This is how Mexican athletes reacted to the postponement of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games

This Tuesday, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Organizing Committee of Tokyo announced that 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games to be postponed to 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic. Given this, Mexican athletes have been disappointed by the decision.

In interview with Fox Sports, diver Rommel Pacheco said that the IOC made a great decision. "I think it is a prudent decision to wait because that way we avoid contact and because athletes we cannot be training properly. If the (Olympic) Games had been held this summer, they would not have been at the level required. ”, he pointed.

Instead, Jahir Ocampo, partner of Pacheco on synchronized dives, he didn't take the news in the best way. “(The news) fell on me like a bucket of cold water. I honestly didn't think they were going to be postponed that long, I thought it would only be for a few months; I didn't see it that way, until the next year, ”he assured.

Too the runner Paola Morán stressed that she was already waiting for such a decision. “In these last weeks he saw himself coming, a month ago I would never have expected it. As the panorama has changed around the world, it was seen to come ”, declared for the newspaper Brand.

“I was very excited to compete this summer at the Olympics, I was very excited, it is something that no one expected, I am still processing. But on the other hand it will give us time to do a better preparation, this extra year can benefit me a lot to continue improving aspects and arrive in a better way ”, assured the athlete.

Goalkeeper Mariana Avitia He acknowledged that it was a difficult measure to take and assured that the IOC was slow to decide. "It is a difficult decision because there is a lot to play for. Postponing them is difficult both for the host country and at the same time for the International Olympic Committee. Maybe it took a little while, but it was to see if what was happening was solved a little, "he stressed for the newspaper. ACE.

“Seeing that it is affecting everyone and that it prevents athletes from preparing, who lose training, concentration and all that, because it was the best decision to postpone it. SIf they did it on the dates it was going to be, many athletes were not going to be physically and mentally prepared. Suspending them for a year is a better decision, "he said.

Who also spoke was the triple Olympic medalist, María del Rosario Espinoza. The taekwondoin assured that the decision was correct because there were no conditions for training.

"It is a situation that worried me because we were all at home to prevent this pandemic situation and we do not train the same and it was logical to postpone it. Postponement is understood for the well-being of all athletes and to arrive in good condition, "he explained to Brand.

The 33-year veteran acknowledged that her plans changed, as 2020 was her last year as a high-performance athlete.”My plans continue for Tokyo. Yes it lengthens, but I am very aware, I had already planned that this year would be my last year of competition, "he said.

By last, Iván Bautista, Mexican diving coach, noted that it was sad news. “It is sad news, in some way it was already expected and to abide by indications and reschedule the planning for the Olympic Games; we are assimilating this situation"He clarified in an interview with Brand.

He recalled that there are Mexicans with places won to compete in Tokyo, such as Paola Espinosa and Melanie Hernández in synchronized 3 meters. Thus, expect the IOC to respect these places. “We ended this season, it was very good, Olympic places were obtained. In 15 days we will start a new season heading to Tokyo ”he added.