BUENOS AIRES, Oct. 13 (Xinhua) -- Cesar Cordova Fernandez of Mexico, the youngest race walker at Buenos Aires 2018 Youth Olympic Games men's 5,000m field, aims to get a gold medal at the world's top event for teenagers aged between 15-18.
"I came here with goal of winning the gold medal. I made preparations and I have the spirits to achieve that goal," the 15-year-old said on Saturday. "I think I have some advantage here in Argentina, so I could be closer to the Olympic medal."
Fernandez is also one of the youngest among the 93-athlete delegation that Mexico sent to Buenos Aires.
"I started to race walk when I was six, thanks to my parents, who always have a healthy lifestyle. They introduced me to this sport," he said.
The teenager still remember the day when he discovered his specialty. He said: "My parents took me to an athletic field, where I saw some race walkers training and what they were doing fascinated me. So I went to see who was their trainer and I asked to join the group. At first, I just did it for fun and for good health. But later I was introduced to a race walk coach and from then on I've been training all the time."
Fernandez knows that his discipline is one of the most important sports in his country and he is ready to take up the challenge.
"In Mexico, race walk has always been one of the strong event in athletics, so I know I have to do something to keep it going forward," he said.
