By Sergio Silva
03 Nov 2023, 14:29 PM EDT
The Mexican rhythmic gymnastics team completed a round day this Thursday by winning the silver medal in the all-around team final of the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games and at the same time get nothing more and nothing less than the long-awaited ticket for the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
The feat of the Aztec delegation has a very special flavor after everything they had to experience in the final part of their preparation for the Pan-American event in which They had to go through difficult times while they were in Israel and the war conflict in that country with the terrorist group Hamas broke out..
After being trapped in Israel, The team made up of Adirem Tejeda, Ana Sofía Flores, Kimberly Salazar, Julia Gutiérrez and Dalia Alcocer, along with their coach Blajaith Aguilar, remained calm and they continued with their preparation that less than a month later bore the expected results, managing to get on the podium in Santiago 2023.
“We have a silver medal but it tastes like gold”commented Kimberly Salazar, 19, who recalled the unpleasant episode they experienced in Israel: “We were isolated, we received the news and everything, but we continued training until the last day when we took the plane and returned home”.
The team of Mexico finished the all-around test with a score of 61.750 among all elements (hoops, ball, masses and ribbon), behind Brazilwho won gold again after placing third four years ago in Lima 2019. The Amazonians finished the test with a score of 64,450, while the United States finished in third place with 58,300 points.
“In the hoops routine we did very well, but on the last day it didn’t go as well as we wanted. We finished the routine a little sad. “We left the result in the hands of God and he made us win the place for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.”Salazar celebrated.
How did they get a place in Paris 2024?
During the Pan American Games some tickets for the Olympic Games are in dispute and in rhythmic gymnastics the all-around team event is one of them. To secure their place for the Olympic event they must win the gold medal, however, The Mexican women’s team sealed its place in Paris 2024 despite having won the silver medal.
How is this possible? Well, the Aztec representation was lucky that the first place in this test corresponded to Brazil, whose team had already earned its ticket to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games during its participation in the 2023 Rhythmic Gymnastics World Cup which took place in Valencia, Spain. In this way, the quota that was at stake went to Mexico.
“I know that it is already a reality (place for Paris 2024), but I can’t find what emotion to feel. It is a dream that every athlete wants to fulfill and now having the Olympic pass is something inexplicable”recognized Kimberly Salazar after winning the silver medal in the all-around team event of rhythmic gymnastics at the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games.
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