There are no defeats without learning. That’s what elite athletes agree on. Johana Ordóñez (walking), Luisa Valverde (wrestling), José Acevedo (karate), Vanessa Chalá (judo), Dominic ‘Mimi’ Barona (surfing) and Emiliano Riofrío (table tennis) when asking them what negative sporting situation or special wish they will burn this year that is less than 24 hours away from ending.
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And it is that in the competition, 2022 was crucial. For the first time in history, two events of the Olympic cycle were held in the same year –Bolivarian Games and South American Games-, that without counting World Cups, Latin Americans and many more international events. But this is sport. All clarify that the rematch is served. 2023 is the prelude to the Paris 2024 Games.
JOHANNA ORDÓÑEZ (MARCH)
“A problem that has been afflicting sport not only this year, but for a long time, is the Lack of sponsorship from private companies for walking and sports in general, that’s what I’d like to burn. Much remains to be done. In my case, this has meant that the opportunities to travel to train or compete are limited. Currently in the country the smallest categories of the march has very few representatives with great projection, they are scarce, I would dare to say counted on the fingers of one hand and that worries. I believe that as Ecuadorians we should think about the future, since there will come a time when the country will run out of marchers. Although today we are enjoying good results and we are even considered a world power, that will not be forever”.
LUISA VALVERDE (FIGHT)
“I think I wouldn’t burn anything, not even the injuries I had, since all this led me to prepare better for the following tournaments and come back stronger. For example, in the South American Games I was injured, I dislocated my clavicle and I couldn’t compete in the World Cup, however in these two months of recovery I feel that the work I did has been excellent and that I had to live that to be able to improve and learn. Maybe I would get rid of having changed categories because I really wanted to win a place in the ranking, but I did it to give a place to another teammate.
JOSÉ ACEVEDO (KARATE)
“Despite the fact that 2022 has been a very good year, I would burn the result of the Pan American Championship in Curacao. I remember that he had just won the South American tournament, so he was the favorite and had high expectations, even so, in the end none of that happened. Then came incredible results like the gold in the Bolivarian Games and in the South Americans. As for injuries, I can’t complain because thank God I haven’t had one. For next year I hope to continue like this (healthy), the Pan American Games in Chile In the case of my sport, it is a top event, since karate is not on the program of the Olympic Games, it will be as if it were. In January I start my preparation”.
VANESSA CHALÁ (JUDO)
“I would like to burn some fights that I lost for technical errors or lack of preparation. One of them was the semifinal of the South American Games in Asuncion, Paraguay, where I lost by lack of physical condition. I got very tired and let the classification go to the final; Worst of all, it was very important because it held the title of champion of the previous edition of those Games (Cochabamba, Bolivia 2018), hence it hurt much more. But that’s the way sport is and it gives you revenge.
In this new year, I look forward to starting on the right foot, well focused, because it is a very important year that will help me obtain the qualify for Olympic Games. I start my preparation in January and start with the European tour. I am looking forward to receiving 2023 with all the energy and excitement of a new cycle”.
DOMINIC ‘MIMI’ BARONA (SURF)
“It may seem like a trifle, but I would burn all the long waits that I had this year in the airports. In the case of athletes -and mine especially- this loss of time often made me arrive at a competition on time, just hours from entering the sea in international events. These situations are very hard at a sporting level. They reduce your concentration and the strength with which you can arrive. On injuries, there is one that I am struggling with (on my back) and I know that the effort and dedication that I am putting into my recovery will make me overcome it little by little… today I am where I am (Latin American champion 2022) thanks to all the vivid; she left me a lot of learning and happiness ”.
EMILIANO RIOFRÍO (TENNIS OF THE MONTH)
“I would get rid of third place in the 2022 South American Games. Although it was a podium for Ecuador, I think that with my playing duo, Alberto Miño, we could have reached a better position. And it is that we missed the silver medal, and even the gold, against the duo from Chile, the same one we had defeated in the Bolivarian Games at the beginning of the year. That is why the result hurts and I would like to burn it. In addition, if we had obtained a better location we would have achieved direct classification to the Panamerican Games of Santiago 2023, but since it was not possible now we must fight for the place in the South American Championship and later in an official Qualifier. The goal is alive.”
