Photos: Max Pérez

Racquetball players Ana Gabriela Martínez, Edwin Galicia and Juan Salvatierra spent the morning speaking to the media following their successes at the just concluded Santiago 2023 Pan American Games.

Martínez, who won women’s doubles gold and team bronze with María Renée Rodríguez, spoke for both because her partner resides in the United States.

“I am happy to be able to share with all Guatemalans my feelings about this victory which is not only for us, but for everyone. It is a goal no longer achieved, because for years María Renée and I woke up with the discipline and the dream of achieving something like this and now it is time to rethink the goals and start fighting for something again,” said the Pan American champion.

“My partner and I have been competing together for about 10 years and we had reached around 20 finals to win this title, which fills us with emotion because we grew up together in this sport and makes me proud because she has improved and his priorities are in his place,” added the athlete.

Likewise, Galicia and Salvatierra expressed their approval for a historic medal for the men’s branch.

“It’s an accumulation of feelings that intersect, because when we won the medal for the first time with Juan, we didn’t think it was the first, until they told us and we let’s start celebrating it with intensity,” recalled Galicia.

“It’s been a difficult road for us. As it is not an Olympic sport, the Pan American Games become the most important tournament for us and by achieving this result we are proud to bring this medal to the country,” said Salvatierra.

“Satisfaction is not reserved for just one, because behind it there are many people who support, both at the technical and administrative level; There are also outside people who are always aware of our results and the satisfaction of being able to give them joy,” added Galicia.