## Silver and Bronze for Mexico in Paris 2024 Olympics
### Mexico’s Historic Victory in Team Archery and Judo
The Mexican archers Alejandra Valencia, Ana Vázquez, and Ángela Ruiz made history by winning the first-ever Olympic team medal for Mexico in the Women’s Team Archery event. Additionally, the judoka Prisca Awiti came close to capturing gold but brought home a silver medal in the under 63 kilograms category at the Paris 2024 Olympics, falling in the final to Slovakia’s Andreja Leski.
Prisca Awiti, who was born in London and holds Mexican nationality, marked a significant milestone by earning Mexico’s first-ever medal in judo, securing the nation’s second medal in Paris after the archery bronze. The Champs de Mars Arena witnessed Awiti’s valiant effort as she triumphed in four of her five matches, adding to Mexico’s Olympic tally, which now includes 75 medals in total, 25 of which are silver, with 17 being from individual female athletes.
Awiti’s journey to the silver began with victories against Nigara Shaheen (Refugee Olympic Team), Angelika Szymanska (Poland), and Lubjana Piovesana (Austria). She defeated Croatia’s Katharia Kristo in the semifinals before losing to Leski. This silver medal extends Mexico’s presence in the Olympic medal count to 18 different disciplines. Prisca Awiti joins the esteemed ranks of Pilar Roldán, Ana Gabriela Guevara, Belém Guerrero, Aída Román, Paola Espinosa-Alejandra Orozco, and others as silver medalists in Olympic history.
The National Commission for Physical Culture and Sport (Conade), under the leadership of Ana Gabriela Guevara, has provided substantial support to Mexican judo since 2019, with investments exceeding 46 million pesos by mid-2024. Awiti acknowledged Conade’s vital role in her success, expressing gratitude for the support that enabled her to compete internationally and secure the silver medal.
### Team Archery Triumphs with Historic Bronze
In team archery, Alejandra Valencia, Ana Vázquez, and Ángela Ruiz secured a historic bronze medal for Mexico. They achieved this feat by defeating the Dutch team, comprising Gaby Schloesser (who represented Mexico in Rio 2016), Quinty Roeffen, and Laura Van Der Winkel, with a score of 6-2. This victory illuminated the City of Light with the colors of the Mexican flag.
Valencia, Vázquez, and Ruiz, who celebrated her 18th birthday on the day of the event, earned a medal that will be cherished in Mexico’s sports history. Since Los Angeles 1932, Mexico has consistently won at least one medal in each Summer Olympic Games attended. This bronze marks the fourth medal in archery for Mexico following the successes of Aída Román, Mariana Avitia in London 2012, and the mixed team bronze of Valencia with Luis Álvarez in Tokyo 2020.
Valencia, now a four-time Olympic medalist, emphasized the team’s synchronized efforts and the importance of mutual trust and collaboration. She acknowledged the growing expertise of her younger teammates and highlighted the potential for future successes.
### Near Miss for Gymnast Alexa Moreno
In gymnastics, Baja Californian Alexa Moreno narrowly missed qualifying for the Vault final, finishing ninth with a score of 13.949. The top eight gymnasts advance to the final, but due to the rule limiting no more than two athletes per country, Alexa remains an alternate should any finalist be unable to compete.
Reflecting on her performance, Alexa mentioned the risk she took on the Balance Beam and her determination to leave it all on the floor, unsure if she would compete again. Meanwhile, Natalia Escalera, also from Baja California, expressed her gratitude and determination despite suffering an injury prior to her competition in the uneven bars.
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### Additional Updates from Paris 2024
**Marco Verde Secures Fourth Medal for Mexico**
Mexican athlete Marco Verde captured the country’s fourth medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics, further solidifying Mexico’s presence on the international stage. Verde’s win adds another significant achievement to Mexico’s already successful participation in this year’s games.
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