La Jornada: The Oliver sisters share the crown

From editing

La Jornada newspaper
Friday, October 27, 2023, p. a10

The Mexican Olympic Committee’s prediction of winning 32 gold medals at Santiago 2023 to maintain third place at the Pan American Games is one step closer. The national delegation reached 30 gold medals after the pentathlon, tennis, shooting and cycling contributed four more gold medals yesterday, while only one week has passed since the Chilean competitions were held.

The mixed and team competitions, which in some disciplines are new to the competition, encouraged the Mexicans to move closer to the goal in the overall medal table, which the United States leads with 59 gold medals.

In the early days of the competition, the tricolor took advantage of disciplines in which they are considered strong, such as diving and taekwondo, to add as many medals as possible, while at the same time surprising in sports such as pentathlon.

Although the expectations of Mexican managers are 32 gold medals, the number that will exceed participation in Lima 2019 is 37 gold medals. This amount also seems possible if we take into account that archery and artistic swimming competitions are still absent, as Mexico was the leader.

One sport in which the tricolor has shown development is pentathlon. Yesterday, sisters Mayan and Catherine Oliver shared the gold medal in the women’s relay competition, confirming Mexico’s lead in this continental event.

After facing off against each other in the individual event, Mayan and Catherine now stand side by side with the national flag from the top of the podium. With 492 points, the Mexicans surpassed the Panama sports team (461) and the representatives of Brazil (451).

The key to winning was the desire to deliver great results for our country and all the work we did paid off.Mayan said as he celebrated his second gold medal after winning the singles competition a few days ago.

The tricolor has been crowned in the four pentathlon competitions held so far and on Friday they are waiting for the fifth title in this American edition in the men’s relay competition with Emilio Hernandez and Duilio Carrillo.

Encouraging victory

Although the pentathlon achieved unexpected victories, the tennis activities concluded with a gold medal that encouraged the restoration of the dominance that existed in the region in the upcoming tournaments.

Led by expert Paula Longoria, tennis players did not monopolize titles in this discipline by winning nine medals, three of which were gold, one silver, and five bronze.

Longoria (34 years old), along with Montserrat Mejia and Alexandra Herrera, won the women’s national team event after defeating the Argentine national team 2-1. For Paula, it also meant earning her 11th All-American medal as she approaches retirement.

For her part, Alejandra Zavala confirms her status as a queen in the shooting sport by winning her second medal in Santiago, after winning the 10-meter air pistol competition, after winning a record 25 days ago.

The Mexican defeated American Alexis Lagan in a close fight, to get the silver medal, while the bronze went to Ecuadorian Diana Durango. I was very nervous, very anxious, and on the last shot I took a breath and thought, You can win this; I did it this wayNarrated by Zavala.

In the track cycling race, Yareli Acevedo won the women’s all-around cycling race with a total of 128 units, ahead of Colombian Lina Hernandez (121) and Chilean Catalina Soto (120). It was the fourth medal and second gold for the Mexican cyclists in the competition.