Adriana Ruano Oliva: Golden gun delivers defining moment for Guatemala at Paris 2024

Standing on top of the medal podium at the Olympic Games Paris 2024, Guatemalan trap shooter Adriana Ruano Oliva admits to being overcome by a mix of emotions.

She had just won her nation’s first Olympic gold medal, and first of any colour by a Guatemalan woman. For added emphasis, she set a new Olympic record in the final to secure her medal.

As her country’s flag began to rise into the mid-afternoon sky, Ruano Oliva’s initial thoughts were of her father, whom she lost just three weeks before her first Olympic appearance at Tokyo 2020.

But when her national anthem began playing for the first time in the 128-year history of the modern Olympic Games and a small army of Guatemalans on hand to support her began belting out the opening words – "Guatemala feliz!" or "Happy Guatemala!" – Ruano Oliva was suddenly consumed by a feeling of gratitude.

Fortunately for Guatemalans the world over, the country was afforded the opportunity of celebrating its greatest Olympic showing replete with all its national trappings – team colours, flag, anthem. Because things could have unfolded much differently.

Only a few months earlier, the NOC of Guatemala was mired in a year-and-a-half-long suspension, a measure taken by the IOC Executive Board to protect the NOC from government interference in its internal governance.

While the suspension was necessary to protect the Olympic Movement in the country, it nevertheless had a significant impact on Guatemalan athletes. They were now barred from representing their country at Olympic events, including the Games, and instead had to compete as neutral athletes. No national flag or anthem would accompany them on their Olympic journey.

The impact was also acutely felt throughout the NOC, with most employees having to cease work as salaries were no longer being paid.

“It was a very difficult time for our NOC and Guatemalan sport in general,” explained Lizza Alonzo, NOC Communications Director. “The atmosphere became one of fear, uncertainty and sadness. Many people lost their jobs.”

One NOC administrator who continued to work throughout the suspension was Director of International Relations Neville Styles. Despite facing numerous hurdles, Styles said the NOC was appreciative of the IOC’s support in resolving the situation in line with the Olympic Charter and the fundamental principles of the Olympic Movement.

Standing by the NOC throughout, the IOC began by rejecting the outcome of the elections resulting from the government interference in October 2021. It advocated for a fair process to support the NOC’s efforts to review and approve its statutes (December 2021), and for fresh NOC elections to be held in March 2022 under the supervision of the IOC and Panam Sports.

In addition to clearly reiterating its position on numerous occasions, the IOC maintained an open dialogue with IOC-recognised office-bearers and government authorities, while closely monitoring the progress of appeals before the constitutional court in Guatemala.

After months of negotiations, including a crucial face-to-face meeting in Lausanne between the IOC President and Guatemalan President Bernardo Arevalo, the IOC-recognised office bearers of the NOC elected were reinstated on 16 March 2024. They were given full authority to lead the NOC under IOC-approved NOC statutes from December 2021 and the Olympic Charter.

As a result, the suspension was provisionally lifted by the IOC Executive Board on 19 March 2024, allowing for Guatemalan athletes to participate at Paris 2024 without restrictions.

The decision paved the way for Ruano Oliva to write her name into Olympic and Guatemalan history, a feat that earned her a hero’s welcome upon returning home.

To this day, she still gets stopped in public by appreciative strangers.