CASTILLO GALINDO Rut

General
EXPERIENCE PAYS
She believes the fact that she is one of the older gymnasts competing at international level gives her an advantage in terms of experience. "After [the 2016 Olympic Games in] Rio de Janeiro many junior girls jumped to senior level and I saw them with plenty of energy, trying difficult routines and I asked myself how could I compete against them. However, experience always pays off in every aspect. I am an experienced gymnast who has competed in several stages and I think this has played in my favour." (milenio.com, 16 Jun 2021)

SPORTS BREAK
After not qualifying for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, she put aside her sporting career to focus on her international relations studies and also worked as a gymnastics coach. "One of the hardest moments was just after I failed to qualify for Rio in 2015. I was so sad and disappointed that I decided to stop." She returned to the sport in 2017. "I decided to come back to competition and it was when I began a second life in my career as a gymnast." (jornada.com.mx, 12 Jul 2019); mediotiempo.com, 21 Jun 2021)

SANCTION
In May 2011 she was suspended for six months and fined 6500 Swiss francs by the International Gymnastics Federation [FIG] after testing positive for the banned substance sibutramine in December 2010. She said she unwittingly consumed the substance in a nutrition supplement. (masdeporte.as.com, 02 May 2011; espn.com.ve, 02 May 2011; jornada.com.mx, 2 Jul 2019)

In 2021 she became the first Mexican rhythmic gymnast to qualify for the Olympic Games when she claimed a quota place for the 2020 edition in Tokyo after winning gold in the all-around event at the 2021 Pan American Championships in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (olimpicos.marcaclaro.com, 12 Jun 2021; SportsDeskOnline, 28 Jun 2021)