
Join me on my Journey to the 2024 Olympic Games!
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Hola!
Greetings to all the kind-hearted individuals visiting this page. I know you're eager to support a good cause and bring generous meaning to your life. I hope you find a compelling reason here, worthy of your generous heart. I invite you to get to know my story.
I am Martín Gajardo, a Modern Pentathlon athlete and national representative of Chile. My passion lies in competitive sports, and I have an Olympic dream to fulfill.
I was born in Chile 26 years ago, and for the past 7 years, I've been a resident of Canada. I came here to study, graduated, and now have a job and residence in the beautiful city of Calgary. From a young age, I started competing in swimming and later had the chance to discover an Olympic sport that challenged all my limits and became a source of joy, setbacks, and a fascinating experience: Modern Pentathlon, which combines five sports disciplines in one Olympic event - Swimming, Fencing, Equestrian, Shooting, and Running.

As you can imagine, Modern Pentathlon demands intense physical effort and technical skills. It requires significant dedication, various types of training, and financial resources. All this, in my case, has to be balanced with study and work commitments. I take great pride in maintaining consistency and perseverance for this beautiful sport despite major life changes. Building a life in Canada, I've made great friends here; my gratitude and affection for this beautiful country knows no bounds. Fortunately, my sports career has been sustained thanks to my family's support, personal effort, and strong connections with my home country of Chile, which I am genuinely proud to represent in various international tournaments I've participated in.
As mentioned earlier, my journey started with swimming, but through rigorous training, I assimilated the sports techniques needed to compete in various Modern Pentathlon events. At just 17 years old, I was selected to represent my country and had the opportunity to feel the passion and grandeur of major competitions. My first significant athletic achievement was participating in the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto. I've also competed in the official circuit of the International Modern Pentathlon Union (UIPM) and various regional tournaments. My latest participation was in my home country of Chile in the recent Santiago 2023 Pan American Games.
My dream is to solidify my sports career and secure a spot in the Paris 2024 Olympics. This is a pivotal moment for Modern Pentathlon, as significant changes to the discipline combination will occur after Paris, possibly ushering in a generational shift and the continuation of many athletes' careers. For this reason, I have the last chance to secure a spot by improving my position in the Olympic ranking, which classifies athletes based on international circuit results. In 2024, tournaments start in March and end in June, covering 5 countries, demanding significant financial effort from each country's federations.
Regrettably, my country cannot finance all the tournaments, leaving it to individual initiatives to seek private funding or sponsorship. The key to qualifying through the Olympic ranking is completing the entire circuit and maximizing points. Missing a tournament significantly reduces my chances regardless of my performance in the remaining competitions. Currently, I stand at 72 out of 166 athletes in the ranking. To have a chance at qualifying, I need to be among the top 40 by the end of the 2024 circuit (March-May). It's a colossal challenge, very difficult, but not impossible. I have confidence in my abilities and believe I'm at the right age for maximum potential, experience, and skill.
Aside from the risk of not participating in all tournaments due to lack of funding, I must consider that I do not receive subsidized funds for full-time dedication. Therefore, I must balance my financial sustenance with work, which puts me at a disadvantage in maximizing my capabilities and arriving better prepared for each competition.
Despite these difficulties, I remain optimistic and want to keep the Olympic dream alive, and you can help me persist in my Olympic dream. That's why I've turned to this fundraising method and the confidence that GoFundMe gives me.
My schedule is intense, juggling a full-time job with rigorous training sessions across multiple sports. It's time to seek your support through this GoFundMe campaign. My goal is to raise $15,000 to cover essential expenses and finance my participation in the maximum number of tournaments, including rent, nutrition, sports equipment, training, and coaching, allowing me to fully dedicate myself to this Olympic preparation.
Here's the plan: If I succeed in my first World Cup on April 16th and manage to secure those crucial Olympic points, the journey continues to the next competition. Otherwise, all funds raised up to that point will be donated to a charitable organization here in Calgary.
Your contribution goes beyond financial assistance; it's an investment in a dream, a belief in the pursuit of excellence, an opportunity to achieve my goal. Together, we can make a significant impact on my journey to the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
I invite you to join me on this exciting adventure by contributing to my GoFundMe campaign. Your support, whether big or small, brings me one step closer to fulfilling my goal of representing Chile on the most prestigious stage, and together, we will reach the peak! I hope to have your valuable support. Your name will hold a special place in my memories and gratitude. Thank you very much in advance for being a vital part of my journey. Your encouragement and support mean a lot to me.

Organizer

Martin Gajardo Lizama
Organizer
Calgary, AB