Mexican gymnast Alexa Moreno during her participation in Tokyo 2020.TATYANA ZENKOVICH / EFE
Alexa Moreno (Mexicali, 27 years old) became the best Mexican gymnast of all time in Tokyo.
Coach Alfredo Hueto's student won fourth place with determination and with her own resources.
Moreno's merit, however, is far from being the product of a state policy.
Moreno will take time to ponder if he will compete in the next Olympic cycle, the one in Paris 2024.
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"It's not that we need more Alexas Moreno, but we need better gymnasts than Alexa Moreno," the Mexican said at a press conference. “We need a system that works. In Mexico we are in gymnastics kindergarten. We need gyms that are at a true elite level, ”he said. Moreno finished fourth in the horse jumping event, just short of finishing in that third place. The perception of the judges gave the bronze to the South Korean Seojong Yeo, less than a tenth of the Mexican. "We gave everything we could, it was not in me, I think I did an excellent role, I feel very satisfied with my participation," said the Mexican on Tuesday. "My best prognosis was sixth place, fourth place was the best result I could have," he added.
The road to Tokyo was encouraging for the Mexicali-born when she reached a third place in the Gymnastics World Cup in Doha, Qatar, in 2018. However, the Mexican began to accumulate injuries, including one in the shoulder that marginalized her until 2021 The health emergency of the coronavirus deprived Alexa Moreno of competing for two years. "For the athletes who were at the highest point of the cycle of our form and having [the Games] a year later was more difficult physically and mentally."
"In Mexico there is no system, there is no structure for gymnastics," synthesized Alfredo Hueto, who has worked in Mexico since 2010. "The enemy is at home," criticized the Spaniard before the shortcomings of Mexican gymnasts.
“You have to keep training to have more presence.
We need a higher level to be generated from below.
Training is needed for coaches.
Support in the conditions to try to equalize the conditions of the countries that have everything.
Let our own judges fight for our participation ”, Moreno considered.
Mexico added four bronze medals, one less than in Rio 2016, in its last Olympic Games, in a turbulent cycle due to low investment in sport and hit by the covid-19 pandemic.
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