Tokyo 2020 will be the Olympic Games that will go down in history for the inclusion of five new disciplines in its agenda: baseball, climbing, karate, surfing, and skateboarding.
In La Afición, we present you this review of Mexican athletes who have been excelling in each of these new Olympic disciplines for a long time and could become medal hopefuls for our country.
Baseball
Julio César Urías
The left-handed pitcher of the Los Angeles Dodgers was born on August 12, 1996, in Culiacán, Sinaloa.
From an early age, he had to fight against his biggest rival: a tumor in his left eye. However, he defeated it after undergoing several surgeries, in order to fulfill his dream of playing in the Major Leagues.
Urías was discovered by talent scout Mike Brito, the same scout who discovered 'El Toro' Fernando Valenzuela. In 2013, Brito brought him to sign with the Los Angeles Dodgers, and at that time, he was considered one of the top ten prospects in the Major Leagues.
The left-handed pitcher stands out for his fastballs that exceed 97 miles per hour, and he became the youngest pitcher to play in a Division Series game with the Dodgers last October, against the Washington Nationals.
Currently, he is 20 years old. By the time of the Tokyo Olympics, the relief pitcher for the Los Angeles team will be 23 years old, an age at which he will have the necessary experience to be a key player for the Mexican team.
Climbing
Diego de León
Diego Luis González was born on September 5, 1989, in Mexico City, although he moved to León, Guanajuato, at an early age, this is where he discovered his greatest passion: climbing. Known as Diego León, after his first name and the city where he moved to when he was young.
He is considered a promising athlete for the Olympic Games since he has been the national champion in this sport. He is the current champion in the difficulty category in Mexico and the runner-up in the bouldering category. He has represented our country in world championships in the youth category and finished in fifth place at the 2011 Pan American Championship.
He stands out for his physical strength, power, and dynamic style, which led him to be selected by American Ninja Warrior to compete with the Latin American team in the 'USA vs. The World' edition.
Karate
Guadalupe Quintal Catzín
With only 21 years old, she is one of the greatest promises in Mexican karate. Originally from Mérida, Yucatán.
Lupita has won the Gold Medal at the 2014 Central American and Caribbean Games, the gold medal at the Pan American Championship in Toronto 2015, the bronze medal at the Pan American Championship in Rio de Janeiro 2016, and placed ninth in the world at the World Championships in Austria 2016.
Quintal, known as the 'golden girl' in her state, says she is privileged to be able to practice this sport and especially to have the unconditional support of her family.
Despite her young age, the athlete from Yucatán has a long history of international tournaments and achievements. That is why she will strive to earn her spot in the upcoming Games.
Surfing
Carlos Nogales
Known as 'Coco' Nogales, he was born on April 25, 1976, in Aguascalientes. At the age of 11, he moved to Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca, where he discovered his passion for riding the waves.
Although he admits that the ocean initially scared him, it presented him with a great challenge since his friends spent most of their time in the water, and that's how he became an expert in the sport.
Nogales is known for surfing waves that reach up to 15 meters (49 feet) in height, making him one of the few athletes in the world who can do it.
At the age of 17, he caught the attention of the renowned North American magazine called Surfer Magazine, making him the cover and propelling him to the elite of this sport.
'Coco' is considered the top Mexican exponent in surfing in our country. He is even sponsored by Red Bull, an energy drink brand that sponsors the best athletes in various sports, and has been awarded as the best surfer in Mexico.
Skateboarding
Cristian Huerta
He was born in 1988 in Maracaibo, Venezuela, but has been living in Mexico City for several years and is now Mexican.
Huerta is one of the best skaters in our country. Some consider him the best skater in Mexico due to his constant and complete style, which is why he is sponsored by the shoe brand Vans and Beat Skateboards.
His Goofy stance on the skateboard has led him to win important competitions like AMPA Latino, considered the top competition in Latin America, and to participate in tournaments worldwide in places like Los Angeles, Barcelona, and China, among others.