Mexico City.- The National Team of artistic swimming had a historic debut in a World Cup of the specialty, by reaping three golds -two in Olympic events, the Mixed Technical Team and the Free Duet- and a bronze, during the third phase of the Serial 2023 held in Egypt.
Mexico was able to compete in the Egyptian pool thanks to the Telmex Foundation, which disbursed almost one million pesos for the international transfer, lodging and food of 10 undines and a swimmer, two trainers and a physiatrist.
The Mexicans appeared at the award ceremony with caps from the telephone company. It is unknown if there was an agreement for them to wear this accessory if they went up to a podium or it was their initiative, who in the photos simulated a headset with their hands and were calling on the phone.
The Conade did not support the team financially for the trip because it interrupted the payment of tours and competitions to exponents of water sports for not recognizing Kiril Todorov as head of the Mexican Swimming Federation despite being unknown internationally, as the person responsible for the national sport, Ana Guevara, almost demanded it.
However, the team has trained at Conade facilities, specifically at CNAR under the guidance of Adriana Loftus.
Yesterday, the gold in Free Duet and Acrobatics were added to the title in the Mixed Technical Team on Saturday, as well as the bronze in the Free Mixed Duet, to finish second in the general medal table with 3-0-1, behind Spain, with 3-1 -2. It is the best presentation of our Country in a World Cup.
In the Egyptian Cup there were no powers of the discipline like Russia, sanctioned by World Aquatics, China and Canada, but it helped the Mexicans to perfect their routines for the Fukuoka Swimming World Cup in July, and the Pan American Games in Chile , in October, both selective for Paris 2024.
AMLO says that they do shelter athletes
President Andrés Manuel López Obrador assured yesterday morning that six members of the artistic swimming team, which won three golds and one bronze in the World Cup in Egypt, receive salaries and per diems from Sedena.
However, in the statement that the team issued last week, it stated that they would travel to Egyptian territory with all expenses paid by the Telmex Foundation.
“That they were not given an appeal, but just to inform them that of the 10 competitors, six belong to the Defense Secretariat, that is, we are also militarizing the sport (…) they have their salaries, their per diems, their support. (That they) had paid for their trip because no institution had supported them,” AMLO ironized.
According to this figure, each person in the team required 64 thousand 285 pesos to cover these expenses, without counting the payment of visas, which was about 10 thousand pesos for everyone, local transportation and pocket expenses, which were covered with what raised by swimmers and swimmers from the sale of bathing suits and towels.
The six of the team members belong to the Sedena, they receive a salary according to their rank, but according to Pamela Sobrino, Jessica’s sister, one of the medalists, they are not granted per diems or scholarships.
They receive only their salary
In addition to the captain of the National Artistic Swimming Team, Nuria Diosdado, who has the rank of Sergeant in the Sedena, five other members of the team belong to the armed forces and receive a monthly salary; two with the same rank as her, and three who are Soldiers.
In a tweet in which it congratulated the team for its results in the World Cup in Egypt, the National Defense Secretariat reported the rank of its athletes, but in the case of the Sergeants it did not specify whether they are First or Second grade.
According to the Perceptions of the Military Personnel of the Sedena in 2023, a First Sergeant receives an “Ordinary Monthly Perception” of 15 thousand 698 pesos and a Second Sergeant of 15 thousand 258 pesos. In the case of the Soldiers, they receive 13 thousand 523 pesos.
In no category does there appear any support for travel expenses, as President Andrés Manuel López Obrador mentioned in his morning yesterday, because among the perceptions of the elements whose rank the undines have are: Haber (salary); Surplus (benefits); Technical compensation to the service, Additional allowance to the salary, Pantry and Aid for services.
According to a request for information via Transparency, the Sedena has had 5 undines in its ranks during the current Administration in 2019 and 2020, and 7 in 2021 and 2022. In 2023 there are 6.
