Women's Village. During the Games, ten Venezuelan competitors were treated by the medical team. Aquatics Swimming Swimming events took place between 25 July and 2 August at the Helsinki Swimming Stadium, with many of the athletes under the age of 20. Venezuela was represented by one athlete in one event. Men's 100 m freestyle The 19-year-old Oscar Saiz competed in the men's 100 m freestyle on 26 July. He was in heat five of the qualifiers, placing sixth out of seven in his heat and not qualifying; he ranked 41st overall out of 61 competitors in the heats. 1952 was Saiz's only Olympic Games. Saiz was a student in London and coached by the Australian Sep Prosser, by air mail. Diving The diving events were held between 27 July and 2 August at the Helsinki Swimming Stadium; the pool was heated but the air was cold, with the official Olympic report suggesting divers would have "felt the wind and chill more than anyone else". One athlete represented Venezuela at one event. Athletes competing in diving events had a special registration form, where they filled out the dives they requested