I reinvented myself and recovered my passion for gymnastics: Dafne Navarro

Adriana Díaz Reyes

La Jornada Newspaper, Thursday, July 17, 2025, p. a12

Looking up at the sky, you can see Dafne Navarro hovering high above, executing twists and turns, extending her figure until she aligns herself, lands on the springboard, and begins her flight again. It's an analogy to the national team's 18-year career.

Not everything has been rosy. I went through difficult times where I didn't have the support to travel or compete. It's not easy going through that stage, but continuing is a matter of pride, of ups and downs where I showed I'm still present. After failing to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, this cycle is a clean slate , commented the 29-year-old gymnast.

Temperance

In 2021, as she was about to board a flight to Europe for her participation in the World Cup series, authorities from the National Commission for Physical Culture and Sports (CONADE) informed her that they would not pay for a previously planned stay in Portugal, which was crucial to her aspirations of qualifying for the Tokyo Olympics. With her characteristic composure, the Guadalajara native found a way to fulfill her plans and became the only Latin American in the final, finishing eighth in the competition.

That cycle was complicated, but also satisfying because the main goal was achieved. Four years later, in the qualifiers for Paris, I felt a lot of pressure, as if I wanted to please everyone but myself. Things went wrong, and I didn't get my ticket. In recent months, I've had to reinvent myself, enjoy what I do again, and recover my passion for trampoline gymnastics , shared Navarro, who is preparing for the 2028 summer competition in Los Angeles with a more challenging level of difficulty.

▲ The Guadalajara native is working on new elements on the trampoline to increase its difficulty level. Photo @dafnenavarrol

Earlier this year, the Guadalajara native began training focused on improving her technique and competing head-to-head with the new generation of gymnasts, as well as adapting to the new trampolines.

I'm currently at a training camp in Canada. The goal is to improve my routines for my participation in the World Championships this year. I have very high goals for that competition; I dream of advancing to the final, although the level will be too high.

Navarro was the first Mexican woman to qualify for the Olympics in the individual event in that sport. She has won dozens of medals in national and international competitions, including World Cups. She won silver at the 2015 Toronto Pan American Games; bronze at the 2019 Lima and 2024 Brazil Games; and gold at the 2023 Central American Games.

It's very difficult to level up my workouts. It seems simple, but you have to incorporate new elements you've never done before, and that takes time. Fortunately, there's time to reach my best form.

The Jalisco native will spend two weeks in Canada and then return to Guadalajara to finalize details leading up to the World Cup in November in Pamplona.

Taking care of my mental health and doing things outside of gymnastics in my free time helps me improve my performance. My family, boyfriend, and friends have been my pillars during the toughest times of my career, an adventure I won't end until my body tells me to.

The gymnast's stay in Canada was thanks to the support of a sponsor, so she hopes to be supported by the country's sports authorities for her participation in the World Championships.

There's a long way to go to Los Angeles, we're a strong team, but we need support, teamwork , he concluded.

AFP

La Jornada Newspaper, Thursday, July 17, 2025, p. a12

Toulouse. A man wearing a T-shirt reading "Israel out of the Tour " who stormed into the final sprint of stage 11 of the Tour de France in Toulouse was arrested shortly afterward by local authorities.

The protester, who managed to jump onto the asphalt despite the security barriers, nearly crossed the finish line on foot, holding a Palestinian keffiyeh, before being tackled by a member of race security and arrested by police moments later.

The Israel-Premier Tech team is competing in the Tour with eight riders from other countries. It acquired the right to participate in the Tour de France in 2020 when Israel Start-Up National took over Katusha's World Tour license and has since achieved three stage victories, though none yet in this year's race.

Norwegian Jonas Abrahamsen attacked from the start to win stage 11 of the Tour , where favorite Tadej Pogacar crashed near the finish.

Pogacar, a three-time champion of the French round, crashed with 3.9 kilometers remaining. His rivals for the general classification slowed down so the Slovenian could get back on his bike and join them. Tadej, who was able to replace the chain on his bike, which suffered no further damage, thanked them for waiting.

"All good ," Pogacar said on the UAE Team Emirates XRG radio. "My respect to the peloton, respect to everyone ."

Abrahamsen beat Switzerland's Mauro Schmid in a photo finish after Belgian-Dutch rider Mathieu van der Poel made a late effort to catch them. It was the Norwegian's first stage win in the French Tour and the first at this race for his Uno-X Mobility team.

Van der Poel finished third, seven seconds behind. The general classification group, which included Pogacar and yellow jersey wearer Ben Healy, finished 3:28 behind.

▲ American player Brian Rodríguez celebrates a goal for his team during the match held at the Ciudad de los Deportes stadium. Photo AFP

From the Editorial Staff

La Jornada Newspaper, Thursday, July 17, 2025, p. a31

América earned its first win of the Liga MX 2025 Apertura tournament by defeating Tijuana 3-1 at the Ciudad de los Deportes stadium.

André Jardine's team opened the scoring in the first half thanks to Brian Rodríguez's penalty (34). The border squad created opportunities to level the score, and that momentum paid off in the 56th minute, thanks to Ramiro Árciga's goal.

Shortly after Xolos' goal, referee Marco Antonio Ortiz stopped the match in the 63rd minute to follow the safety protocol due to the lightning striking near the stadium. The pause benefited the Águilas, who recovered with a fierce header from Uruguayan Rodrigo Aguirre (65).

In stoppage time, Rodríguez scored his brace and showed off his technical prowess after controlling a long ball on the edge of the box and sealing his team's victory with a powerful, low shot.

Toluca defeats Santos 4-2

In another match, champion Toluca came from behind to beat Santos 4-2 at Corona Stadium, after Ocejo was sent off. Santos took the lead thanks to goals from Ramiro Sordo (14) and Ocejo (27), but the Devils equalized thanks to a double from Brazilian Helinho (43 and 48).

In the 67th minute, Robert Morales increased the lead with a powerful shot from outside the penalty area. Near the end, he capitalized on a counterattack to seal the match.