Mexico finished its participation in the Paralympic Games in Rio 2016 with 15 medals, to finish in the position 29 in the overall standings. Edgar Navarro was the only Mexican athlete who won two medals, silver and bronze, in different track and field competitions.
Meanwhile, Mexican swimming stars such as Gustavo Sanchez, Juan Ignacio Reyes and Doramitzi González, among others, confirmed their supremacy. Same thing for Maria Degli Angeli in track and field; Amalia Ortiz Perez in powerlifting; and Lenia Ruvalcaba and Eduardo Avila in Judo.
However, the national delegation could not overcome the mark of 21 medals established in London 2012 (6 gold /4 silver /11 bronze) or the 20 medals in Beijing 2008 (10 gold / 3 silver / 7 bronze), the two most recent paralympics, where Mexico had a remarkable performance.
In Montreal 1976, Mexico attended the Paralympic Games for the first time, and brought home 45 medals (16-14-15); but was in Seoul 1988 where our country had a historic performance with 51 medals (26-19-6), it is so far the best Mexican Paralympics representation ever.
Maria de los Angeles Ortiz won the gold in shot put category F56-57 (Photo: Notimex)
This year in Rio de Janeiro, Mexican athletes won a total of 15 medals, of which four were gold, two silver and nine bronze.
Gold winners were Maria de los Angeles Ortiz shot put F56-57; Lenia Ruvalcaba up to 70 kilos in judo; Eduardo Avila in judo to 81 kilos, and Amalia Perez in powerlifting less than 55 kilos.
While silver medalists were Edgar Navarro in 400 meters T51 and Luis Zepeda in the javelin F53-54.
Bronze medal winners are, Edgar Navarro in 100 meters T51, Salvador Hernandez in 100 meters T52, Rebecca Valenzuela shot put F11-12, Catalina Diaz in powerlifting -86 kilos and Jose Castillo in powerlifting -97 kilos.
Also with bronze, Pedro Rangel in 100 meter breaststroke SB5, Patricia Valle 50 meter breaststroke swimming SB3, Jesus Hernandez in the 50 meters S4 and Nely Miranda in the 50 freestyle S4.
The youngest competitor was the swimmer Raul Martinez, 16 years old, while the oldest was Erika Baitenmann, 60.
(The T and F numeric references designate the various degrees of disability of the competitors.)
Source: http://www.jornada.unam.mx/
