Natalia Escalera

Natalia Isabel Escalera Cárdenas (born July 3, 2002) is a Mexican artistic gymnast. She is the 2021 Pan American champion on vault.

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Escalera and the second or maternal family name is Cárdenas.
Natalia Escalera
Full nameNatalia Isabel Escalera Cárdenas
Country represented Mexico
Born (2002-07-03) July 3, 2002
Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico
Years on national team2017–present (MEX)
ClubBaja Dynamo
Head coach(es)Pavel Oceguera
Medal record
Representing  Mexico
Pan American Games
Bronze medal – third place2023 SantiagoVault
Pan American Championships
Gold medal – first place2021 Rio de JaneiroVault
Silver medal – second place2021 Rio de JaneiroTeam
Silver medal – second place2022 Rio de JaneiroVault
Silver medal – second place2023 MedellínTeam
Silver medal – second place2023 MedellínAll-around
Bronze medal – third place2018 LimaTeam
Bronze medal – third place2023 MedellínVault
Bronze medal – third place2023 MedellínUneven bars
Bronze medal – third place2023 MedellínFloor exercise
Central American and Caribbean Games
Gold medal – first place2023 San SalvadorTeam
Silver medal – second place2023 San SalvadorFloor exercise

Early life

Escalera was born in Ensenada in 2002 and began gymnastics when she was three years old.[1]

Gymnastics career

2017

At the 2017 Mexican national championships Escalera finished third in the all-around in the junior division.[2] At the Central American Sports Festival she finished seventh in the all-around and second on vault.[3]

2018–19

Escalera turned senior in 2018. She finished sixth at her first senior-level national championships. Due to her strong vaulting, she was selected to represent Mexico at the 2018 Pan American Championships. While there she helped Mexico finish third.[4]

At the 2019 Mexican Championships Escalera placed twelfth.

2021

Escalera returned to competition at the 2021 Pan American Championships where she helped Mexico place second and individually she placed fifth in the all-around and was the highest placing Mexican gymnast. She qualified to three event finals, originally finishing second on vault behind Martina Dominici, fifth on uneven bars, and fifth on floor exercise.[5] However, it was later revealed that Dominici had tested positive for a banned substance; as a result her results were overturned and Escalera was awarded the gold medal on vault.[6]

At the World Championships Escalera qualified to the vault final where she placed seventh.

2022

Escalera competed at the 2022 Pan American Championships where she helped Mexico place fourth as a team and qualify for the upcoming World Championships. Individually she won silver on vault behind Karla Navas of Panama.

2023

Escalera competed at the 2023 Pan American Championships where she won silver in the all-around behind Tiana Sumanasekera. Additionally she also bronze three bronze medals on vault, uneven bars, and floor exercise.

Competitive history
Year Event Team AA VT UB BB FX
Junior
2017Mexican Championships3rd place, bronze medalist(s)
Central American Sports Festival72nd place, silver medalist(s)
Senior
2018Mexican Championships6
Pan American Championships3rd place, bronze medalist(s)
2019Mexican Championships12
2021
Pan American Championships2nd place, silver medalist(s)1st place, gold medalist(s)44
CONADE National Games3rd place, bronze medalist(s)1st place, gold medalist(s)2nd place, silver medalist(s)82nd place, silver medalist(s)
World Championships7
2022
Pan American Championships492nd place, silver medalist(s)
Szombathely Challenge Cup545
World ChampionshipsR3
2023
Pan American Championships2nd place, silver medalist(s)2nd place, silver medalist(s)3rd place, bronze medalist(s)3rd place, bronze medalist(s)3rd place, bronze medalist(s)
Central American & Caribbean Games1st place, gold medalist(s)452nd place, silver medalist(s)
World Championships14
Pan American Games463rd place, bronze medalist(s)

References
  1. "Natalia Ensenada FIG profile". International Gymnastics Federation.
  2. "2017 Mexican Championships Results". The Gymternet. June 1, 2017.
  3. "2017 Central American Sports Festival Results". The Gymternet. June 30, 2017.
  4. "Natalia Escalera, la menor del México clasificado a los Panamericanos de Lima". AGP Noticias (in Spanish). September 25, 2018.
  5. "Natalia Escalera regresa a Ensenada con dos platas panamericanas". AGP Noticias (in Spanish). June 6, 2021.
  6. "Argentina gymnast Dominici receives three-year doping ban". Inside the Games. September 13, 2021.
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