Find out how are all the countries in the region that will compete in the Olympic Games, which start in a week
Although precious metals have been elusive, Central Americans do not lose hope of repeating in Tokyo-2020 feats that Costa Rica, Panama and, more recently, Guatemala once achieved.
In a region with little Olympic tradition and permanently hit by economic crisis, it is the athletes’ families who, mainly, drive their children in their dreams of representing their country in the Olympic Games.
Guatemala and her marching family
The chapines will be represented by 22 athletes in 10 disciplines. The most numerous is the march, with eight classified to Tokyo, among them the indigenous Erick Barrondo, the only winner of a silver medal for Guatemala in London-2012.
The team of marchers is made up of his wife Mirna Ortiz, his brother Uriel and his cousin Alejandro.
The sailor Juan Ignacio Meagli also attends, who has already represented Guatemala in London-2012 and Rio-2016.
It will have representatives in shooting, cycling, men’s 100-meter butterfly swimming, modern pentathlon, judo, men’s 5,000 meter sprint athletics and rowing.
In addition, Nikté Sotomayor will be the first woman to represent Guatemala in badminton.
Costa Rica also goes with the family
Of the twelve athletes who go to Tokyo to represent Costa Rica, five are family projects, as they are trained by their parents.
They are Andrea and Noelia Vargas (hurdler and walker), Leilani McGonagle (surfer), Luciana Alvarado (gymnast) and Ignacio Sancho (judoka).
Ten athletes qualified and two go by invitation. It is the largest number of classified athletes in the history of the country.
The Ticos have already touched the glory of the hand of the sisters Claudia and Sylvia Poll, in swimming. Claudia won gold at Atlanta-1996 and then two bronzes at Sydney-2000 in 200 and 400m freestyle. Sylvia, meanwhile, achieved silver in Seoul-1988.
Panama, with faith in the police
The canaleros have only caressed the gold in Beijing-2008, with Irving Saladino in long jump. Earlier, in London-1948, sprinter Lloyd Labeach obtained bronze in 100 and 200 freestyle.
This time, his best card is the police and boxer Atheyna Bylon, 2014 world champion in South Korea. It will represent Panama in the 69 to 75 kg category.
They make up the list Alonso Edward, who will compete in the 200 meter dash; Gianna Woodruff, in the 400 meter hurdles; and Jorge Castelblanco in marathon. For his part, Christofer Jurado will compete in road cycling. There are 10 representatives in total.
“We have athletes with qualities to win medals,” said Juan Villaverde, Communications Director of the Panamanian Olympic Committee (COP).
Honduras trusts the ball
The Honduran delegation has as its main weapon the 22 members of its U-23 team, which qualified second to the tournament after Mexico. It is the fourth time in a row that men’s soccer has entered the tournament.
Leyla Ávila will participate in taekwondo, while Julimar Avila and Julio Horrego will participate in swimming.
Sprinter Melique García joins the squad. There are 26 in total, with everything and the football team.
El Salvador, with women’s fists
For the first time in its history, El Salvador has a woman in boxing: Argentina Solórzano, flyweight, ranked by ranking.
Enthusiasts, the swimmer Celina Márquez, champion, will go for the 100 and 200 meters breaststroke, while Marcelo Acosta will go for the 800 and 1,500 freestyle meters, and José Mijangos for the 200 meter sprint in athletics. All three agree by universality.
Meanwhile, Enrique Arathoon achieved the classification in sailing after finishing fourth at the Pan American Games in Lima-2019. Five athletes in total.
El Salvador has participated in eleven editions, Mexico-1968 being the first. They haven’t won any medals yet.
Nicaragua: The important thing is to participate
Nicaragua will assist with 8 athletes in the disciplines of swimming, athletics, judo, rowing, weightlifting and shooting, the highest number since Atlanta-1996, when baseball was included, said the spokesman for the Nicaraguan Olympic Committee (CON), Moisés Ávalos.
“It is the first time since the classification system has been in place that Nicaragua has done it in rowing, weights and judo with the same number of athletes,” he explained.
Two others go by invitation (air pistol and rowing) and universally one goes in athletics of 100 meters and two swimmers of 100 meters free.
“There is no possibility of medals in any of the disciplines, it is difficult,” admitted Ávalos.
SEE ALSO: Salvadoran athletes train intensely in Tokyo, on countdown
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