Lucero Mejia ‘26 represented Guatemala in the 2024 Olympic Games held in Paris. While she was excited to go, she was not originally guaranteed a spot on the team and had to work very hard to get selected.
In Guatemala and other smaller countries, swimmers with the highest FINA points are the athletes who are selected to compete. FINA points are assigned according to a swimmer’s performance. The faster you are, the higher your points are in an event. The swimmers with the highest points total in an event are selected.
Mejia was ranked number one in her country going into the season, but that took a turn when she was suddenly bumped down to number two by another swimmer. Mejia began to doubt herself.
“I thought, ‘I’m not going to make it anymore,’” she said. She had a month to improve her times to get back her number one spot and go to the Olympics.
“I trained very hard, I was very disciplined, and I was on the right track again.”
Mejia always thought she would be going to the Olympics for the 200 freestyle, but she soon realized she wouldn’t be able to make it for that event. “I was not improving my time in the 200 freestyle and had a mental block, but then we saw another opportunity in the 100 back. So that’s why we went for it.”
After months of training and staying dedicated she got an unexpected but highly anticipated call finding out that she was selected. “My parents called me and we were all on the phone crying. We were very excited,” Mejia said. “I was hugged by a teammate, and it was a really wholesome experience.”
Fast forward to July 2024, Mejia arrived in Paris, “My favorite part was definitely the opening ceremony, because there were so many people, and it was so hyped up,” shesaid. She also shared how she liked the diversity and the different cultures represented in the Olympic village.
There was a lot of controversy about the facilities in the Olympic village, but Mejia had a different look on it. “The room was very spacious. There were six people in one room so it was pretty nice. There was no air conditioning, but it’s whatever, I’m in the Olympics, so I’m just glad to be there.”
After the excitement of the opening ceremony and meeting new people, the time came when she had to get ready for her race and focus on her swim.
“There was a moment in the blocks, I was just telling myself, ‘this is what you’ve trained for.’ One of the reasons I came to Bolles was to make the Olympics.”
A tradition that athletes in the Olympic village do is trade pins, Mejia traded about 50 pins with different athletes from all around the world. “It was actually a nice experience. You can talk a little bit with that person, and learn what sports they do and where they come from. And it was nice meeting new people.”
After she competed, she celebrated by eating. “I basically ate all the chocolate muffins,” shesaid. “Then I got to go out one day with my family, so I visited the Palace of Versailles.” She enjoyed getting to go out with her family to explore Paris.
When looking back at the Games, Mejia doesn’t think about the stress. “I cannot even remember that feeling right now because the only thing I can remember is going to the Olympic Games. I’m just thinking about the happy times” Mejia said. She hopes to do this all again for the Olympic Games 2028.
