Natalia Escalera had her dreams shattered on Day 2 of the Paris Olympics 2024. Hoping to guide Mexico into the top 8, Escalera was her nation’s best bet. Unfortunately, after performing a decent routine on the uneven bars, Escalera went for the dismount which spelled doom for the Mexican artistic gymnast. 

After twisting in the air, Escalera had a sharp and awkward landing. She immediately looked in pain as Escalera posed for the audience. Unable to walk, the 22-year-old was helped off the stage by the Mexican support staff. As the gymnast broke down in tears, a medical team from the IOC rushed in to provide emergency attention. Unfortunately, the latest reports suggest that Escalera has injured the plantar ligament of her left leg. Such news comes as heartbreak for Mexico as Escalera will now take no further part in Paris 2024. 

Starting off her first apparatus on the uneven bars, Escalera notched up a modest score of 12.800. As a result of her disqualification, Escalera will not have an all-around score. With the latest updates coming in, Romania has reportedly taken pole position both in the individual and the team all around. Garnering an impressive 52.665 points, A. Ghigoarta stands in the first position. 

G. Fenton and A. Kinsella from Great Britain complete the top 3 with 52.632 and 51.999 points, respectively. Coming back to Escalera, she has been phenomenal with her routines in recent years. Nurturing the dream of appearing in an Olympic game, the Mexican gymnast cried when her dreams came true.

Natalia Escalera’s emotional outburst following her Olympic qualification 

Natalia Escalera started gymnastics when she was an eight-year-old kid. Ever since her first day in gymnastics, Escalera dreamt of representing her country at the Olympics. Training under the guidance of her childhood coach Pavel Oceguera, Escalera slowly began to take baby steps toward her goal. Escalera’s career blossomed in 2021 as she had a fantastic Pan American Championship outing. Clinching the silver for her team, Escalera went on to win individual gold in the vault. 

She continued her rise at the Pan American Championships by winning several more silver medals in the 2022 & 2023 editions. However, at the 2023 Pan American Games, Escalera’s performance won her a bronze medal, which propelled the gymnast toward the coveted Olympic spot. However, once Escalera got the news of her Olympic qualification, the 22-year-old could not control her emotions and burst out crying. In an interview with International Gymnast Online, Escalera stated, “When I read the Olympic square and my name, I started to cry, cry and cry, but with a feeling of relief and happiness.” Well, ironically, Natalia Escalera’s Olympic journey and conclusion both had tears. Unfortunately, it’s not the one that Escalera would have wanted.