The Dominican Republic team featured promising athletes: Felix Sánchez, track star in the hurdles and former Olympic gold medalist, Luguelín Santos, world junior champion, and gold medalist at the first Youth Olympic Games, and Gabriel Mercedes, Olympic silver medalist in the men's taekwondo event at Beijing. Two of these athletes won the nation's only medals in athletics at the London games. Felix Sánchez also managed to repeat his gold medal streak from Athens in the men's 400 m hurdles event. Luguelín Santos, on the other hand, settled for the silver instead in the men's 400 metres, behind Grenada's Kirani James. Gabriel Mercedes, being the only medalist to return for his second Olympic appearance, was the nation's flag bearer at the opening ceremony.