Shaheen (EOR) was first up to face her and fell quickly. Next was recent world medallist and number 4 seed Angelika Szymanska (POL) and again it was a win for Mexico, one which brought a look of disbelief to Awiti-Alcaraz’s face. She then threw Piovesana (AUT) with o-uchi-gari to reach the semi-final and again she gave the crowd an enormous smile.
Prisca’s semi-final was against another underdog of the event, the recently qualified Croatian, Katarina Kristo. A juji-gatame sent Kristo to the bronze medal contest and left Prisca unable to compute her unreal achievement. In interview after the frenzy of the final died down, she spoke about her Olympic experience and her silver medal.
“I live my life and train mostly in Mexico City, coming back to London for short spells to see family and catch up with my London club. I’ve just been told that I now need an agent and my own security detail because Mexico has gone wild celebrating this medal! This is all crazy to me. I still can’t believe it.
The Mexican Olympic Committee got tickets for my mum, brothers and original coach from Enfield Judo Club in London, George. My mum was too nervous to come inside though and chose to watch the final block online from a local restaurant. She said to give her ticket to a friend who couldn’t otherwise come in. My boyfriend Oscar then went to join her; perhaps he was too nervous too. Some guy in the restaurant figured out who they were and then dozens of media people turned up at the restaurant to watch my mum watching the final block online.
My dad can’t use his phone at work and he had stayed at home in the UK due to immovable work commitments, so he sent a good luck message in the morning but didn’t know anything until he left work at the end of the day and found out he had an Olympic silver medallist for a daughter. It was all on our family group chat but he hadn’t been able to see it. That first FaceTime with him was quite something!”
There are also serious issues at hand, beyond the excitement and joy and achievements of the day. “It’s important to understand that within PanAmerica’s Latin countries, other than Brazil and Cuba, we have not had much positive exposure at all in the media. There is so much talent in Mexico so it’s crazy to me that this is the first Olympic medal for them. I have been with Mexico for this whole cycle, with a Mexican team, Mexican training partners, Mexican coach and Mexican planning. It shows what we can do and the talent will come through if we assist it."
"In the media they sometimes talk about me being from Britain but the improvement has come in this last four years since I’ve been doing the majority of my training, planning and team-building in Mexico. With the talent that’s there, they just needed someone to do it, to show them it’s possible. Now they have seen that big things can be achieved. Two bronzes from the men saved us at the PanAms and so the men’s team are also starting to believe in themselves. Mexico has great potential now for the future. They’re travelling, being inspired and anything can happen for us all in the future.
None of this has happened by accident. I think there was a big mental change after Tokyo. I believe in myself more and the steady climb of results has contributed to that. For many athletes there’s a barrier and then you take a medal and so the confidence starts to come and you realise you’ve passed that barrier. I found a system that works for me. I used to pressure myself so much for a medal but now I’m really present, one fight at a time.
You know I have always visualised a lot. I really enjoy creating video edits, so when I’m in the gym and listening to music, I imagine editing videos; I’ve been imagining reels of myself at the Games, not against anyone in particular but I had imagined me winning the semi-final with an armlock. Everyone knows I don’t do groundwork and then I did. I think I imagined it because it was so far fetched but then it happened. Now I’m having a hard time remembering but I need to remember which of those songs I was listening to in the gym when I imagined that, as it has to go on my highlight edit.”
Prisca Awiti-Alcaraz grew up in Britain but she’s Mexican made, at least this beautiful shiny Olympic silver medal is and the performance that goes with it. Heritage is important to Prisca and her family and she’s excited to see what her medal can do for the rest of the team and for the Mexican teams of the future.