in the region, ranging from juniors through
to masters rowers. There are nine rowing clubs
in Mexico City with a small number of clubs in
the rest of the country. The majority of rowers
are juniors as they get funding help. But then,
Loliger says, many quit at 18 to go to university
or to work. There are about 30 elite rowers in
total (at all levels).
funding and also is an opportunity to promote
rowing locally, especially if they are successful.
The best result ever achieved by Mexico at rowing
is a seventh place finish by Joaquin Gomez at the
1992 Olympic Games. Can Loliger or Ramirez
achieve the new standard?
Living in Mexico City and rowing is challenging.
To get to the rowing course for training, Loliger
travels just a short distance out of the city but
because of the level of traffic it takes one to two
hours to get there. “We can’t walk or bike as it’s
dangerous,” says Loliger. “Two years ago I got
hit by a car while biking to training. I broke my
collar bone.”
The air pollution in Mexico City is also an issue, a
consequence of both the pollution and training at
the mile high 1968 Olympic rowing course, Pista
Olimpica de Remo Virgilio Uribe. “We breathe
better when we go somewhere else,” says Loliger.
Ramirez and Loliger, along with other Mexico City
rowers also have Xochimilco to train at – a World
Heritage area with about 170km of canals.
Virgilio Uribe is the venue for Mexico’s biggest
regatta. Organised by Club Espana, the Regatta
del Club Espana is in its 25th year and attracts
teams from throughout Latin America and
sometimes Canada and Spain. There are four
other regattas that Loliger says are at a good
level in Mexico.
