My Olympic Experience: CARLOS OQUENDO (Colombia)

Nov 30, 2016

Written by Bart de Jong

Read 3157 times

Name: CARLOS OQUENDO
Number in Rio: 566
Country: COLOMBIA
Result: 10

How tough was the competition in your country to get a spot on the Olympic team for Rio?
Carlos Oquendo: The tough moment was to keep the country spot.

What kind of preparation did you do with the National Olympic team before you took off to Brasil?
Carlos Oquendo: We were in the USA for almost a month, making solutions for the olympics.

The track looked a bit different than at the test event(s). What did you like about the Olympic track and what did you think didn't work?
Carlos Oquendo: The track was perfect. i think the hardest part was the wind.

Was it difficult to keep your heart rate down when you walked up the hill for your first qualifying lap?
Carlos Oquendo: Sure, everyone wanted to start off well in the qualifications straight away.

You basically worked for a couple of years to do well during the Olympic Games. Was it all worth it?
Carlos Oquendo: Yes everything was perfect. I felt better and I worked harder than the past Olympics.

Were you happy with your results?
Carlos Oquendo: I expected better results. The good thing is Carlos Ramirez and Mariana had a good result for the country.

How important has your coach been during the race in Rio?
Carlos Oquendo: The whole team was important because everyone had their challenges.

How did it feel being part of your national Olympic team?
Carlos Oquendo: I felt very proud and happy to be part of the Olympic Games again.

Did you get some social media updates done while you were in Brasil?
Carlos Oquendo: We tried to keep social media very updated so everyone knew what we were doing.

How tight was security in Rio?
Carlos Oquendo: In Rio we had less security than in London, but usually it is good.

Who were your picks for the gold one week before the race (men/women)?
Carlos Oquendo: I wanted to win and I knew that Mariana could win too.

Ever since you made it back home, have things changed much after the games?
Carlos Oquendo: No, everything stayed the same.

Did you do any special appearances back home as an Olympian?
Carlos Oquendo: Yes, I went to some events talking about the experiences in RIO.

Are you going to put all the effort into it again to do it all over in Tokyo 2020?
Oquendo: That's the idea!