Mexico dreams of surpassing 10 medals with the largest landing of athletes in 50 years
There is a question that loops every four years. Why isn't Mexico a sports power if there are more than 126 million inhabitants? From the offices of those in charge of sports, they point to a lack of order and vision of the country. And, of course, that there is interest and investment from the Government in turn. The Mexican delegation that will travel to Tokyo will be the third largest (163 athletes) just below the performances of Mexico 1968 (275) and Munich 1972 (174). The youth will set the pace together with a group of Mexican athletes who seek to close their sports cycles on the podium.
More informationDafne Navarro and the moment of splendor of Mexican gymnasticsAlexa Moreno, a gymnast against the canons: "I am a very powerful person"Rommel Pacheco, a leap into charismaMexico's great challenge is to win a dozen medals . The head of Mexican sports, Ana Guevara, has assured that the country can aspire to win between five and ten medals. The best participation was in the home Games, in 1968. The Olympic fair, which meant a turning point, was punctuated by the massacre of the students of Tlatelolco. In the competitions, the Mexicans shone with nine medals: three gold, three silver and three bronze. The second best participation of a Mexican delegation occurred in London 2012 with eight medals.
Mexico's sights are set on the sports in which it has excelled: diving, archery and taekwondo. In addition, he is hoping to wow in softball, baseball and soccer. The gymnast Alexa Moreno, fifth in the world ranking, will seek to gain a place in the all around in which she will compete against Simone Biles. Moreno won the bronze in the World Cup in 2018. In athletics, Tonatiu López (23 years old) has raised expectations after breaking the national record of 1:43.44 in the 800 meters. Alegna González (22 years old), the pearl of the march, makes her debut on the big stage after surprising in the youth world championships and will seek to fill the gap left by Lupita González, the former world champion suspended for doping. Briseida Acosta is the top Mexican fighter in taekwondo. At the age of 27, he won the ticket for María del Rosario Espinoza, the only Mexican to win three Olympic medals in three different cycles. In rowing, Kenia Lettuce (27) wants to climb to the first three places. In hammer throw, Diego del Real (27) is a solid candidate.
The Mexican representation had taken flight in the 2019 Pan American Games where they won 37 gold, 36 silver and 63 bronze medals, an unprecedented result for the country. The health emergency stopped everything in its tracks in 2020. "More than one of us lost motivation due to the pandemic," said the Mexican gymnast Ruth Castillo at the flag ceremony. Some athletes trained on their own, as in the case of Alegna González or Crisanto Grajales in triathlon; Others agreed to join the health bubble held at the facilities of the High Performance Center in Mexico City. The authorities began vaccinating Mexican athletes in March, although some, like the diver Juan Celaya, were vaccinated in the United States because it was their training base there.
The Olympic Games in Japan will mean the end of the cycle for Mexican veterans. Among them are the divers Rommel Pacheco, who will become a federal deputy for the conservative PAN after four Games, and Yahel Castillo, with three Olympic cycles. In archery, experience will be provided by Aída Román, who has not been absent from the Olympic tournament since 2008. Horacio Nava also joins him in the 50-kilometre march, with four Olympians on his resume. Paola Espinosa, a Mexican diver and winner of two Olympic medals, did not qualify for her last Games in a technical control carried out by the authorities.
One of the important features of the Mexican team is the role of women. Since Sydney 2000 when Soraya Jiménez won gold in weightlifting, women's sport has gained strength with 15 medals won in the last 20 years. For Tokyo there will be 66 athletes who will compete.
Mexico, with an average age of 27, is aiming high in the most atypical Olympic Games.
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