Colombian surfer Daniel Olmos will not compete in the Lima 2019 Pan American Games after his country's Olympic committee denied his registration due to the low expectations of a good result that his country's federation established for the athlete, the surfer reported on social media and the organization reported in a statement.

According to both parties, when consulted by the country's Olympic committee about the chances of results of the three qualified athletes, the brothers Giorgio and Isabella Gómez and Daniel Olmos, the federation's technicians indicated that the surfer would not make it into the top 8 and in light of this the Colombian Olympic Committee decided not to register him.

This will open a spot for, hopefully, the highest ranked athlete with a spot according to the ALAS ranking, which is Bryan Pérez from El Salvador.

Faced with this situation, Olmos wrote a long letter on social media in which he points out that he has been discriminated against by the president of the Colombian federation, Andrés Porras, and the coach, Jesús Capote. “I don’t understand why they do this. Envy? Rivalry between cities? Sporting interest?” wrote the Colombian surfer in his Instagram post (see below) in which he recounts his journey, denounces irregularities, details different situations experienced with the federation and its leaders, and asks the president not to continue using the hashtag #nomásPorras.

“Do you realize how the president of a federation and the coach can do whatever they want with an athlete? Andrés Porras, you couldn’t believe that I qualified, until you achieved what you wanted. I’m not going to the 2019 Pan American Games because of you and your friend Jesús Capote. May God bless you,” the letter states.

In response to the post, the president wrote a statement to the public in which he said: “The athlete insists that as a federation we should have said that he would make it to the top 8 of the event, in other words, he wants us to lie to the COC, which is clearly an option that we could never even consider.".

Surfing has entered the Pan American Games for the first time in the history of sport. The debut will be in July, in Lima 2019. The surfing event will be in Punta Rocas.

For the test, it was determined that 16 open male surfers would qualify, with ISA, PASA, ALAS hierarchy, in that order. Once the countries that have a maximum of two athletes were determined, a maximum of one athlete per gender per country was established. Olmos, ranked 28th, was the second eligible in the ALAS ranking.

Now comes Salvadoran Pérez, in 52nd place.

 

See this post on Instagram

 

What a shame to have to use my networks for this! What a shame for Colombia but this has to be made public. People have to know all this that the Federation led by Andrés Porras does with its competitors. Right now I am the second competitor who complains publicly about this person but I know that there are many who are afraid of losing their position as an athlete or working for the championships. The time has come for all those who write to me supporting me internally to let me know what they think of all this that is happening and allowing in the Colombian Federation. Judges speak up, don't stay silent. I have my networks ready for you to vent! Those who have written to me! Athletes, Presidents of Leagues, of foundation clubs, don't be afraid! Those who have written to me! We have to complain! Few of us have the opportunity to represent Colombia, few have to live through this, those from Bolívar are used to it if they complain they are thrown out so if it wasn't Simon it would be my turn because nobody says anything. Read clearly! Sorry for the mistakes, these have been days of great sadness. 🇨🇴💔🙏🏼 DO WE NOT HAVE TO PUT UP WITH THIS? @colombiasurfing @andresporrasv #NOMasRosca #NOMasPorras

A publication shared by Daniel Olmos (@dansurfcolombia) the 22's 2019 May Have 5: 40 PDT

Fecolsurf's statement to the public by Pablo Zanocchi He Scribd