David "Kike" Bernier

David Enrique Bernier Rivera also known as "Kike" (born January 21, 1977 in Patillas, Puerto Rico), is the current Secretary of Sports and Recreation of Puerto Rico as well as Executive Director of Puerto Rico's Office of Youth Affairs. He first became known as a member of the Puerto Rican National Fencing.

Early years

David and his brother Victor attended the "Maria Davila Semidey School" in Patillas, where they received their primary education. After this, they enrolled in the school of sports of the Alberque Olimpico (Olympic hostel) located in Salinas, Puerto Rico. David became a member of the National Fencing Selection of Puerto Rico, during his school years, and represented Puerto Rico in other events worldwide.

National Fencing Selection of Puerto Rico

David was the Juvenil Panamerican Champion for three consecutive years and won the Bronze Medal in the 1998 Central American and Caribbean Games, celebrated in Maracaibo, Venezuela; he was also the president of the first graduating class of the Alberque Olimpico School. He later enrolled at the University of Puerto Rico and graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor's degree in General Sciences. He then enrolled in the school of medicine in the UPR and studied odontology (dentistry). Here he was the president of the student counsel and after four years obtained his doctorate in odontology. During this time David was also named president of the Association of Athelics of High Endurance.

The two brothers went to Carolina, where they trained under trainer Gilberto Peña. In the 2003 Pan American Games celebrated in the Dominican Republic, Victor won the Bronze Medal in Individual Épée Fencing and the brothers Bernier and Peña (Jonathan and Marcos) won a Bronze Medal in Team Épée Fencing. Victor became the first Puerto Rican to win a medal in fencing for his country and the team (consisting of the Bernier and Peña brothers), the first team to win a medal for the island by beating the U.S. team 45-40.

Government appointment

On September 26, 2003, the Puerto Rican Senate confirmed Gov. Sila Calderon's appointment of Dr. David Bernier as Executive Director of the Office of Youth Affairs. David was delegate and standard barrier for the Puerto Rican Olympic Committee in the 2004 Olympics celebrated in Athens, Greece. In 2004, David Enrique "Kike" Bernier was inducted into the Puerto Rican Sports Hall of Fame. On January 4, 2005 resigned his post at the Office of Youth Affairs as he was named Secretary of the Department of Sports and Recreation in Puerto Rico by Governor Anibal Acevedo Vila and was subsequently unanimously confirmed by the Puerto Rico Senate. In 2006, after the Senate failed to confirm two nominees to replace him at the Office of Youth Affairs, the Governor nominated him once again to that job, which he holds simultaneously with the position of Secretary of Sports and Recreation, once he was again confirmed by the Senate. On January 31, 2008, Bernier accepted to become president of the committee that was organizing the 2010 Central American and Caribbean Games. Following his designation he announced that he would discuss with the majors of abjacent municipalities. [cite web| url=http://www.primerahora.com/noticia/otros_accion/accion_deportiva/bernier_dio_el_si/153427| title=Bernier dio el sí| author=Alex Figueroa Cancel| publisher=Primera Hora| date=2008-02-01| accessdate=2008-02-01]

President of the COPUR

The election for president of the Olympic Comitee of Puerto Rico took place on October 1, 2008. In this process, Bernier won receiving 26 votes from the federative delegates versus 13 votes in favor of incumbent Héctor Cardona. [cite web| url=http://www.primerahora.com/noticia/otros/acciondeportiva/david_bernier_gana_la_presidencia/234819| title=Bernier barrió en la elección a presidente del Copur| author=Carlos González| publisher="Primera Hora"| language=Spanish| date=2008-10-01| accessdate=2008-10-01]

Personal life

Bernier is currently married to host and actress Alexandra Fuentes. [cite web|author=Héctor Aponte Alequín|date=February 16, 2007|url=http://www.primerahora.com/noticia/otros_asi/espectaculos_asi/salsa_estudiantil_con_fin_educador/26954|title=Primera Hora: Salsa Estudiantil con Fin Educador|accessdate=]

Notes

ee also

*List of famous Puerto Ricans

External links

* [http://www.drd.gobierno.pr/Semblanza.html Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico]