2024-08-06 12:58:02
SAINT-DENI, France (AP) — Colombian Natalia Linares discovered success at a young age. Maybe that’s why it was so hard for him to accept losing in the long jump, “and I still have tears to shed.”
The 21-year-old Colombian reached the Olympics after winning titles at the Central and Pan American Games. Expectations were high, especially the ones she set for herself. But it is still far from the target. Linares jumped 6.40 meters on Tuesday and was not among the 12 athletes vying for a medal on Wednesday.
No matter how old you are, there is no comfort.
“It was so painful not to advance to the final with such a low score because we had to give more, more,” said Linares, who attributed his record to his technical errors rather than his nerves. . “It hurts, it hurts, but now it’s time to get ready and get ready for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.”
It’s going to be a long wait. Those four years have only heightened hunger, increased expectations and strengthened Linares’ competitive spirit. From the first day of the new Olympic cycle, their mentality was different.
“I’m 21 years old, I’m young, but as an athlete we demand a lot from ourselves and I want to get to the final,” he admitted. “It’s impossible to do and I have to wait until the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics to come back instead of trying to make it happen.”
Talent is reflected through their different skills. His words were engraved with this mentality. He still has room to grow, and there are role models who can follow his footsteps and strive for the next Olympics.
Tears begin to dry and smiles appear.
“Catricin (Ibagun, the Colombian triple jump champion at Rio 2016) taught a lot of things, like not to give up,” he said. “We also have Oscar Figueroa (weightlifter) who competed in more than three Olympics and in his last few competitions after retirement, he was a gold medalist. Why not dream about our athletes?
Linares dares to dream, is patient and realizes that the future is competitive. He assured that failure would not hurt athletes and fans more, which is why he asked everyone to understand, be patient and trust the process.
“It’s very, very difficult, emotionally and psychologically these losses hit our athletes very hard,” he said. “When I finished playing I thought ‘I’m quitting the sport’ and I couldn’t. But everyone told me something I wanted to hear: We have to keep working hard.
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