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Athletes from the Lake Chapala area have distinguished themselves in the opening weeks of the 2026 National Olympics, currently with three confirmed medals and a fourth guaranteed.
The regional delegation, made up of athletes from municipalities such as Chapala, Jamay, Jocotepec and Ocotlán, continues to participate in the country’s highest sporting event, with another 21 days of competition remaining.
At the Pan-American Velodrome in Guadalajara, Jocotepec cyclist Tadeo Rayo won a gold medal in the Youth B team pursuit event. His performance was key to the Jalisco state team dominating the track and reaching the top of the podium.
Sports climber Eloy Barragán, from Chapala, won the silver medal in Puebla. The young man competed in the U-17 category, delivering one of Jalisco’s first triumphs in this discipline during the competition’s opening days.
In the waters of Yucatán, Ajijic sailor Emiliano Villaseñor won the bronze medal last Sunday. At the age of 20, Villaseñor overcame strong wind conditions in the ILCA 7 (Olympic-class solo sailboat) category, proving himself one of the best sailors in the region.
The medal count could increase on May 28, when Chapala footballer Ellie Guízar will compete with the women’s U-15 team in Mexico City. Although she already has the silver secured, the left-back will pursue the gold as her team faces the squad from the Institute of Mexicans Abroad.
Activities for the Lakeside athletes will continue in Guadalajara from May 21 to 23, with the debut of runner Mayte González in the 3,000 and 5,000-meter sprints. Likewise, expectations remain high for basketball player Natalia Rojas’s performance in the remaining weeks of the competition, which formally concludes on June 4.
Translated and edited by Debra Fairbanks
