In approximately one month (from February 6 to 22), mentions of the Mexican athletes who will represent Mexico at the Milano-Cortina Olympic Games in Italy will intensify. The focus will be on figure skating with Donovan Carrillo, cross-country skiing with Allan Corona and Regina Martínez, and alpine skiing with Sarah Schleper (plus another ticket TBA).
In the traditional flag ceremony of the Mexican delegation chaired by Claudia Sheinbaum, the opportunity was opened to question how the sports administration supports the athletes who do these sports. María José Alcalá, president of the Mexican Olympic Committee (COM) spoke to the media after the morning conference.
–What is the medal expectation of the Mexican delegation at the Milan Olympics?
—“They are sports that are developing, growing. Donovan has leadership on the ice rink and will seek to be in the finals. Also, Sarah, Regina and Allan will be trying to do their best. We demand that they give all their ability, intellect and desire to move forward. In a country that does not have such developed winter sports, I think that being in the Olympic Games is a great achievement. On January 18 we are waiting for the determination of the last place.”
–How does the COM support athletes traveling to Italy?
—“We are covering the issues to go to the Olympics, supporting, in part, Donovan for his classification systems. Both Allan and Regina will have their first participation. The Ski Federation and sponsors were strongly supporting. Sara Schleper and Donovan have an Olympic solidarity scholarship from the IOC. The monthly payment scholarships go above 1,000 dollars during the Olympic cycle (four years). They are established athletes that the IOC respects, appreciates. Now that we are in the Olympics, we will talk with countries to make collaboration agreements for training. We need to look for Mexicans abroad who can continue building.”
–Do winter sports athletes have Conade scholarships?
–“It is an answer that director Rommel Pacheco must give. I understand that they are already in talks to start supporting, I don’t think there is no will, sport has to continue adding efforts. We are looking for Olympic sport to develop.”
–What is being worked on in sports where Mexico does not have representation, such as hockey or curling?
–“This month the women’s and men’s hockey teams are going to camp, they continue training. In curling we must continue training coaches and athletes who can achieve it. There is no culture of winter sports.”
Donovan Carrillo attends his second Olympics with a new coach, French choreographer Benoit Richaud. While Regina Martínez and Allan Corona will experience their first Olympic event and the Mexican-American Sarah Schleper will compete in her seventh tournament, three of them with Mexico. The athlete told El Economista that her retirement has not been decided, and that she will probably follow another Olympic cycle (heading to the French Alps in 2030) to achieve the record of eight competitions. The winter athlete with the most Olympic appearances is Noriaki Kasai (1992, 1994, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014 and 2022).
