The Paris 2024 Olympic Games will feature a large representation of Valencian athleteswho are already finalising their preparation to compete in various disciplines and to raise the name of the Valencian Community. Among them are outstanding athletes in rhythmic gymnastics, artistic gymnastics, boxing, cycling, swimming, handball, triathlon, tennis, beach volleyball, 3×3 basketball, football, athletics, judo and hockey.
Last Thursday, June 27, the Palau de la Generalitat Valenciana was the scene of the reception for Valencian athletes. The event served to highlight the work carried out over the past four years to obtain the ticket and sneak in among the nearly 10,500 athletes who will attend the event, of which More than 350 are Spanish, the second largest number after Barcelona 92.
During the event, President Carlos Mazón emphasized the importance of sport and the fundamental role that athletes play as examples of values for society. “This is not an event to put more pressure on you, because you are already responsible for putting as much pressure on yourselves as possible. But since I am lucky enough to have known many of you for years, I know that you are the ones who are most important to us.” you are our champions and you are going to make us suffer in front of the TV,” said the mayor.
[Liliana Fernández, la alicantina con más Juegos Olímpicos: “No voy a París de paseo, hay que pelear”]
Mazón also highlighted the commitment of the Valencian Community to sport, highlighting the unanimous support it receives from all areas. And he concluded by assuring the athletes that whatever happens in Paris: “I offer to welcome you back with the success that you have already won in our hearts”.This is the list of competitors:
Rhythmic and Artistic Gymnastics
Rhythmic gymnastics will be represented by Patricia Perez (Swedish), Mireia Martinez (La Pobla de Vallbona), Polina Berezina (Guardamar del Segura) and Dawn Bautista (Vinaròs). Polina Berezina, recalling her qualification at the World Championships in Valencia, said at the Palau that it was “very exciting to have been able to do your job as well as possible and to have achieved that Olympic qualification that you have been fighting for for so many years.”
In artistic gymnastics, Nestor Abad and Laura Casabuena (both from Alcoi) stand out for their determination. Laura Casabuena, after a difficult qualifying process, said that, although “it was a little harder mentally because I saw that it was very difficult, hope was the last thing to be lost and I got it in the end.”
Boxing
Jose Quiles against Kurt Walker, during the Tokyo 2020 Olympics Reuters
Jose Quilesoriginally from Elda, is one of the most promising young boxers in Spanish boxing. Quiles already told this newspaper in an interview during his preparation that “the goal this year is a medal, if possible the one that shines the most. If I don’t bring one back, I’ll be screwed.”
Track cycling
The cyclist Sebastian Mora, from Villarreal, will compete in track cycling, seeking to replicate his previous successes in international competitions.
Handball
In handball, the Valencian Community will be defended by Lara Gonzalez (Alicante), Paula Arcos (Petrer) and Gedeon Guardiola (Petrer), who are part of the ‘Hispanos’ and the ‘Guerreras’, as the groups are known.
Swimming
Angela Martinez (Elche) and Alba Herrero (Elda) will compete in swimming. Martínez qualified by a narrow margin of two seconds during the qualifying event. He swam the 10 km in 1 hour 59 minutes, finishing 13th out of 13 available for Paris.
Triathlon
The triathlete Roberto Sanchez Mantecon (Manises), who trains at the University of Alicante, is optimistic after his arduous path to qualification: “In the end we were able to achieve it. The objective for the games is to be in the fight, because, as I always say, we all start from the same starting point.”
Sarah Smiles (Vall d’Uixó) will represent Spain in tennis, bringing his experience and skills in search of a medal.
Beach volleyball
The legend of Alicante sport Liliana Fernández RFEVB
In beach volleyball, the Valencian representation includes Pablo Herrera (Castellón), Liliana Fernandez (Benidorm) and Paula Soria (Orihuela), who are ready to compete with the best in the world. Liliana Fernández, the Alicante native with the most active Olympic Games with four, tied in number with the legendary judoka Isabel Fernández, revealed to EL ESPAÑOL from Alicante that she is not going to Paris for a walk, “you have to fight.”
3×3 Basketball
Vega Gimeno and Sandra Ygueravide (both from Valencia) are the hopes in 3×3 basketball after qualifying with a basket in the last second behind her teammate’s back. Vega highlighted the excitement of qualifying: “Maximum euphoria at the right moment for all the years that Sandra and I have been fighting to be in the Games, we are veterans and our dream has come true.”
Last week, the national Olympic football coach, Santi Denia, announced the list of 22 players who will wear the national colours. Of the three possible Valencian representatives, only the Alicante native Christian MosqueraValencia player has been included in the squad, which will not include Fran Pérez and Javi Guerra.
Athletics
In athletics, Quique Llopis (Bellreguard), Thierry I’m the one (Burundi, but nationalized), Fatima Diame (Valencia) and Jorge Urena (Onil) are on the list of coach Pepe Peiró.
Salva Cases (Alicante) will compete in judo with the hope of reaching the podium, as well as Tristan Tato (naturalized Georgian who trains in Valencia).
Finally, Lola Riera (Valencia) will represent the Valencian Community in hockey.
2024-07-04 04:29:50
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