José “Maligno” Torreswho won the BMX Freestyle gold medal for the country in the Paris 2024 Olympic Gameswas disappointed by the help he receives from the Government after having been crowned in France. In his words, he needs greater support for the next Olympic event in Los Angeles, in 2028.
“As an athlete I I thought that achieving an Olympic medal was establishing yourself as an athletea livelihood that you literally worked for, dreamed of, struggled for, and invested in. Maybe the expectation was too high. It was much lower than I expected. I’m still grateful, but it’s very complex.“explained the cyclist. In addition, he revealed that he receives approximately $680,000, something that barely allows him to “survive.”
And he added: “My most important support is my sponsors, that is, the private. That’s what lets me live. With the issue of scholarships you survive, which is different. I want to be well, be happy, I want to achieve things, invest and project. I don’t want to just survive. I tell you again, I understand the country. I’m not complaining, they also help us with travel and other issues.” Torres made it clear that he is concerned about his stability after achieving the historic victory.
His statements go hand in hand with the Argentine scholarship system, in which the ”Olympic Excellence” category has very little difference with what he received previously, about $525,000. Additionally, there are no updates to the value.
Finally, he showed his other concern: the future. “As much as I understand the situation in the country, we have to find the way around because I talked about it with them (Government). How can I face Los Angeles 2028? I have four years to work again to go to Los Angeles 2028, not knowing what there may be,” in dialogue with Argentina Amateur Deporte.
“I would like athletes to be supported a little more, not with something symbolic. We need support, help, more investment in sport. They already do it, we are already happy, but we always need a little more. That’s what we are asking. There are many new talents that are hidden and cannot be supported“, he concluded.
His meeting with Javier Milei after winning the medal
Before entering the building at Balcarce 50, the cyclist spoke to the press and assured that the Presidency’s invitation surprised him. “I have no idea what I’m going to tell him, let’s see what he asks us, but say hello. It’s a pleasure to be received by the President. We’re going to try to make it relaxed.”held.
Asked about the topics he would raise at the meeting, he said: “We are going to see if we can touch on the support for sports, if the situation arises, because it would be good to continue supporting athletes. What we are doing is also a job for all of us,” he highlighted.
Torres pointed out that he had support from the State to prepare his participation in Paris, although “obviously we also had the support of the results. That’s how we got to the Olympics, otherwise it would have been quite complicated. Private sponsors also give us a hand,” he explained.
He also commented on his intention to ask Milei “if they can make one or two more tracks at the national level that are Olympic like the one we have in Córdoba, because it is the only one. A very important basis when competing is being able to get used to the tracks very quickly, and being on only one is very difficult,” he considered.
After the match, “Maligno” and Milei went out to the balcony of the Casa Rosada to show the gold medal to the people who had gathered in Plaza de Mayo.
Source: Ambito
