Olympic Games A medal and more Olympic diplomas: the projections of the Chilean team in Paris 2024

In just four days, the first of 48 representatives of the Chilean team will make its debut at the Paris Olympic Games. This is Andrés Gallardo, who will make his archery debut this Thursday. With him begins the hope of the national representatives to emerge from 16 years of medal drought. Since Fernando González’s silver medal in Beijing 2008 Creole athletes were close, being The two fourth places of Tomás González at London 2012 and the fourth place of Guillermo Pereira in Tokyo are the clearest opportunities.

In the French capital, hopes will be reborn. The conviction of obtaining a medal increases and within the Olympic Committee there is also enthusiasm for this possibility. Miguel Ángel Mujica, president of the entity, is convinced that the Japanese production of three years ago can be surpassed. “In Tokyo it was a very special number, there was a different atmosphere. I was devastated. I don’t blame that, but I think it had a certain influence. “Paris is going to be something else” emphasizes the helmsman.

In this sense, he believes that it is a more favorable scenario. “We have 48 athletes, 22 of them are making their debut, but they have good records. While among those who have already left, many have a history and deserve a diploma or something more” he maintains. And he declares: “We think there might be some medals, but what I am sure of is that there will be more Olympic diplomas than in Tokyo.”

Regarding this last aspect, in the Japanese capital only Golfer Mito Pereira (4th), wrestler Yasmani Acosta (5th) and BMX cyclist Macarena Pérez (8th) received diplomas The chances of Mujica’s prediction coming true are therefore high.

Among the Chilean personalities most likely to win a medal are: Francisca Crovetto. The skeet shooter arrives in Paris with the great encouragement of having won gold at the Pan American Games and stand out in the World Cups, both individually and in pairs, alongside Héctor Flores. In addition, she has the experience of having participated in three other editions of the ring event, whose best result was obtained in London 2012, where she finished eighth. With this important legacy and now without the legendary Kimberly Rhode, among others, the San Miguel native is rising in power.

Hopes in golf They are centered on Joaquín Niemann and to a lesser extent on Mito Pereira. The type of terrain that will be in Paris greatly benefits Talagantino’s game who finished tenth in Tokyo. Although Pircano has had an irregular season and has introduced some changes to its clubs to overcome its problems in the Green.

On the other hand, in tennis there is a lot of excitement about the stellar moment of Alejandro Tabilo, who is the current number one in Chile and 20th in the world. The left-hander is having the best season of his career, having won titles in Auckland and Mallorca. He is very confident and the clay of Roland Garros, the venue for the Olympic Games, seems like a natural motivation.

“Alejandro is having a great time, he has won titles on all surfaces, he recently won a tournament on grass, at the beginning of the year he won on hard court. Then he is ready to be able to develop on any surface. The good news is that at the Olympics, it’s three-set matches. So, I think he has a significant chance, I can’t give you a number, but he has a significant and real chance to come back with a medal.” said Fernando Gonzalez.

The case of Nicolas Jarry, 23rd in the world, is more complex. Vestibular neuritis has affected his balance and he has only had one match in his body in the last two months. The Chilean flag bearer was eliminated in two previous tournaments to continue treating this disease and be fit for the event, where he will also play doubles with Tabilo. Both tennis players know the sport very well and, even though they have hardly played together, they look good in the fight for a medal. As long as Nico is recovered.

On another side, Yasmani Acosta is still a medal card. He showed it at Tokyo 2020 and now he’s looking for revenge in Paris. He is one of the strongest fighters in the world, but his biggest obstacle has almost always been the Cuban legend Mijaín López, the best representative of all time and who will seek in the French capital his fifth consecutive Olympic gold medal. It will also depend on your luck in the box. That yes, He arrives with good feelings after beating Óscar Pino in the final of the Pan American Games in Acapulco, avenging his defeat against the Cuban in Santiago 2023.

“I have a lot more experience, I’m more focused, I learn more from the mistakes I’ve made, from those details. I try not to leave anything to the referee’s decision, because we, being Americans, are always a little more aggrieved. “I’m trying to be more aggressive, to look for points.” commented a few days ago the Chilean athlete nationalized Cuban in an interview with Sporty .

“I didn’t get my Olympic diploma, I don’t know where it is. I don’t feel like I’m the winner of an Olympic diploma, because my mentality was not to aim for fourth place or to go and participate, I was aiming for medals. I don’t know if my diploma is at the Olympic Committee and I don’t want it either. I was aiming for the Olympic medal in Tokyo and now I have the same mentality. This is my request, my goal and my own challenge.” he confessed.

On the other hand, María José Mailliard appears as a last option in the C1 200 canoe. The national exponent has several World Cup medals. Unlike the previous edition, his partner this time in the C2 500 is Paula Gómez, while Her former partner Karen Roco will only compete in singles.

Among the young cards of the competition, Martin Vidaurre hopes to improve on the 16th place he obtained in Tokyo in mountain biking. Today, having become one of the great figures of the discipline, he aspires to fight for higher positions. A similar situation exists Macarena Perez, who aims to improve on his eighth position in the previous edition.

On another side, Triathlete Diego Moya, 30th in Tokyo, is betting on a bigger jump at 25. It is approved by third place at the World Cup in Australia this season. A few weeks ago, I said in these pages what performances he expected. “In these Olympics, either I do very well and do something extraordinary, or I do very badly. “I think those are the two possible outcomes. Obviously I hope to come out on top and do something extraordinary,” he revealed.

“I go with a lot of confidence, because today we all have the same physical condition, it’s just that the difference in the smallest details is the most mental part. So with that, I think I’m going to work hard to get there in the best possible way and be able to leave Chile on top,” he added.

In contact sports, projection is also important. Judoka Mary Dee Vargas hopes to improve on her ninth-place finish in Tokyo. She arrives with the confidence of having won the double championship in the -48 kilo category at the Pan American Championships in Rio de Janeiro this year.

The cousins ​​experience a similar scenario. Marco and Esteban Grimalt who qualified thanks to the country quota obtained. They arrive with the motivation of having won bronze last weekend at the Beach Pro Tour Elite 16 in Vienna. Of course, they will make their group stage debut against the Olympic champions, Norwegians Anders Mol and Christian Sorum.

Eventually, sisters Antonia and Melita Abraham They will make their debut in the event after being dramatically excluded from Tokyo. Their projections aim to reach the final in W2. Even if, according to the specialists, His best moment will be in Los Angeles 2028 an event they should reach at the peak of their career.

“In Paris, I see them with an Olympic diploma and in 28, if they continue to work with the same enthusiasm, they will be able to take the big leap, because it is the moment of the best maturity. and now, compared to last year, they already have that maturity, that security of having participated in a world championship final. They are already visible. So it is a matter of continuing to work and being patient and the opportunity will come and when it comes, we will have to know how to take advantage of it,” predicted Bienvenido Front, the former historic head coach of the national rowing team, who also prepared them for the event in recent months.

Other disciplines looking to improve their ranking are athletics, where Martillo throwers Gabriel Kehr and Humberto Mansilla They aspire to the top ten. During archery Andres Gallardo bet on a surprise.