The weightlifter from Valle del Cauca spoke for his fellow delegation members who have not achieved their goal in the Paris 2024 games.
News Sports.
Luis Javier Mosquera was one of the great hopes of the Colombian delegation to get a medal at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games that will end next Sunday, August 11.
The weightlifter from Valle del Cauca obtained fifth place in the men’s 73 kilogram weightlifting competition with a mark of 340 kilograms and had to settle for an Olympic diploma. Although that was not his goal, he feels satisfied with what he has done since the Olympic cycle he faced “it wasn’t easy at all.”
See: The 5 gold medals that Colombian athletes have won in the history of the Olympic Games
So far in the Olympics, Colombia has only won one medal, the silver medal in Angel Barajas in the discipline of the high barso the athletes who are part of the delegation, as well as the directors of the Colombian Olympic Committee (IOC)have received criticism and questions for their performance in the competitions.
In response to these barbs that many of his colleagues and friends have had to dodge, Mosquera has been very emphatic in saying that none of the athletes in the delegation should be judged: “Don’t judge those who don’t win medals, this is tough.”
“First, know that qualifying is hard. And second, you can’t imagine the pressure you feel after all the hard training you’ve done to achieve a goal…” said the weightlifter who has won a silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics and a bronze medal at Rio 2016.
“To the Olympic athletes who were not successful, do not be discouraged. Being here makes us winners, you can say that we are satisfied with that, but no,” Luis Javier Mosquera
“To the Olympic athletes who were not successful, do not be discouraged. Being here makes us winners, you can say that we are satisfied with that, but no,” Luis Javier Mosquera 🇨🇴 with a GREAT message to the athletes and those who criticize them. #Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/paLp4ehS3s
— Alfonso Hernandez (@AlfonsoH) August 8, 2024
Asked whether his performance at the Olympics was a matter of mentality, Luis Javier Mosquera was clear: “You can’t imagine the pain I’m in! My back, knee, shoulders, elbows are all aching! We are under immense pressure, and seeing so much criticism for every Colombian athlete is not fair.”
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