The imaginary curtains of the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Antwerp were closed with the note given by the spectacular American Simon Biles, who returned to the top of the high competition after two sabbatical years.
The only Cuban presence, as far as competitors are concerned in the Belgian event, the young Diorges Escobar could not advance, once again highlighting the clear decline of that beautiful sport on the Island, since there were no Cuban women in the competition either.
However, a Cuban coach who was despised and practically forced into exile,Carlos Rafael Gil achieved something incredible for Panama, her current country of residence: one of its athletes, in her own right, obtained a ticket to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Full of joy, the young technician agrees to our interview from the plane that took him to Brazil.
First, thank you very much for your congratulations Julita and second, greet the friends who sinceCyberCuba They have always supported usmy wife Yareimi and me.
What to tell you? We are very happy.Hillary Heron She won her Olympic spot by placing tenth in the AA competition, which, as you know, grants 14 spots to gymnasts who did not belong to any of the 12 countries classified by team. She accumulated 50,550 points, which is a source of pride for us and in general for sports and the Panamanian people. Even Rubén Blades posted our classification
We feel very happy, for us, for her, for the country. The greatest satisfaction we can feel is seeing how adolescents and young people achieve their dreams and more, when we can help them fulfill those dreams.
We are focused on achieving other Olympic qualifications, whether in the Pan American Games or the World Cups.
I remember that Panama was previously represented in the Olympic Games by Isabela Amado but it was through a wild card granted by the Olympic Committee and the International Sports Federation so that there is greater representation of nations, but in this case Hillary won it on the mat. .
That's how it is. Hillary performed an element created by Simone Biles on the floor, coincidentally 10 years ago and on the same stage, Antwerp. Luckily for us, no one else had done it: a double somersault extended back with a half twist, with a high degree of difficulty, G. I think it was something very satisfying for the gymnast because she managed to attract the attention of many and this in this sport is important.
Gymnastics is a sport of appreciation and you have to make yourself known for something that impacts and also for repetition, being present in many of the main competitions.
I repeat: for me the World Cup was spectacular, super, I enjoyed it to the fullest. It was a goal for us to return to this level and luckily we achieved it in a short time and with the participation of three gymnasts who qualified in May at the Pan American Championships of the sport.
Regarding competitions and training: they have done a good preparation and I know that they will continue it in Brazil, before the Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile.
We were in Belgium since September 15 with the aim of participating in the World Cup; First, we spent 10 days in Malmedy, a small Belgian state but with a great gym to train in and a very calm environment, ideal for preparing.
Three gymnasts made the trip with me: Hillary Heron, Karla Navas (19 years old) and Lana Hera (16) as well as the therapist Ricardo Sánchez. On the 26th we arrived in Antwerp, the World Cup headquarters.
The competition was the first day and then we continued taking advantage of the facilities to continue preparing for the Pan American Games in Santiago de Chile 2023, which begin on October 16.
Panama is going with a full team, right?
Of course. Yareimi joins the preparation of the entire team in Brazil with a view to the Pan American Games, which in our case takes place from October 22 to 25. Next to her will be Valentina Brostella and Celia Kuriakus and we will all be in the South American Giant until October 15 since on the 16th we enter the Pan American Village.
I want to say Julita that all this participation and preparation is due to the support of the Olympic Committee and the Panama Gymnastics Federation and the athletes' own parents.
What objectives do you have for Chile?
We want to continue making history for Panama, look for a medal that would be the first. Our initial goal was already achieved, which was to compete for the first time with a full team, whose classification was historic.
In addition, we intend to be in the apparatus finals and also position ourselves among the best in the maximum accumulator (AA). In addition to this, look for the place that is at stake for Paris 2024, either with Karla Navas, current champion of the Central American Games and the Caribbean or with the young girl Lana Herrera. I think we are in a position to also achieve a good position as a team.
Taking into account that teams like the United States, Canada, Brazil and Argentina, among others, are powers, I think that a placement in the top five countries would be a great achievement. It is a real shame that Cuba is not in the women's contest, not even with a female participant; It is sad that athletes pay for the inconsistencies of those who must look after them and their results.
Your statement is not unreasonable, as I told you as a team we will fight to be among the top five.
As for Cuba, I already told you that its only representative did not advance. He is a very talented boy who could still qualify for Paris in both the Pan American Games and the World Cups; I hope they support him and take him to the Cup circuit, not only Diorges but some of the other guys who are on the team and could opt for the places.
When and where would the Cups take place?
In the months of February and March 2024 in Baku, Egypt, Qatar and Stuttgart.
I don't want to be pessimistic but the way Cuba is currently, I don't think even one of them can qualify. I hope they get their ticket to Chile, where a full men's team will attend.
We can leave the interview open while waiting for the results of the Pan American Games, although I can already tell you that 2023 has been a spectacular year for us: professionally it marks the return to high competition and great results, and personally, the long-awaited arrival of our baby and the stability that we are achieving in Panama, thanking all the support we are having: This makes us think every day about much more ambitious goals and objectives.
What do you think?
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