Feats that give shine to the City of Light

Mexico City. Marco Verde left the ring crying tears of joy. He also felt the relief of someone who has taken off the pressure of being the favorite and securing a bronze medal for Mexico at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

After eight years of waiting, the tricolor boxing regained hope and will once again climb onto the podium thanks to a talented fighter forged on the beaches of Sinaloa.

I’m going to die on the line to change the color of the medal; whatever happens, happens.Marco said after beating India’s Nishant Dev in the quarter-finals of the 71-kilogram category.

The last Mexican to win a medal was Misael Rodríguez, who won bronze in Rio 2016.

The Chineseas he is nicknamed, advanced to the quarterfinals without a fight, since his opponent was involved in a doping affair and was disqualified. That unexpected act gave the Mexican a slight advantage on his way to the podium.

Before The Chinesewe have to go back to the Sydney 2000 Games, where Christian Bejarano won bronze. In 24 years and before Marco Verde’s triumph, Mexico had only won two boxing medals.

Years ago, at the 1992 Barcelona Games, Don Manuel, Marco’s father, represented the country in the light heavyweight category, but his adventure only lasted one fight. Thirty-two years later, the Verde family was finally able to celebrate.

I kept my promise, it was a very tough fight, but my goal was to give my father, my grandmother and my family a podium. I wasn’t the only one who sacrificed; they also lived through the whole process and deserve to celebrate. In my father’s case, the fact that I’m on the podium is very special, because he also had that dream.added Verde, who gave Mexico its fourth medal in Paris.

The boxer from the tricolor could not hold back his tears after securing the bronze medal; now he will seek his pass to the final to compete for the gold medal. Photo Afp

Fabiola, the boxer’s mother, could only close her eyes while her son fulfilled the wish of an entire family and a country. She does not like it when Marco is hit; she suffers every time a drop of blood falls from his face, but she knows that this is boxing.

He has always been very stubborn, I didn’t want him to box, but he stuck to it. I am happy that he achieved his goal and I am confident that he will make it to the final.said the fighter’s mother while holding a rosary that her son brought her from Jerusalem.

Boxing is the second discipline that has given our country the most Olympic medals with 14 (including Marco’s), with diving at the top with 15.

Marco’s medal will also allow Mexico to surpass what it achieved in Tokyo 2020, where it won four bronze medals.

On Tuesday, Verde, the Pan American champion, will return to the ring to face Britain’s Lewis Richardson.

Since the 1952 Helsinki Olympics, bronze has been automatically awarded to competitors who lose a semi-final in combat disciplines such as judo, taekwondo and boxing.

Mexican archer Alejandra Valencia, winner of the bronze medal in the team category, was left out of the medals in the individual category after losing in the quarterfinals to Korean favorite Sihyeon Lim.

In what could be her last Olympic participation, the Sonoran left Paris with mixed feelings, but satisfied for giving her all in each duel. Lim took the gold, her compatriot Suhyeon Nam, the silver, and Lisa Barbelin, from France, the bronze.

In the shot put, Uziel Muñoz finished in eighth place and is now entitled to an Olympic diploma. Meanwhile, golfers Carlos and Abraham Ancer are in 23rd and 38th place after three rounds.

With information from AFP and AP