We're going to the Junior Pan American Games with COM money, says Alcalá

▲ Angela Ruiz, Olympic bronze medalist in archery, will compete in the Paraguayan competition. Photo: World Archery

Adriana Díaz Reyes

La Jornada Newspaper, Tuesday, July 15, 2025, p. a12

Less than a month before the start of the Junior Pan American Games in Asunción, Paraguay, María José Alcalá, head of the Mexican Olympic Committee (COM), announced that the expenses of the tricolor delegation will be covered by the organization she directs, since on this occasion, CONADE will only collaborate with the medical team.

We're doing so with our own resources thanks to our sponsors. The approximate cost is 52 million pesos, which we were able to raise thanks, in part, to the support of Panam Sports , the former diver commented.

Our country will be represented by 377 athletes, 190 women and 187 men. With the technical, multidisciplinary, and long-sleeved team, the delegation will consist of 580 members.

We have a very good relationship with Rommel Pacheco; we talk a lot, and on this occasion, we won't have financial support from CONADE. We agreed that we would cover the costs for Asunción, and they would only collaborate with the doctors , Alcalá explained.

Although it's a youth competition, Mexico will have some notable figures to grace the delegation. Competing in Paraguay will be Olympic bronze medalist in archery, Ángela Ruiz; world medalist in artistic swimming, Diego Villalobos; diving champions Kenny Zamudio and Mía Cueva; and open water swimmer Paulo Strehlke, who competed in Paris 2024, among others.

Each of our representatives has the opportunity to return home with a medal. We are confident that we will perform well because the athletes we have are of great quality. The competition also awards 236 spots to the Lima 2027 Pan American Games, which is a great incentive , commented former race walker Carlos Mercenario, who will serve as the national delegation's chef de mission.

Among the sports with the highest expectations are archery, athletics, and diving.

It's not an easy challenge because countries like Colombia and Cuba will be participating, with their delegations featuring outstanding athletes who have grown significantly at the continental level. For all our athletes, it will be a great experience because, in addition, they will begin to identify the rivals they will face in the Olympic cycle , Marijose explained.

In the qualification process for Asunción, 50 spots were lost due to various circumstances, a situation that will be given greater attention to ensure it doesn't happen again.

Some tickets were not obtained because athletes did not attend the qualifying competition or other adjustments made by international federations. We need to determine what the shortcomings were so that this doesn't happen again.

The Junior Pan American Games will take place from August 9 to 23 and will bring together more than 4,000 athletes, who will compete in 28 sports and 42 disciplines. Participants will range in age from 12 to 22.

From the Editorial Staff

La Jornada Newspaper, Tuesday, July 15, 2025, p. a12

Following the achievements of several athletes, President Claudia Sheinbaum recognized their successes in honoring Mexico .

Yesterday, at her morning press conference, the president asked her team to show a video highlighting the athletes' triumphs.

Recognition went to cyclist Isaac del Toro, who won the Tour of Austria; rower Kenia Lechuga, for her gold medal in the Women's Lightweight Single Sculls A Final at the Rowing World Cup in Lucerne; Matías Grande, individual champion at the Archery World Cup; race walker Alegna González, winner of the Dublin Race Walking Challenge; Abraham Áncer, third place in the LIV Golf League in Andalusia; and Patricio Pato O'Ward, winner of the first race of the Iowa Grand Prix.

AFP

La Jornada Newspaper, Tuesday, July 15, 2025, p. a12

San José, Claudia Poll, Costa Rica's only Olympic champion, and two other former swimmers from that country reported yesterday that they suffered psychological, physical, and sexual abuse from renowned local coach Francisco Rivas, who denied the accusations.

"I suffered every possible (psychological) attack from Rivas," said Poll, winner of the gold medal in the 200-meter freestyle at the 1996 Atlanta Games, while former national team member Marcela Cuesta said she was sexually abused by the coach when she was a minor.

The former swimmers filed their complaint on the program Interferencia, an investigative journalism program on the University of Costa Rica radio stations.

Rivas was always going through my personal belongings, stealing my cell phones. When he could, he paid to have my conversations recorded, and he went through my trash , said Poll, who won two bronze medals at Sydney 2000.

He once took used condoms out of my trash, made a photocopy of them, showed them to me, and demanded that I tell him who they belonged to , the 52-year-old former athlete added.

The coach, who is still active, denied the allegations. "In Claudia's case, I'm surprised by everything. It's not true, I have to say it categorically ," he told Teletica, stating that he was a member of Poll's H2O swimming club until 2022.

Rivas, 75, has been a coach for five decades, has led six Olympic teams, and is described by the Costa Rican Sports Gallery as the most successful swimming coach in Latin America .

Marcela Cuesta, who quit competitions at 16, said that when she was very young, he tried to touch me (my private parts) in one way or another and I immediately rejected him .

He never did it again, he was careful not to repeat it , added the former athlete, winner of three Pan American medals at the 1987 Indianapolis Games.

I remember when Francisco told me: you are brilliant, wonderful, you have an incredible talent, but God made you stupid , she added.

Cuesta indicated that a few months ago he reported what happened to the Costa Rican Aquatic Sports Federation, but this entity responded that the events were time-barred .

Former swimmer Manuel Rojas also claimed that he suffered physical and psychological abuse from Rivas.

He said that on one occasion, the coach decided to give him massages, even though the federation had a physical therapist. "It wasn't a massage, it was blows. I felt the fist on my legs, the elbows on my back, but it wasn't therapy; they were injuries ," he said.

▲ Photo @schecoperez

La Jornada Newspaper, Tuesday, July 15, 2025, p. a12

Sergio Pérez's future could be back in Formula 1. According to various reports, the Mexican driver has reached an agreement with the Cadillac team, and the official announcement will come after the Hungarian Grand Prix, which will be held on August 3.