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Puerto Rico Loses It As Monica Puig Wins Island's First-Ever Olympic Gold

"I think I united a nation," the Olympian said.
Puerto Rico celebrated after Monica Puig claimed the island's first-ever Olympic gold medal at Rio 2016.
Puerto Rico celebrated after Monica Puig claimed the island's first-ever Olympic gold medal at Rio 2016.
Alvin Baez/Reuters

Puerto Rico erupted in joy after Monica Puig won its first-ever Olympic gold medal Saturday.

Spontaneous celebrations broke out across the Caribbean island after the 22-year-old defeated Germany’s Angelique Kerber in the women’s singles tennis final at Rio 2016.

I think I united a nation,” Puig, who was ranked 34th in the world, said in an emotional interview following her astonishing performance against the second seed. “And I just love where I come from.”

Watch the interview here:

Celebrities including singer Jennifer Lopez and actors Lin-Manuel Miranda and Rosie Perez all scrambled to pay heartfelt tribute to Puig on Twitter.

The #PicaPower hashtag also trended worldwide, while multiple videos posted online showed an electric carnival atmosphere erupting in the capital of San Juan and other cities.

Check out some of the best posts below.

CONGRATULATIONS @MonicaAce93 @NBCOlympics YOU DID IT!!! #firstandonly #boricua #girlpower #HERSTORY

— Jennifer Lopez (@JLo) August 14, 2016

She did it! She freaking did it!Yay! #Boricuas are screaming all over the world tonight! @MonicaAce93 #OlympicTennis https://t.co/NROxw3khsj

— Rosie Perez (@rosieperezbklyn) August 13, 2016

FIRST GOLD FOR 🇵🇷
Everyone at Casa Miranda is bawling.
PA'LANTE @MonicaAce93!!!!!

— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) August 13, 2016

making history is pretty great. #MonicaPuig pic.twitter.com/foQPcBCPF4

— Jason Gay (@jasongay) August 13, 2016

Still celebrating @MonicaAce93 olympic gold medal in Condado #PicaPower #puigñeta #firstgold #PuertoRico pic.twitter.com/NzVjJE1djH

— carlos antonetty (@largepr) August 14, 2016

Downtown, Hato Rey @MonicaAce93 🇵🇷🇵🇷 #PicaPower pic.twitter.com/7ZTStNeXA6

— Juan Mata (@juanitoesnu) August 13, 2016

First time ever! Congratulations #MonicaPuig Fiesta #PuertoRico pic.twitter.com/grq3H4MUBz

— Manny Diaz (@CoachMannyDiaz) August 13, 2016

Monica Puig takes the GOLD and makes history with first gold for Puerto Rico in any sport. BIG pic.twitter.com/SoFuDccB75

— Michele Norris (@michele_norris) August 13, 2016

What's trending you ask? Mi Isla is Trending! Arriba #PuertoRico #MonicaPuig #OrgulloBoricua 🇵🇷🇵🇷🇵🇷🇵🇷🇵🇷🇵🇷🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽

— NelsonGabrielSantos (@NelsonGabriel_V) August 13, 2016

Congrats @MonicaAce93 @ustacaribbeanpr on your #GOLDMEDAL @Rio2016 What a week. See you @usopen in a couple weeks😃👍🏽

— Katrina Adams (@katadams68) August 13, 2016

How I feel as a Puerto Rican after @MonicaAce93 's historic win #PicaPower #PUR pic.twitter.com/dSnUEDX9qe

— iva (@ivatorriv) August 14, 2016

How I'm sleeping tonight #picapower pic.twitter.com/qGBvSv1Xo2

— NicoleShantei (@NicoleShantei) August 14, 2016

We never imagined this day would come. Thank you @MonicaAce93 for this gift. ¡Eres grande! #PicaPower #PUR pic.twitter.com/kySXUprbZc

— Andrea Cristina (@andreagonram) August 13, 2016

@MonicaAce93 your an @Olympics medalist!!! I've never been so proud of anyone!!!! You go girl!!!!! Think I lost my voice today! #PicaPower

— Gustavo Menezes (@followgustavo) August 12, 2016

The amount of pride I feel for my country is beyond words #PicaPower #SiSePuede 🇵🇷🇵🇷🇵🇷

— Maria (@MariaBelvi) August 14, 2016

TOMAAAAAAAAAAAAAA #Oro 🏅🏅🏅🏅🏅🏅🏅🏅🏅🏅🏅🏅🏅🏅🏅🏅🏅🏅🏅🏅🏅🏅🏅🏅🏅🏅🏅🏅🏅🏅🏅🏅🏅🏅🏅🏅🏅🏅🏅🏅🏅🏅🏅🏅🏅🏅🏅🏅🏅🏅🏅🏅🏅🏅🏅#PicaPower🏅🏅🏅🏅🏅🏅🏅🏅🏅🏅🏅🏅🏅🏅🏅🏅🏅🏅🏅🏅🏅🏅🏅🏅🏅🏅🏅🏅 pic.twitter.com/JV79FBkk8t

— ⁶Ed' (@edwardjoel_) August 13, 2016

I have cried like 4-5 times already. Gracias @MonicaAce93 ! #PicaPower #Puigñeta. El pueblo lo necesitaba. https://t.co/1Qb5Tij1Pa

— Angie (@FonsecaAng) August 14, 2016

We did need this! 🇵🇷 #PicaPower

— Natty♡ (@nattynats13) August 14, 2016

SHE 👏🏼 DID 👏🏼 THAT 👏🏼 #PicaPower 👏🏼 pic.twitter.com/lEarKLnK8M

— paøla quintana (@arrozconpao) August 14, 2016

Monica Puig has updated her Twitter and insta bios , "Olympian 2016" has been replaced by "Olympic gold medalist" 😊 #gold #puig #PicaPower

— Stodosova's Biceps (@SamsBiceps) August 14, 2016

Puerto Ricans are making history this year🇵🇷the world has really turned upside-down #PicaPower pic.twitter.com/kQpfDWsleF

— Adrian Rivera (@adrian_rivera03) August 13, 2016

Things I've never thought I'd see. #DreamsComeTrue #PicaPower pic.twitter.com/VXcw3PsxtR

— Ed Morales (@VanDerGabo) August 13, 2016

I'm not even Puerto Rican but I'm showing up to the party like #PicaPower pic.twitter.com/rGNDnpRbl2

— Devon Bruce (@DevonBruce) August 13, 2016

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