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Mexico’s Greatest Olympic athletes
With the Paris 2024 Olympics now wrapped up, it’s the perfect time to look back at some of Mexico’s greatest athletic legends. The country has a historic legacy of Olympic wins, as Mexican athletes have won a total of 75 medals and competed in every Summer Olympic Games since 1924.
Mexico’s All-Time Greatest Athletes
Joaquín Capilla
Joaquín Capilla is an iconic figure in Mexican sports. He is the most decorated Mexican athlete in Olympic history with four medals, having competed in diving and winning his first medal, a bronze, at the 1948 London Olympics. He went on to win a silver medal at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics and topped his career with a gold and a bronze at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics.
Humberto Mariles
Equestrian Humberto Mariles made history in the 1948 London Olympics when he became the only Mexican athlete to win two gold medals at a single Olympic Games, in individual jumping and team jumping. This achievement marked a significant milestone for Mexico since they were the country’s first gold medals. He also took home a bronze in team eventing.
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María Espinoza
María Espinoza is a taekwondo champion and a trailblazer for female athletes in Mexico. She won her first Olympic gold medal in Beijing 2008, and continued her success with a bronze in London 2012 and a silver in Rio 2016, making her the first Mexican female athlete to win medals in three consecutive Olympics.
Related: Latina Athletes to Watch During the Paris 2024 Olympics
Rubén Uriza
Rubén Uriza was another equestrian athlete who shined in the 1948 London Olympics. He was part of the team that won gold in team jumping and also secured a silver medal in individual jumping.
Raúl González
Raúl González won the gold medal in the 50 km walk at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, setting an Olympic record. He also won a silver medal in the 20 km walk during the same games.
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Germán Sánchez
Germán Sánchez is an extraordinary diver who won a silver medal in the synchronized 10m platform event at the 2012 London Olympics and another silver in the individual 10m platform at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
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Paola Espinosa
Paola Espinosa is another diving sensation. She competed in three Olympic games, from 2004 to 2012, winning a bronze medal in the synchronized 10m platform at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and a silver in the same event at the 2012 London Olympics.
Alejandra Orozco
At age 15, Alejandra Orozco became the youngest athlete to represent Mexico at the 2012 London Olympics, winning a silver medal in the synchronized 10m platform alongside Paola Espinosa. She continued her success with a bronze medal in the same event at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
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Alejandra Valencia
Alejandra Valencia, an accomplished archer, narrowly missed out on medals in the 2016 Rio Olympics but came back strong to win a bronze in the mixed archery event at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. At the Paris 2024 Olympics, she won another bronze in the women’s team event, alongside Ana Paula Vazquez and Angela Ruiz. This is the fourth medal for Mexican archery in the history of the Olympic Games, and the first for women’s teams.
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