Jahir Zúñiga Ramos, national canoeing team member, is participating in a competition in Uruguay that not only allows him to gain experience and adapt to high-pressure scenarios, but also aspires to a performance that brings him closer to his Olympic dream in 2028. The competition is crucial to define the representatives of America in the upcoming Junior Pan American Games, as well as to assess the performance and projection of athletes who could integrate the national team in future Olympic cycles.
In the 2024 CONADE Nationals held in Villahermosa, Zúñiga won two silver medals in the 1,000 meters and 200 meters events, category 19-23 years in the men's division, standing out as one of the talents from Querétaro in this discipline. With the support of the Mexican Canoeing Federation, he now faces the best under-21 representatives from the continent in Montevideo.
The event, organized by the Pan American Canoeing Federation, grants spots for the II Junior Pan American Games in Asunción 2025 and marks the beginning of the Olympic cycle towards Los Angeles 2028, a long-term goal for the queretano. The competition includes speed and endurance events at distances of 200, 500, and 1,000 meters, where young athletes can demonstrate their technique and competitive level.
This qualifier has become a platform for Mexican athletes to strengthen their skills in the water and compete with representatives from countries like Brazil, Canada, Chile, and Argentina, nations with strong development programs in aquatic sports. Zúñiga's performance in this competition will be crucial for his development and to assess his possibilities on the international canoeing stage.
