Breathe
By Rosa Covarrubias
If there is one thing Mexico can boast about in the sport, it is the great quality of divers it has had throughout history.
Joaquín Capilla, Juan Botella, Álvaro Gaxiola, Carlos Girón, Jesús Mena, Mary José Alcalá, Fernando Platas, Joel Rodríguez, Eduardo Rueda, marked a guideline for Paola Espinosa, Laura Sánchez, Tatiana Ortiz, Yahel Castillo, Julián Sánchez, Rommel Pacheco, Jair Ocampo, Melany Hernández, Iván García, Germán Sánchez, Alejandra Orozco and Gabriela Agúndez, all of them Olympic and/or world medalists, Julián Sánchez, Rommel Pacheco, Jair Ocampo, Melany Hernández, Iván García, Germán Sánchez, Alejandra Orozco and Gabriela Agúndez, all of them Olympic and/or world medalists, set Mexico's name high in this discipline.
What happened in Santiago de Chile, in the 2023 Pan American Games with the diving team is to be praised, first, because since January they have been in a tug-of-war with CONADE for the payment of scholarships and the payment of coaches; Second, because, as in other disciplines belonging to the Mexican Swimming Federation, they sought support from private initiative to attend the World Aquatics World Championship and World Cups in Europe; third, because living in the midst of the uncertainty of, "Which internal competitions should I attend so that it does not harm me at the national or international level?, impacts in several ways.
Although, as in Lima 2019, 11 medals were won, this time Mexico climbed to the top of the podium in 8 of 10 events, 7 of them Olympic. Osmar Olvera won gold in all the events he competed in, one-meter springboard, three-meter springboard and synchronized 3-meter springboard, together with Rodrigo Diego.
Randal Willars, champion at the Youth Olympic Games, Buenos Aires 2018, continues to prove that he was not wrong to leave Guadalajara to fulfill his dream when he was 9 years old and now, he pursues his dream with one of the most difficult dives in the world, four and a half laps in front; Randal took two golds in Santiago de Chile in 10-meter platform, individual and synchronized, the latter, along with Kevin Berlin.
In the women's division, Gaby Agúndez and Ale Orzco are going for more. Both won the bronze medal in the 10-meter synchronized platform in Tokyo, now, after closing as Pan American champions, the focus for Paris 2024 is to climb the podium again and one of the goals is to achieve it in individual; in Chile, Agúndez won the gold and Orozco the silver in the individual 10-meter platform.
The women's synchronized 3-meter springboard has been, perhaps, the event that has been the most complicated for Mexico to qualify. Prior to Tokyo 2020, the last time they had competed in this event was in Athens 2004. Arantxa Chavez and Paola Pineda won gold at the Pan American Games in Santiago de Chile, now, the goal will be to finish among the top 4 pairs at the World Championships in Doha next year to obtain the Olympic ticket.
It should be noted that, in the midst of the conflict with the FMN, the Mexican Olympic Committee, in an unprecedented move, put names to the places obtained by the divers for Paris 2024; Kevin Berlin and Randal Willars, in synchronized 10-meter platform and Osmar Olvera, in 3-meter springboard, have secured their places after reaching the podium in Fukuoka. In addition to these two places, Mexico won an extra ticket in the men's 3-meter springboard, a place in men's 10-meter individual platform and two more in this event, but in the women's division.
Doha will be the last chance for the diving team to obtain places in women's 10-meter platform synchronized diving and 3-meter springboard in both genders, in addition to the two places in women's 3-meter springboard and one more in men's 10-meter platform.
The diving team wants to and must leave behind the bad times they went through in 2023 and concentrate on strengthening the divers who will attend the next world championships and thus, take a complete team to Paris 2024.
The opinions expressed are the responsibility of the authors and are absolutely independent of the position and editorial line of the company. Opinion 51.
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