Mexican President Felipe Calderon Wednesday congratulated Mexican Guillermo Perez for winning a gold medal in taekwondo, 58kg category, at the Olympic Games of Beijing 2008, while thousands of Mexicans celebrated the triumph.

Calderon phoned Perez just a few minutes after the triumph and told him that "really you are privileged, Mexicans disserve a triumph like this one."

"You have given Mexico happiness at a difficult moment. I know that your example will be an inspiration for all Mexicans, not only in sports, but also to set us high goals and to have the strength to reach them," Calderon told Perez.

After talking with Perez, Calderon said it was "a night of a lot of nerves," but finally and after Perez's triumph he recognized that Perez put the name of Mexico very high.

Meanwhile, Mexicans gathered in restaurants and stores to celebrate the triumph.

Mexican fast-food seller Juan Hernandez said that "finally we won," because this is the first gold medal Mexico win in Olympics after eight years.

Sports store worker Guillermo Perez said this must be "an example for all Mexicans and we must know that even with short resources things can be done with our own efforts."

"I hope the Mexican government gives more support for sports, because that is the only way Mexicans will perform a better roll at the next Olympics," bank cashier Berenice Acosta said.

Perez won the men's under 58-kilogram taekwondo gold Wednesday, beating Dominica's Yulis Gabriel Mercedes.

The previous gold medal Mexico won at the Olympics was at Sydney 2000, by weightlifter Soraya Jimenez.

This is the second medal Mexico has won at the Olympics of Beijing 2008, the other one is a bronze medal in the women's synchronized diving by Paola Espinosa and Tatiana Ortiz.

(Xinhua News Agency August 21, 2008)