CULIACÁN, Sinaloa. With the satisfaction of having achieved the best result of his career in three participations in the Central American and Caribbean Games, the Sinaloan weightlifter Jorge Adán Cárdenas Estrada, the popular “Chino”, returned to Sinaloa with two medals in his luggage and renewed motivation to continue his path towards the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.

Visiting the Sinaloan Institute of Physical Culture and Sport, the athlete shared the emotion of winning a gold medal for the first time in this regional competition, as well as stepping onto the podium and hearing the Mexican National Anthem as champion.

“Very happy and very proud to have achieved this result. It’s my best result in my three Central American Games. I had never won a gold medal before, and I’m very happy with the work I did,” commented the weightlifter.

STRATEGY AND PERSEVERANCE TO WIN GOLD

In the competition, he also faced a high-level rival, a representative from Venezuela who is also a world champion. The gold medal match was close and was ultimately decided by the characteristic strategy of weightlifting.

“In the end, we lifted the same weight, but I lifted it first. That’s how weightlifting works: whoever lifts the weight first wins,” he explained.

The result also contributed to the historic performance of the Mexican delegation in the Central American Games, a situation that filled the Sinaloan athlete with pride.

“Very happy that the entire delegation is training, competing so hard, and achieving so many results,” stated Cárdenas, who added that he hopes Mexico maintains this level in future international competitions.

THE GOAL: LOS ANGELES 2028

Although he still has important commitments ahead, “Chino” Cárdenas already has a clear goal: to continue in the process towards the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.

“Yes, of course. We hope to get to Los Angeles again,” he affirmed.

To achieve this, the work doesn’t stop. The Sinaloan athlete will participate in the National Championship of First Force, scheduled in Villahermosa, Tabasco, from August 20th to 25th, before facing a world competition that will be fundamental in the start of the Olympic qualifying process.

SINALOA PREPARES STRONG REPRESENTATION IN NATIONALS

Coach Jorge Huie Molinet highlighted the preparation that Sinaloan athletes have undergone throughout the year and confirmed that Sinaloa will attend the national championships with a significant representation.

In the First Force category, the team will be comprised of Jorge Adán Cárdenas, Jorge Luis Huie Camacho, Yamileth Rivas Ríos, and Melani Montes Mocayo.

The coach emphasized that Cárdenas Estrada and Huie Camacho are coming in as First Force champions, while for Yamileth Rivas and Melani Montes, this will be their first participation in this category, although both have good competitive track records.

In the Children’s category, Sinaloa will also have outstanding representatives, including Martha Elena Montoya López, originally from La Reforma, Angostura, as well as Irving Rivera López and an athlete from Guasave, all with significant backgrounds in the National Olympiad.

The National Children’s Championship will take place in Irapuato, Guanajuato, during the last days of August.

Huie Molinet explained that both events are of special relevance, as the National First Force Championship offers opportunities to join selections for Pan American and World competitions, while the Children’s event represents a chance to vie for a spot in the U-15 and U-17 national teams.

THE PRIDE OF TRAINING “CHINO”

For Jorge Huie Molinet, the success achieved by Jorge Adán Cárdenas Estrada has special significance, as he has accompanied the athlete since his early years in weightlifting.

“It fills me with pride, despite the years, because ‘Chino’ has been in this for a while now, and it’s very difficult to maintain that quality,” he commented.

The coach highlighted the Sinaloan athlete’s ability to adapt to the changes the sport has undergone, including modifications in weight divisions, as well as the sacrifices involved in being part of training camps and boarding schools with the national teams.

“He has managed to overcome that by losing weight, dealing with injuries, and enduring the regimen of boarding at the National Teams. It’s not easy for anyone. It’s not a walk in the park; it’s sacrifice, it’s being away from your family, away from your comfort, but there he is; that’s his life,” he expressed.

Huie Molinet finally recalled the beginnings of Cárdenas Estrada and assured that it is satisfying to see how that boy who came to the gym years ago has become an international-caliber athlete who continues to enjoy his sport and deliver results for Sinaloa and Mexico.

With two Central American medals and new challenges ahead, Jorge Adán Cárdenas remains firm in his goal of continuing to represent Sinaloa and Mexico on international stages, with his sights set on the process that could lead him back to the Olympic Games.