Chapala’s homegrown sailing champ, Elena Oetling Ramirez, concluded her participation in the so-called French Olympic Week held from April 20 to 27 in Hyéres, France, wrapping up her preparation for the 2024 Olympic Games.
Champion sailor in the 2018 Central American and Caribbean Games, Oetling finished 18th in the women’s ILCA 6 category at Hyéres, with 170 net points earned in nine races, her best result in a World Cup contest.
Before that, she sailed in the Princess Sofia Trophy contest, held March 29 to April 6 in Palma de Mallorca, Spain, where she took 40th place out of 114 entries.
“It was a month away from home, adding many valuable hours on the water,” she wrote on her Facebook page. “So now it’s time to rest a little, take stock of the good and areas of opportunity to continue working in these three months left before the Games.”
Oetling represented Mexico in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, placing 32nd in the rankings. Physically and mentally exhausted after Tokyo, she had doubts about continuing in an intensely challenging sport. “When I got the pass and I was certain that I would be in the Paris games, I felt a lot of relief, tranquility and excitement,” she remarked, recalling the 20-plus years she has dedicated to sailing. ”There are many sacrifices, but this is my dream, what I always wanted and strived for every day—reaching the Olympics.”
Her family, friends and Chapala fans wish her bon voyage, buena suerte and favorable waves rolling off the Marseille Marina on the French Rivera from July 2 to August 8.