Mexico, Nov 27 (EFE).- Double Olympic medalist Osmar Olvera assured this Wednesday that receiving the National Sports Award in Mexico in 2024 motivates him to prepare and win his first gold medal in Los Angeles 2028.
“My next goal is clear, to win the gold medal at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games. I arrived in Paris 2024 with the goal of winning two medals and we achieved it, together we made it a reality. Once another of my goals has been achieved, winning the National Award, my gaze, my heart and my being are set on Los Angeles. “I will dedicate the next four years to working tirelessly to achieve this,” he explained.
The jumper Olvera, who in Paris 2024 won the bronze medal in the three-meter springboard and silver together with Juan Celaya in the synchronized jumps of that event, was one of those recognized this Wednesday by Claudia Sheinbaum, president of Mexico.
Other Olympic medalists in Paris 2024 who won the National Sports Award, the highest distinction that Mexico gives to its athletes, were Prisca Awitti, silver winner in the 63 kilogram division in judo, and boxer Marco Verde, silver in the lightweight.
“This is one of the most important moments of my life, the National Sports Award is something that an athlete dreams of and the most important national recognition for the effort, work and dedication throughout our sporting career,” added the 20-year-old diver. .
In Paralympic sport, the winners were the Paris champions Juan Cervantes, in the 100 meter dash, T-54 division, and Gloria Zarza, champion in shot put in the F-54 category.
Forward Charlyn Corral, top scorer in the Spanish league in 2018, was now chosen as the best professional athlete in Mexico for her good performance with the Tuzas del Pachuca, with which she was the top scorer in the Apertura 2024 tournament.
Referee Katya Itzel García won the distinction as best judge and trainer Radamés Hernández, who guided Verde to the Olympic boxing final, was the distinguished coach, along with Martín Velasco and Iván Rodríguez, in the Paralympic category, in which They directed Cervantes and Zarza.
For careers, the double jumping medalist Alejandra Orozco and Daniel Aceves, Olympic wrestling runner-up in Los Angeles 1984, were recipients of the award.
The Harp Helú Foundation was recognized for promoting sports.
The winners received the equivalent of about $40,000 in Mexican pesos, as long as they were not professionals.
“They are pride for our country. When we see them represent Mexico in different competitions such as the Olympic and Paralympic Games we see ourselves reflected, even if they do not succeed, just seeing a Mexican Olympic or Paralympic athlete unites us as a country and we feel proud,” said Sheinbaum.
(c) EFE Agency
