9781422286852

Timeline

1970

Manuel Raga becomes the first Mexican-born player to be drafted by the NBA; he plays for the Hawks; Mexico hosts the World Cup finals. Rookie Fernando Valenzuela wins the National League’s Cy Young Award, the first Mexican-born pitcher to do so. Valenzuela would win 173 games during his major-league career. José Manuel Youshimatz wins Mexico’s only Olympic medal in cycling; he takes the bronze in the 50-kilometer race. Jorge Campos signs on with UNAM (Pumas); Mexico again hosts the World Cup finals. The first Mexican National One-Wall Championships are held in Guadalupe. Adriana Fernández becomes the first Mexican woman to win the New York City Marathon; she is the first woman of Mexico to accomplish this feat. Soraya Jiménez lifts her way to the gold medal podium at the Sydney Olympics. Four Mexican athletes win medals at the Olympic Games in Athens: Ana Guevara (silver, 400m), Belem Guerrero (silver, cycling), Oscar Salazar (silver, Taekwondo), and Iridia Salazar (bronze, Taekwondo). Professional golfer Lorena Ochoa retires from the sport after spending three years as the world’s top-ranked female golfer. The Mexican fútbol team defeats Brazil to win the Olympic gold medal. Overall, Mexican athletes win seven medals at the games.

1981

9

1984

1986

1995

1999

2000

2004

2010

2012

2014

Mexico competes in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.