He was left without his medal! In a controversial event full of controversy, Mexican athlete Fernando Martínez was disqualified from the 5,000 meter event, after crossing the finish line first at the Pan American Games in Santiago de Chile 2023.
Upon reaching the finish line, Martínez celebrated what he thought was the gold medal and that would make him a two-time Pan American champion with a time of 14:47.68 minutes, but the judges, seeing that in after which the Mexican raised his arm. too much and blocked the American Kasey Knevelbaard, disqualifying the Aztec runner, giving the first place to the American with a time of 14:47.69.
“I talked to the American and I asked him if I touched him and he said I did not touch him, then he is not the one who appealed, we do not know if it is the gold medal or not, but we. calm because I trained for this, to win.” “Regardless of the result we get, I prepare myself to fight with the best on the continent.”
Conade does not support this
The Aztec runner complained about the lack of moral and economic support he received from the National Commission of Physical Culture and Sports, as well as from its director, Ana Gabriela Guevara.
“With Ana Gabriela the support is zero and from her assistants it is also zero, so we wait with these results, yes, I have to be here, I am not doing things that are not part of my training , I trained for it. and we have the best result for Mexico”.
Martínez repeated the lack of support from Conade, but from Durango and its municipality, as well as from a friend who helped him in Minnesota, where he was training. Martínez still has to compete in the 1,500m event, where he will aim for the gold medal.
“There was no support in terms of resources, scholarships, I won the Central American Games, I went and submitted my papers, and there was no moral and financial support.”
