Mexico at the 2016 Summer Olympics | |
---|---|
IOC code | MEX |
NOC | Mexican Olympic Committee |
Website | www |
in Rio de Janeiro | |
Competitors | 124 in 26 sports |
Flag bearers | Daniela Campuzano (opening)[1] María Espinoza (closing) |
Medals Ranked 61st |
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Summer Olympics appearances (overview) | |
Mexico competed at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 5 to 21 August 2016. This was the nation's twenty-third appearance at the Summer Olympics. The Mexican Olympic Committee (Spanish: Comité Olímpico Mexicano) sent the nation's largest delegation to the Games since 1972, with a total of 124 athletes, 80 men and 44 women, competing across 26 sports.[2]
Mexico left Rio de Janeiro with five medals (three silver and two bronze), failing to win a single gold for the first time since the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens.[3][4] Among the medalists were race walker María Guadalupe González, semi-pro boxer Misael Rodríguez (men's middleweight), and modern pentathlete Ismael Hernández, who became the first ever Mexican to ascend the Olympic podium in his signature sport.[5] Diver Germán Sánchez picked up his first individual medal at the Games with a silver in the men's platform, following a runner-up effort with his synchronized diving partner Iván García from London 2012.[3] Taekwondo fighter María Espinoza made history as the first Mexican female to complete a full set of medals in three different Games, adding a silver to her Olympic career haul in the women's +67 kg.[6]
Apart from the success and historic firsts of the medalists, several Mexican athletes reached further to the finals of their respective sporting events, but came closest to the podium finish. Among them were shooter Alejandra Zavala (fourth, women's air pistol), weightlifter Bredni Roque (fourth, men's 69 kg), former Youth Olympian Diego del Real (fourth, hammer throw), diving veteran Paola Espinosa (fourth, women's platform), and archer Alejandra Valencia (fourth, women's individual recurve).