Swimmer Andrés Puente helped boost Mexico’s medal haul at the Pan American Games, in a sport in which continental powers increasingly impose their power on others.

Puente, 22, won the bronze medal in the 200-meter breaststroke final Monday with a time of 2:11.99, 1 second and 28 tenths faster than Jacob Foster, the American who won. Canadian Brayden Taivassalo won silver.

“I couldn’t see the picture, I had doubts. But when I saw my teammates celebrating, I said to myself ‘well, a little medal,'” Puente said after the race. “The truth is that it’s an honor to be able to contribute to the medal table.” It’s a better moment for me, so I’m very happy.”

His medal joins the bronze of Miguel de Lara (100 meters breaststroke) and the silvers of Jorge Iga (200 meters freestyle) and María Mata (200 meters butterfly).

Mexico is fourth in the swimming medal table, far behind powerhouses the United States, Canada and Brazil.

“The United States and Canada are great rivals, great adversaries. But little by little we are giving our grain of sand to the national team and I hope that this will motivate future generations of Mexico to follow this sport,” Puente said.

The preparation of Mexican aquatic athletes for this sporting event was seriously affected by the lack of scholarships in the midst of conflict between the National Commission of Physical Culture and Sports (CONADE), which controls the federal budget, in full conflict with World Aquatics.

The world governing body has not recognized the authorities of the Mexican swimming federation and is demanding new elections.

“There’s really no support. It is family members, relatives, private companies that sponsor aquatic athletes in Mexico,” lamented the medalist. “It’s a shame, but we hope the next government will bring change.”