Prisca Awiti: “My medal was not intended for Mexico or the world”
Mexico City, Aug 7 (EFE).- Mexican Prisca Awiti, silver medalist in judo at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, admitted on Wednesday that her medal was not expected either in her country or around the world.
“I am aware of this, my medal was not expected for Mexico or the world, but judo is a beautiful sport because it depends on how the athlete performs on the day of the competition. This teaches people that you don’t have to be the favorite to win, if you believe in yourself and your preparation it is possible to win,” he explained at a press conference.
Awiti, born 28 years ago in England to a Mexican mother, won her country’s first judo medal on July 30, losing in the final of the -63 kilogram category to Slovenian Andrea Leski.
Awiti, who also has Kenyan nationality through her father, is one of the two silver medals Mexico has won in Paris 2024, along with the men’s synchronized three-meter springboard diving medal, won by Juan Manuel Celaya and Osmar Olvera; in addition to these two, the nation has won a bronze in archery with its women’s team, made up of Alejandra Valencia, Ana Paula Vázquez and Ángela Ruiz.
“Little by little I am getting used to what it means to be a Mexican medalist. It is not something I am used to and I have had to learn many things, talk to the media, have people in front of me. Now people recognize me in the street, my life has changed a lot,” added Awiti.
The judoka said that after taking some time to rest, she will begin her preparation to win the gold medal at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, which will be the third in her career; before Paris, her debut was at Tokyo 2020, where she finished in seventeenth place in the -63 kilogram category.
“It is important to rest in order to recharge and think about the next goal, which is to turn this silver into a gold. I like to set goals because you only dream when you sleep, goals are something fixed,” said the historic athlete.
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2024-08-07 22:02:31
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