In a historic first, the Mexican Olympic team will feature more female athletes than male athletes at the Paris 2024 Games. This unprecedented milestone was confirmed by the number of spots secured by female athletes for the upcoming Olympics. The delegation will consist of 109 athletes, with 63 women and 46 men. The team will be led by María José Alcalá, President of the Mexican Olympic Committee (COM), and Ana Gabriela Guevara, Director of the National Commission for Physical Culture and Sport (Conade).
Adding to the historical achievements, Mexico will field a rhythmic gymnastics team for the first time. This team comprises Julia Gutiérrez, Ana Flores, Kimberly Salazar, Adirem Tejeda, and Dalia Alcocer, marking another significant moment in Mexican sports history.
The increase in the number of female athletes for Paris 2024 surpasses the figures from Tokyo 2020, where Mexico sent 77 women and 85 men, making up 48 percent of the 162 athletes who competed in Japan.
Although women have not historically been the majority in Mexico’s Olympic delegations, they have delivered some of the country’s most memorable and significant achievements. Notably, Soraya Jiménez won gold in weightlifting at Sydney 2000, lifting 58 kilograms and ending a 16-year gold medal drought for Mexico. Prior to Jiménez, Ernesto Canto and Raúl González won gold medals in the 20KM and 50KM walk events, respectively, at Los Angeles 1984.
The prowess of Mexican female athletes has continued to shine on the global stage. María del Rosario Espinoza clinched gold in taekwondo (+67KG) at Beijing 2008, defeating Norwegian competitor Nina Solheim in a nerve-wracking final. Ana Gabriela Guevara also made history with her iconic silver medal in the 400M at Athens 2004.
Over the years, Mexico has accumulated 73 official Olympic medals, comprising 13 gold, 24 silver, and 36 bronze. Of these, 19 medals have been won by Mexican women, with several athletes making repeat appearances on the Olympic podium.
This landmark representation of female athletes in the Mexican Olympic team underscores the country’s progress in promoting gender equality in sports. As the athletes prepare for Paris 2024, the nation eagerly anticipates the inspiring performances and potential record-breaking achievements of its sportswomen.