Mexico City. With their sights set on Los Angeles 2028, around twenty Olympic team members returned to Mexico tonight from the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Led by medalists Marco Verde (boxing), Juan Celaya (diving) and Ana Paula Vázquez (archery), the athletes were proud of their results but aware that there is still much room for improvement.
“I feel very satisfied knowing that after 40 years we brought back silver. I wanted gold but unfortunately it was not achieved,” said Verde.
Vázquez, the team bronze winner, already has her next goal in mind.
“What we did was historic, but I’m not going to settle for that. I still want my individual medal and I’m going to work for it for the next four years,” she said.
For Juan Celaya, silver medallist alongside Osmar Olvera in the synchronised three-metre springboard, reaching the podium in Paris encourages him to become a better athlete.
“I feel satisfied to have crossed another goal off my list. Now I just want to get home and hug my mom,” he said.
On the last day of competition, Ana Guevara, head of CONADE, declared that Mexico’s medal haul was meager.
“It’s not just her who is unhappy with the results, we also expected more. Not winning a medal in Paris makes me want it even more,” said diver Randal Willars, fifth in the individual platform event and fourth in the synchronized event.
Pentathlete Emiliano Hernández, fourth in the Parisian competition, will not give up on his goal of reaching the podium.
“I spoke with my brother (Ismael) and he told me that I did very well, that I have the whole road ahead of me and that he will accompany me on the adventure called Los Angeles,” he commented.
Taekwondo athlete Carlos Sansores put aside criticism of his performance and highlighted the positive aspects of his participation.
“I think I have climbed more than in Tokyo because I managed to fight for bronze. Obviously, it is not the result I worked for and I will continue to strive for the goal if my body and health allow it.”
Also returning to Mexico were marathon runner Citlali Moscote, 800-meter specialist Tonatiuh López, and divers Gabriela Agúndez and Kevin Berlín.
At the Paris Olympics, Mexico won five medals: three gold and two bronze.
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– 2024-08-13 10:46:03
