Accurate Aim at the Medal Stand in Universiada

María Fernanda Martínez Flores, a member of the Polytechnic archery team, has consistently qualified for national olympiads

Enrique Soto

“At the Politécnico, I rediscovered my path in sports and achieved an academic education that opens new development opportunities for me; both have become my two great passions united by one word: Perseverance,” asserted María Fernanda Martínez Flores, winner of the third-place medal at the 2024 National Universiade with the archery team of the Instituto Politécnico Nacional (IPN).

With a simple demeanor and a smile that outlines her personality, Marifer — as she is called by her family and friends — shares her experience as a member of a team of high-performance athletes who have conquered national and international podiums, in competitions where the Polytechnic flag has been proudly waved.

The student of the Surgeon and Midwife degree program, offered at the Escuela Nacional de Medicina y Homeopatía (ENMH), confessed that her grandfather was a Petroleum Engineer who graduated from the Politécnico. “He always told me he would be very happy to have one of his granddaughters studying at the Poli. He kept thinking I would take the entrance exam to IPN, but unfortunately, he passed away. Wherever he is, my grandfather must be very happy and proud to have a granddaughter with a heart dyed in maroon and white.”

Sense of Belonging

Marifer is an outstanding student, with a general average of 9.27, and she is about to start her undergraduate medical internship at a health system hospital. She acknowledged that Polytechnic students stand out from other students because they have a great sense of belonging. “That’s something contagious; my friends and professors have become my second family,” she commented.

Thanks to great athletes like Aida Román Arroyo — Mexico's most prominent archer, who has paved the way for women in this sport and positioned Mexico in the world rankings with her medals — Marifer found the inspiration to join this discipline at the age of 13.

She mentioned that her coach, Berenice Elienai González Ayala, and her teammates have developed a work philosophy where solidarity and collaboration are present on every training day. “It’s a competitive environment, but the secret lies in the fact that solid teamwork allows us to excel in a discipline that is naturally individual,” she emphasized.

From the field where she trains, Marifer shared the following anecdote: “I was disassembling my bow, and my friend Paquito came over. He said, ‘Are you shooting with that?’ I answered, ‘Yes.’ The bow has a rest where the arrow is placed; it was one of the cheapest ones and worked with a wire that looked like a safety pin. We laughed a lot because, with that cheap arrow rest, I had scored high that day. Then my teammates gave me a new rest, which I still use in my practices.”

From 2013 to 2020, Marifer managed to qualify for the national olympiads, which provided her with great sports experiences. She has also participated in state and regional competitions. The athlete acknowledges that with the great achievements of Olympic archer Aida Román and other outstanding athletes, women’s participation in this discipline has strengthened.

The young Polytechnic student foresees that the national archery team will achieve highly positive results at the 2024 Paris Olympics. “It’s a very strong team that will undoubtedly represent Mexico with pride and compete head-to-head with the top representatives of other nations.”

Marifer recognized that high-performance athletes often have to make significant sacrifices, such as when she did not attend her graduation ceremony at ENMH to participate in the 2024 National Universiada recently held in Aguascalientes.

Finally, to the young women about to enter the Politécnico, Marifer advised them to practice a sport without neglecting their academics to achieve a well-rounded education. “Don’t give up; balancing school and sports is challenging but not impossible. The Poli always supports and welcomes you.”

Gaceta Politécnica #1809. (July 15th, 2024). IPN Imagen Institucional: Read the full magazine in Spanish here.