2022 Pan-American Championships: Oliver (MEX) and Hernandez (MEX) step up on road to Paris 2024

Modern Pentathlon’s first steps on the road to Paris 2024 have been taken on the other side of the Atlantic. 

The recent 2022 Pan American Championships in Resende (BRA) became the first competition to have a direct impact on qualification for the next Olympic Games. 

The Pan American Championships offered 30 qualification sports for next year’s Pan Am Games in Santiago (CHI), which will be an official qualification event for Paris 2024.

At the front of the queue of potential qualifiers is Mexico, after Mayan Oliver (ranked 19 in the world) and Emiliano Hernandez (ranked 40) took home the individual titles. 

The Senior Women’s Final was a tight affair but Oliver (MEX) finally ruined the party for the host nation as Marcela Mello and Isabela Abreu of Brazil joined her on the podium with silver and bronze respectively.

Hernandez (MEX) led home a strong field in the Senior Men’s Final, a model of consistency across all disciplines as he kept clear of Vicente Lima of Argentina, who took silver, with bronze going to Manuel Padilla (MEX).

For good measure, Mexico also took the Senior Mixed Relay honours with Oliver (MEX) and Padilla (MEX) teaming up to impressive effect to finish clear of Ecuador (Marcela Cuaspud & Andres Torres) in second and Argentina (Camila Fuenzalida & Vicente Lima) in third. 

Athletes from almost 20 nations from across North, South and Central America took part and there were plenty of medals to savour for other nations, particularly in the Junior competitions where the strength in depth across the region was clear.

Mayran Oliver (MEX) took Junior Women’s gold ahead of Paula Franco of Guatemala, who claimed silver and bronze medallist Martina Armanazqui (ARG). Three other nations occupied the podium in the Junior Men’s event with home favourite Matheus Nobre (BRA) taking gold, Albert RIvas silver for Venezuela and Quinn Schulz of Canada securing bronze.

Cuba also made their mark on the medal table as they took bronze in the Senior Men’s Relay. 

The week-long 2022 Pan American Championships also saw Riding come into focus. With the Pan Am Games requiring all qualified athletes to complete an additional Riding test, those competing in Resende (BRA) were given the opportunity to take the test there.

The Riding Director, Fabiano da Silva, and the local organising committee arranged for a Riding seminar to also help those athletes who hadn’t qualified for the final so they could also complete the test. In total, 19 athletes took the test with 16 of them passing. There was significant appreciation from the athletes and the coaches at the work put into organizing this added opportunity.

NORCECA Confederation President, Rob Stull OLY, said: “The 2022 Pan American Championships, organized under the guidance of Pan American Confederation President Jorge Salas by Brazilian National Federation President Celso Sasaqui and his team of staff and volunteers, were a tremendous success. 

“Athletes from nearly 20 nations competed for qualification to the 2023 Pan American Games. The level of competition, venues and hospitality created great memories for the athletes of the Americas. Special thanks to the UIPM Technical Delegates Anna Ruth Orellana and Rui Lucena who worked tirelessly with the LOC to be sure the competition was of the highest standard in all areas. Obrigado Brazil!”

The 2023 Pan American Games take place from October 20 to November 5.