Diving at the Pan American Games 2019

[vinipereira 3,513]

Diving at the Pan American Games 2019

 

Lima (PER) - 1 August 2019 - 5 August 2019

 

 

Official Website

[mrv86 3,269]

 Mexican Diving Team  

 

Men's Springboard (1m, 3m & 3m Synchro): Paola Espinosa & Dolores Hernández

Men's Platform (10m & 10m Synchro): Gabriela Agúndez & Alejandra Orozco

Women's Springboard (1m, 3m & 3m Synchro): Yahel Castillo & Juan Celaya 

Women's Platform (10m & 10m Synchro): Kevin Berlín & Iván García 

 

So congratulations Canada, it seems that you will practically clear this discipline, the exception being Men's 10m where depending on USA's selection, might go to them.

 

The selection has not been drama free though; it all started at the beggining of this year, when the federation decided to award Castillo & Celaya a spot in the last two stages of Diving World Series instead of the more solid pairing of Pacheco & Ocampo in 3m synchro, which automatically generated a lot of animosity between both pairs. Then in May, the rest of Pacheco & Ocampo's teammates (Ma Jin's team for short) decided to skip their appearance in that last stages, which prompted a strong condemnation from the National Federation.

 

Last week, at the qualifications, Celaya & Castillo won the synchro competition by a few points, while they were way behind Pacheco & Ocampo in the individual events. As per the qualification process for the games and the selection rules that were submitted last year to Mexico's NOC, the Swimming federation had to evaluate not only the results of that competition, but also the level shown in international competition in order to select the athletes that would be in Lima. Despite that, I'm of the opinion they grossly ignored their own directives, and therefore, they might have a case in which they could appeal.

 

However, things look bleak for Pacheco and Ocampo, since the latter took on twitter directly addressing the National Sports Comission director, former Olympic medalist and World Champion Ana Guevara, who felt "threatened" by a strong and direct message and now has colluded with the federation to try to silence them or else, she will stop the already scarce public funding, which was recently reduced from $250 USD monthly  per athlete, to only $100 USD 

 

[mrv86 3,269]

US diving team

 

A very decent men's team, tough not their best, it will be a close battle with Mexico and Canada in men's synchro events, although I favor the later in the 3m springboard.

 

Hixon has some chances for individual springboard, though it will be a close call in the 3m event with Colombia's Villa also trying to end up there if either Castillo or Imbeau Dulac fail (which they most usually do). Steele Johnson might do well on the platform, especially if Iván García is not having his best day.

 

 

For women, I'm sure they will medal in the synchro events,as there is no other entrant close to their level, but there will bea  sizable difference with Mexico and even bigger with Canada.

[mrv86 3,269]

Tomorrow the diving competitions start.

 

Winners in the individual events in the Olympic program (3m & 10m) will earn a quota for their NOC, if not previously qualified through the last World Championships in that event. In that last case, the quota gets reallocated to next year's Diving World Cup.

 

On a curious note, only 4 entries in women's 10m synchro, less than the number of minimum entries an event should have to be held at the Games. Guess Pan Am Sports decided to throw away that rule in this ocasion.

 

[intoronto 6,916]

2 minutes ago, mrv86 said:

Tomorrow the diving competitions start.

 

Winners in the individual events in the Olympic program (3m & 10m) will earn a quota for their NOC, if not previously qualified through the last World Championships in that event. In that last case, the quota gets reallocated to next year's Diving World Cup.

 

On a curious note, only 4 entries in women's 10m synchro, less than the number of minimum entries an event should have to be held at the Games. Guess Pan Am Sports decided to throw away that rule in this ocasion.

 

Id imagine no bronze being awarded, but lets give taekwondo poomsae two bronzes in a 6 team field 

[mrv86 3,269]

24 minutes ago, intoronto said:

Id imagine no bronze being awarded, but lets give taekwondo poomsae two bronzes in a 6 team field 

So one bronze medal less for Mexico 

[mrv86 3,269]

And Sarah Bacon wins gold  Great final dive from her.

[orangeman 2,877]

2 minutes ago, mrv86 said:

And Sarah Bacon wins gold  Great final dive from her.

 Yeah, good for her.  I'm surprised.  But yay, Canada can stay in 2nd now!

[mrv86 3,269]

1 minute ago, orangeman said:

 Yeah, good for her.  I'm surprised.  But yay, Canada can stay in 2nd now!

 

I'm not. Women's diving in Mexico has returned to its past, with average divers, but no one capable of challenging top contenders.

 

Plus corruption in the federation, summed with idiotic qualification system for Pan Am, seriously ruined our chances in the rest of the events.

[mrv86 3,269]

In fifteen minutes, the start of the men's 10m platform synchro.

 

Ideally, Mexico has 3 different couples that could win this event; this time however, this time they're represented by "made-up" couple, just to ensure that an athlete (García, cough) would be competing at the Games.

 

This should open the competition, so Canada's Riendau & Zsombor-Murray or USA's Bramley/Jonhson could steal the show from them,, if they get their act together.

 

The rest of the field could only challenge for a bronze if any of the above fails badly.

 

Curiously the Dominican Republic will compete with a "loan" from Mexico, Jonathan Ruvalcaba, who in Toronto finished in fourth along García, in another made up team.