Marcher Alejandra Ortega, upset by the circuit's measuring failure.

Alejandra Ortega couldn't hide her frustration

The Mexican walker Alejandra Ortega couldn't hide her frustration with the measurement of the walking circuit, as it prevented her from achieving the mark for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

"The conditions were very good, the circuit was also very good and flat for excellent walking, and even if they increased the three kilometers, I would still be below the Olympic mark, so we were walking fast but it didn't happen," said Ortega.

The two-kilometer circuit was 200 meters short, so the walkers covered a total of 16 kilometers. Alejandra Ortega finished in fifth place with a time of 1:16:56 hours, and the minimum qualifying time for the Olympic Games is 1:29:20. The athlete mentioned that she had 12 minutes to finish the race below that time.

"I was already in a pace of a little over three minutes per kilometer and there were only four left. It's very sad that they come out and say that it was poorly measured, that the marks don't count and only the places do, and all our months of work are undermined by this situation. I am upset with those responsible for this, and disappointed with Santiago. I was enjoying my Games in the best way and I think with this I leave inconsolable and with a bad taste in my mouth," Ortega stated.

Bronze for Andrés Olivas

For the 20-kilometer men's walking event, the organizing committee corrected the measurement of the route and the competition took place without problems. In that event, the Mexican walker Andrés Olivas finished in third place with a time of 1:19:56 hours, and he once again achieved the Olympic mark, but that time is not enough for him to step on the podium.

"I achieved the Olympic mark again, but my best record is 1:19:54, and I wanted to improve it but I couldn't," Olivas said.

The first place went to the Ecuadorian David Hurtado with a time of 1:19:20 hours, and the second place went to the Brazilian Caio Bonfim with a time of 1:19:24.

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