Atenas Gutiérrez Guzmán's Olympic Beach Volleyball Dream

After it was announced that Tlaxcala will host the North, Central America and Caribbean Volleyball Confederation (NORCECA) Olympic Beach Volleyball Qualifying Tournament from June 19 to 24, national team member Atenas Gutiérrez Guzmán expressed her enthusiasm for the opportunity to look for the ticket to Paris 2024 in front of her home crowd.

“It is an immense emotion to know that there will be a pre-Olympic here in Mexico, and that several events of great importance have been held in Tlaxcala. Already knowing the bullrings and the people of the state will make me feel very confident and at home, knowing that the people of Tlaxcala always receive us very well,” she said in an interview with the National Commission of Physical Culture and Sport (CONADE).

“It is of great importance that these kinds of events are made in our country thanks to CONADE, because this contributes to Mexican volleyball to be an exponent at world level, and also favors a lot that people here like this sport, whatever the competition is,” he added.

Gutiérrez Guzmán and Abril Flores Castro have consolidated themselves as the star duo of the Aztec team in this discipline, and had an outstanding 2023 at a competitive level, winning gold medal in the first stage of the NORCECA Tour, held in Aguascalientes, as well as bronze in the Central American Games in San Salvador.

In addition, the young athletes are part of the Empowerment Program of the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB), which is promoted by CONADE in favor of the development in our country of this sport in its two modalities.

“It will be a very big challenge for me and my team (Abril Flores), since it is our first Olympic process, and what better than doing it at home. For this, we have prepared ourselves from the FIVB and CONADE program, so we know that the dream is there and that the objectives are clear; we will give good results for Mexico”, she assured.

“Clearly Tlaxcala has stood out a lot, since several important tournaments have been held, and now it will be the qualifier, which is what can take us to Paris 2024. It is a lot to thank CONADE, the Mexican Volleyball Federation (FMVB) and all the people behind to make this happen,” he added.

Together with Flores Castro, the volleyball player from Veracruz will begin her competitive year this week, as they will participate in the Challenge Recife and Saquarema, both to be held in Brazil. Once they finish their performances in the South American country, they will return to Mexico to face the Challenge Guadalajara and the Elite 16 Tepic, to be held in April.