The fifth day of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games proved to be a challenging one for the Mexican delegation, as they encountered a series of disappointing results across various disciplines, sharply contrasting the successes of the previous day.
On the preceding day, Mexican athletes celebrated significant triumphs, raising the nation’s hopes for continued success. However, today’s competitions brought a bitter turn of events. From triathlon to synchronized diving, Mexican athletes faced tough competition and saw their medal aspirations fade, highlighting the formidable challenges these Games present.
Triathlon
The day’s events began early for the Mexican delegation with the women’s triathlon. Representing Mexico, Lizeth Rueda and Rosa María Tapia took on one of the most grueling events, which includes a 1,500-meter swim, 40 km of cycling, and a 10 km run. Despite their valiant efforts, neither athlete managed to secure a spot in the medal zone. Rosa María Tapia finished 18th with a time of 1:53:01, while Lizeth Rueda came in 30th with a time of 1:55:42.
In the men’s triathlon, Crisanto Grajales and Aram Peñaflor also struggled against fierce competition. Grajales finished 39th with a time of 1:50:02, and Peñaflor ended in 47th place, clocking in at 1:51:46.
Shooting and Rowing
Carlos Quezada competed in the 3-position rifle classification but finished 36th with a score of 579, falling short of the top eight needed to advance to the finals.
In rowing, Kenia Lechuga, competing in the W1x category, did not advance to the medal rounds but secured a spot in the C final with a time of 7:58:00 in the D semi-final. This placement will determine her final ranking between 13th and 18th.
Synchronized Diving
The highest hopes for Mexico on this day were pinned on synchronized diving, with Alejandra Orozco and Gabriela Agúndez aiming to replicate their bronze medal performance from Tokyo 2020. Despite a strong start, a poorly executed fourth dive ultimately cost them a podium finish. The duo ended in fifth place with 297.66 points, while China, North Korea, and Great Britain took the top three spots. Orozco and Agúndez will have another chance to shine on August 5 in the preliminaries of the women’s 10-meter individual platform event.
Rowing and Archery
In the LM2x rowing semifinal, Alexis López and Miguel Carballo finished sixth with a time of 6:37:43, missing the top three positions needed to advance to the final. They will now compete in the B final to determine their final ranking between 7th and 12th.
In men’s individual archery, Bruno Martínez was defeated by Cuba’s Hugo Franco with a score of 7-3 in the 1/32 finals, ending his Olympic journey in his first match.
Boxing and Sailing
In boxing, Citlali Ortiz was eliminated in the round of 16 in the 75 kg women’s category after losing by unanimous decision to Australian Caitlin Parker.
In sailing, after 11 races, Mariana Aguilar is currently in 16th place with 114 points. She must finish among the top 10 in the remaining races to qualify for the quarterfinals.
Upcoming Events
Later in the day, Marco Verde will step into the boxing ring to defend his place against Mozambique’s Tiago Osorio Muxanga in the round of 16, with high hopes of advancing further in the competition.