On the sixth day of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, Mexico’s athletes delivered a mix of triumphs and challenges across various disciplines, from the 20 km race walk to archery, swimming, and equestrian events. Here’s a comprehensive summary of the day’s outcomes and what lies ahead for the Mexican contingent in the coming events.
Race Walking: A Test of Endurance
The day’s action kicked off with the men’s 20 km race walk, featuring Mexican athletes Noel Chama, José Luis Doctor, and Ricardo Ortiz. Noel Chama delivered a commendable performance, finishing in 13th position with a time of 1:20:19, closely followed by Ricardo Ortiz in 14th place at 1:20:27. Unfortunately, José Luis Doctor faced disqualification after receiving three warnings, unable to complete the race.
The women’s 20 km race walk followed shortly after, with Alegna González, Alejandra Ortega, and Ilse Guerrero representing Mexico. Alegna González stood out, narrowly missing a medal by finishing fifth with a time of 1:27:14, a remarkable achievement among the world’s elite. Alejandra Ortega completed the race in 24th position with a time of 1:31:58, while Ilse Guerrero crossed the line in 38th place at 1:37:10.
Archery: Striking the Bullseye
In archery, Matias Grande commenced his Olympic journey with an impressive victory over Mongolia’s Otgonbold Baatarkhuyag, securing a 7-1 win in the round of 32. Grande continued his success by defeating Colombia’s Jorge Enriquez 6-2, advancing to the round of 16 on Sunday, July 4.
However, Angela Ruiz’s Olympic run came to an end in the round of 32 after a 6-2 loss to Britain’s Bryony Pitman. Meanwhile, Alejandra Valencia, a tournament favorite, showcased her prowess with victories over the USA’s Jennifer Muciño (6-2) and Ukraine’s Veronika Marchenko (6-4). Valencia is set to face China’s Li Jiaman in the round of 16 on Saturday, August 3.
Carlos Rojas, despite a valiant effort, concluded his Olympic campaign with a loss to Turkey’s Berkim Tumer, falling 4 sets to 6 in the round of 32.
Swimming: Navigating the Waters
In the swimming pool, Gabriel Castaño delivered a notable performance in the 50-meter freestyle, finishing fifth in his heat with a time of 21.89 seconds. This result positioned him as the eleventh fastest overall, securing his place in the semifinals by ranking among the top 16 times. Castaño’s next challenge is scheduled for 12:46 PM, where he will vie for a spot in the final.
Equestrian: Jumping to Success
The Mexican equestrian team, comprising Carlos Hank, Federico Fernandez, and Eugenio Garza, advanced to the final of the jumping team event. They secured the tenth position in the standings with a time of 230.14s and 20 penalty points. The team will compete for a medal tomorrow at 6:00 AM.
Upcoming Events: Thursday’s Lineup
Looking ahead to today’s events, Elena Oetling will compete in ILCA 6 sailing at 7:35 AM. In men’s archery, Carlos Rojas will face Turkey’s Berkim Tumer at 7:43 AM. Boxer Fátima Herrera will participate in the round of 16 in the 50 kg category against Turkey’s Buse Naz Cakiroglu at 7:46 AM, while in women’s archery, Ana Pau Vázquez will take on Germany’s Charlie Schwartz at 9:27 AM.
Fátima Herrera’s Boxing Bout
In boxing, Fátima Herrera faced a tough opponent in Turkey’s Buse Naz Cakiroglu, ultimately losing by unanimous decision in the round of 16 of the 50 kg category, resulting in her elimination from the Paris 2024 Games.