National Sport
Érick Barrondo gave an emotional speech to his fellow Olympic athletes
Guatemala’s first Olympic medalist spoke at a press conference welcoming his fellow athletes.
Érick Barrondo with his fellow athletes on August 14. (Photo Prensa Libre: Érick Ávila)
All of Guatemala experienced moments of jubilation this Wednesday, August 14, as it was the day of the Olympic welcome for the delegation that participated in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
The entire country was attentive to the reception given to the athletes who represented Guatemala at the Paris event, especially the first gold medalist in the history of Guatemala, Adriana Ruano.
Ruano Oliva, 29, joined hundreds of Guatemalans who lined the streets of Guatemala City to welcome him and after completing a tour that lasted about 5 hours, he spoke to the media at a press conference.
At this conference, not only Ruano Oliva made a statement, but also several of the other athletes who went to the Olympics had their moment in the spotlight.
One of those athletes who spoke was Érick Barrondo, who in 2012 became the first Olympic medalist in the history of Guatemala and who, in the words of Adriana Ruano “paved the way” to the triumphs she and Jean Pierre Brol achieved in Paris 2024.
Barrondo took one of the microphones and after thanking Ruano for his words, he dedicated a long and emotional speech towards all his fellow athletes.
“It’s a pleasure to be with my teammates. What do you say to these people? They showed that things can be done. Guatemala gave the entire world the opportunity to get to know a country that doesn’t give up, a country that fights and that when it unites, it achieves things out of the ordinary. That’s what we athletes are, ordinary people in their day to day achieve enormous things, among them that every four years we all feel proud of ourselves. to be in this country and unite our hearts under the same beat“, he said.
“From the shooters we learned that if we aim in the right direction we will do well, from the runners that there is not a single second in life that is too much. From the pentathlon teammates that we can be good at more than one thing. From Erick and Lucero (swimming) that many times we will have to swim against the current and that we should not be afraid, that makes us strong. From Jacqueline (judo) that life will hit us but the only way to respond is to dust ourselves off and continue. From Kevin I learned that every human being has the obligation to rise from the ashes and move forward. From Maegli that even in the most difficult moments a good captain brings his crew forward. From José Alejandro that if we march in the right direction Guatemala will continue to achieve great things,” concluded the walker who was applauded for his words.
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