Tokyo 2020: Five Latino Athletes Seeking Olympic Gold

Every four years one of the sporting events that manages to bring together thousands and thousands of athletes from different disciplines is organized: the Olympic Games. And is that as many know, in view of the inconveniences that arose in 2020 due to the pandemic, these games had to be postponed for a whole year, pending whether or not it could be carried out in 2021. However, the enormous effort part of the organizers made it possible for Tokyo to host the most important Olympic event in the world from July 23 to August 8.

In the previous Olympics, held in Rio de Janeiro in 2016, a total of 11,551 athletes from 207 countries participated, a figure that for this occasion will be slightly reduced. Also, in that edition, countries like Brazil, Cuba, Colombia, Argentina, and Puerto Rico were the only ones in Latin America to hang a gold medal; without neglecting the good performances of Mexico, Venezuela, and the Dominican Republic that were very close to reaching first place on the podium.

Also read: Why do Colombian cyclists Dominate the Mountain Stages?

This will be the second time that the Japanese capital will host an Olympic Games after the one held in 1964. In total there will be 339 events divided into 33 disciplines, of which five will be making their debut. Given this, we have prepared a list of five Latino athletes who have a high chance of getting a gold medal in this edition. Passion, dedication, and discipline are just three qualities that these characters have in common, who will do everything possible to sound their national anthem at the top of the podium.

Yulimar Rojas

Venezuela has in this 25-year-old one of the most hard-working and consistent Olympic athletes in recent years. Yulimar's career makes her the favorite to win the gold medal in the triple jump since during Rio 2016 she won the silver after an even duel against Colombian Caterine Ibargüen. To this, we must add the gold in the World Championships (2017 and 2019) and in the World Indoor Championships (2016 and 2018), where she set the current world record. In 2020 she was chosen as the best female athlete of the year by the World Athletics.

Delfina Pignatiello

Without a doubt, Argentina is one of the Latin countries with the most talent for sports. For Tokyo 2020, the focus of attention will be on swimming, a discipline that will have this 21-year-old girl as the Argentine hope to obtain a gold medal. From an early age, Delfina began to show her skills in the pool in important competitions, but it was in 2018 when she won her first two silver medals at the Youth Olympic Games in the 400 and 800 meters freestyle. In fact, in the last Pan American Games in Lima, the swimmer became the first from her country to add three gold medals in that event.

Mariana Pajon

Cycling in its BMX modality has as its highest representative in Latin America this talented Colombian. The one born in Medellín has in her career two gold medals in a row, in London 2012 and Rio 2016, so her projection in Tokyo indicates that she would be more than sure about hanging her third gold medal. Mariana is a true example to follow in Olympic sports because although she has suffered injuries during her life at no time has she thought about resigning, quite the opposite. The cyclist is the promising letter from Colombia to get on the podium.

Rommel Pacheco

Mexico will have among its flag bearers an innate athlete. The one born in Mérida, Yucatán, began his career as a diver at the age of seven, later obtaining the fruits of his work and effort. Rommel is backed by his three gold medals (2003 and 2015) and three silver (2003, 2007, and 2011) at the Pan American Games. Regarding the Olympics, the Mexican has participated in Athens 2004, Beijing 2008, and Rio 2016, reaching the final in all of them although without medals yet. The projections and his vast experience suggest that in Tokyo he will be able to get on the podium for the first time.

Mijain Lopez

When we talk about the glories of Cuban sports, the name of Mijaín López Núñez will always shine. This athlete is an expert in Greco-Roman wrestling, a discipline that has given him up to 16 medals (13 gold) between the Olympic Games, the Pan American Games, and the World Championships. It is worth noting that the Cuban has won gold in his three Olympic events: Beijing 2008, London 2012, and Rio 2016. All of Latin America will be attentive to what Mijaín does in Tokyo, as he will seek to break the record of Soviet Aleksandr Karelin and win the fourth medal golden to close his magnificent career in style.