Mexican athletes take inspiration from the Pan American Games in Santiago.

Approaching the halfway point of the 19th edition of the continental event, the Mexicans are still engaged in a duel with Canada for second place in the overall medal standings.

Thursday was another brilliant day for the Mexican delegation, with its women as gladiators.

—Paola Longoria won the 11th title of her successful Pan American racquetball career.

—Yarely Acevedo was proclaimed omnium of track cycling.

—Alejandra Zavala added her second gold medal to the range this week by winning the 10-meter air pistol category.

—With sisters Catherine and Mayan Oliver, the women’s relays retained the monopoly on modern pentathlon, with four victories for Mexico.

The succession of victories allowed Mexico to regain second place in the medal table, a day after the Canadians ousted them from that place.

Mexico’s record is 30 gold medals and a total of 70. Canada finished third with 29 gold medals and a total of 83.

Mexican leaders are delighted with the harvest.

“The delegation is playing a big role and I congratulate them because they are bringing out the caste,” said María José Alcalá, president of the Mexican Olympic Committee.

Before arriving in Santiago, Alcalá estimated that the Mexicans could win around 33 gold medals. Such a goal is within our reach.

And all this in the context of tense relations with the National Commission of Physical Culture and Sports, the Mexican government body that controls economic resources, and which has left aquatic athletes without scholarships.

“I’m lucky to have these kinds of athletes, they are forward-thinking athletes who don’t fear difficult times,” added Alcalá.

MEDAL TABLEThe United States comes out on top with a total of 59 golds and 139 medals overall.

Behind the Mexicans and Canadians, Brazil is in fourth place with 14 gold medals and a total of 66 medals. Next come Colombia (6 and 29), host Chile (5 and 28), the Dominican Republic (4 and 12) and former continental power Cuba (3 and 13).

The Dominican Republic vibrated after revalidating the women’s volleyball title after eliminating Brazil 3-0 in the final. The “Queens of the Caribbean” remain in tune, one month after qualifying for Paris 2024 by placing first in a pre-Olympic tournament organized in Ningbo, China.

THE PHRASE“At one point it was frustrating to be at the peak of my career and not be able to win an Olympic medal. Then I realized that things happen for a reason.

It was the lament of Longoria, the best racquetball player in history and one of the winningest athletes at the Pan American Games. He will never be able to participate in the Olympic Games because this sport is not included in the program of said competitions.

The 34-year-old Mexican closed her participation in Santiago 2023 with two gold medals, the last team medal obtained on Thursday, bringing the total number of gold medals in her career to 11. She was thus one distance away from the historic record in the hands of Canadian Denise Parker, a retired archer.

THE DATABolivia has only won three gold medals in the history of the Pan American Games. Racquetball player Conrrado Moscoso participated in all of them. The world number one in singles and his partner Carlos Keller revalidated the Pan American team title after beating Canada.

AND AFTERFriday will feature a cascade of 24 medals to be won, including 13 boxing finals – eight for men and five for women. Boxing is the sport that defines the most venues in Santiago for the Paris Olympic Games next year.

In addition, track cycling will distribute its last five titles at the Parque Peñalolén velodrome. Beach volleyball will have its finals in both branches and the modern pentathlon will culminate with the men’s relay.