Mexican divers Osmar Olvera and Juan Manuel Celaya clinched a historic silver medal in the synchronized 3-meter springboard event at the Paris 2024 Olympics on August 2. The duo scored an impressive 444.03 points, finishing just 2.07 points behind the gold-winning Chinese team of Long Daoyi and Wang Zongyuan.The competition was intense, with Olvera and Celaya leading after the fourth round. However, the Chinese pair recovered to secure the gold in the final dives. British divers Anthony Harding and Jack Laugher took bronze with 438.15 points.Olvera, 20, and Celaya, 25, showed remarkable resilience and skill throughout the competition. Olvera, who won the world title in the 1-meter springboard event at the Doha World Championships earlier this year, expressed confidence in their performance, stating, ‘I truly believe they [the Chinese] trembled, and for me, we won’.This silver medal marks Mexico’s 16th Olympic medal in diving and its third medal overall at the Paris 2024 Games. It’s also Mexico’s 76th Olympic medal in history. The achievement was celebrated by Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, who praised the divers for their excellent performance in a highly competitive event.However, the triumph is tinged with controversy as it was revealed that both Olvera and Celaya had their scholarships from the National Sports Commission (Conade) suspended over the past year, despite their outstanding international performances. Olvera publicly stated that his sports scholarship was withdrawn after winning gold at the Doha 2024 World Championships, saying, ‘Thanks for the congratulations, I only lack the scholarship I’ve been without for a year’.Despite these challenges, both divers remain focused on their Olympic journey. Olvera will compete in the individual 3-meter springboard event on August 6, feeling ‘more motivated’ and ‘more confident’ after this silver medal performance.
Key points
- Mexican divers Osmar Olvera and Juan Manuel Celaya won silver in synchronized 3-meter springboard at Paris 2024 Olympics.
- The Mexican duo scored 444.
- This is Mexico’s 16th Olympic medal in diving and third medal at Paris 2024.
- Both Olvera and Celaya had their scholarships from the National Sports Commission (Conade) suspended over the past year, despite international success.
03 points, just 2.
07 points behind the gold-winning Chinese team.
Contradictions👾While the athletes’ performance is celebrated, the revelation about their suspended scholarships from Conade contradicts the expected support for successful international athletes.
