We kick off the primary Tuesday of 2025 with a reader’s story on his Speedmaster. This week’s contribution comes from Ricardo Rio, who resides in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Ricardo has been a part of the Speedy Tuesday neighborhood for a very long time. He has an expert background in sports activities and joined BMX Freestyle bicycle owner José Torres on the Olympic Video games in Paris.
Competing with Olympic rifles
I’ll start this text by sharing that I began my sports activities profession very younger. Once I was eight, my father taught me to shoot with a Diana Mod. 25 air rifle. Taking pictures fascinated me due to the precision, focus, and full psychophysical self-control it calls for. I began competing at 12, representing my membership, the Tiro Federal Argentino de Buenos Aires. I shortly turned an Argentine champion, and at 17, I used to be topped South American Junior Champion, already competing with Olympic rifles.
From a really younger age, my ardour for sports activities taking pictures and fascination with the precision of watches went hand in hand. Each journey with the Argentine nationwide group was an ideal excuse to purchase a brand new watch. Even immediately, I spend my free time throughout worldwide journeys visiting historic websites and watch shops. Over time, my financial state of affairs allowed me to steadily transfer up the ladder to accumulate watches from numerous manufacturers. Nevertheless, my dream since childhood was all the time to personal a Speedmaster Moonwatch. Once I was eight years previous, I got here throughout {a magazine} whereas on trip. One in all its pages featured the enduring advert exhibiting Ed White, the Speedmaster, and Earth within the background. That picture was an emotional tsunami. It made a profound affect that marked me without end.
The Speedmaster Skilled accompanied me throughout vital moments
My first Speedmaster 145.022 accompanied me throughout the closing years of my aggressive life. Having been a modest worldwide shooter with good outcomes on the South American and Pan American ranges, I had the great fortune of competing in World Cups, World Championships, and Olympic qualifiers.
Whereas taking part in an Olympic Video games would have made me proud, it was no much less essential to me that, as a member of the nationwide group, I held a robust conviction {that a} stable, skilled training in sports activities sciences would permit me to stay on this great world. Thus, I graduated with a BA in Sports activities Science and a Ph.D. in Utilized Sciences. My Omega Speedmaster was with me throughout all these moments. Once I retired from the nationwide group, I set a brand new purpose — to work professionally for the following technology of Argentine athletes. I dreamed of being a part of a sports activities planning course of that may result in an Olympic medal. This aspiration led me to affix the Ente Nacional de Alto Rendimiento Deportivo (ENARD), the group answerable for supporting the sports activities planning of Argentina’s prime athletes.
Ricardo Rio (left), José Torres (proper)
José Torres, BMX Freestyle
In 2018, I met José Torres, a BMX Freestyle bicycle owner. An city, excessive, and extremely dangerous self-discipline, BMX Freestyle was a brand new addition to the Olympic competitors calendar. That yr, as I turned 50, I wished to present myself the Speedmaster Skilled “Sapphire Sandwich,” an beautiful watch that may accompany me for the remainder of my life, past the opposite Speedies in my assortment. I bought it on the Omega Boutique in Buenos Aires, the place Marcelo and Magda offered distinctive service. Since then, my Speedy has been by my aspect throughout an important moments of my day by day life.
With my Speedy on my wrist, I watched José win his first Pan American medal on the Lima 2019 Video games in Peru. My Speedmaster was with us throughout that first milestone of José’s profession. At that time, José was already projecting as a candidate for nice outcomes. His sports activities planning was continuously evaluated, and exact changes to safe future outcomes had been a basic a part of my work. My biggest duty was making certain José’s planning was as exact and efficient as my Speedmaster in reaching nice outcomes.
Paris 2024
All through the journey to the 2024 Paris Olympic Video games, my Omega Speedmaster Sapphire Sandwich was all the time with me. It’s true that once I journey overseas, I carry two watches — my Speedy and my Casio G-Shock as a substitute. On journeys, whatever the nation, retaining a low profile to keep away from pointless visibility and making certain the sturdiness of a watch in excessive conditions are important issues. Austerity and prudence are important to avoiding issues in unfamiliar or unsafe locations.
Lastly, José and I arrived in Paris. Though I had beforehand been in Châteauroux with the Olympic taking pictures group following Julián Gutierrez, our 10m Air Rifle finalist, José’s assist was assured by his wonderful and extremely dependable coach, Dr. Maximiliano Benadia.
On July thirtieth, at Concorde 2, the qualifying spherical occurred beneath very difficult climate situations. Alongside the strain of competitors, temperatures on the competitors park soared to just about 45°C. The humidity and warmth demanded cautious hydration and minimized solar publicity. My Speedmaster completely timed every phase of the runs between ramps, making certain the circuit was being accomplished throughout the deliberate instances. This might solely be achieved throughout the warm-up as a result of, as soon as the aggressive part started, my full consideration can be dedicated to offering private, emotional, and technical assist to the athlete.
Executing the plan
As a part of a wonderfully thought-out technique, José carried out solely technical methods and maneuvers throughout the qualification to safe a spot within the closing. At no level did he reveal or execute the acute methods he deliberate for the next day. This technique positioned him in seventh place, retaining him out of the highlight of different athletes, their coaches, and the media. The plan was to make sure qualification with minimal bodily exertion and a low profile, directing the aggressive strain and common consideration elsewhere for the ultimate.
After his qualification sequence, I used to be with José within the field whereas he modified. I bear in mind the time completely as a result of I had simply checked my Speedmaster — it was 5:45 PM native time. At that second, he requested me, “For tomorrow, I’ve two very totally different methods. One, exit with troublesome and technically complicated methods with out reaching their most expression. This technique ensures I end each runs, though it dangers not scoring sufficient factors for the rostrum. The second is to execute an excessive first run, pushing the methods and maneuvers to their restrict, reaching heights of as much as 10 meters. The chance with this technique is {that a} fall, which is extremely doubtless, could possibly be catastrophic. Past the potential harm, I wouldn’t have the energy for a second run. But when issues go effectively, a medal is feasible.”
At that second, a whirlwind of concepts and feelings surged via my thoughts — my expertise as an athlete, my tutorial coaching, and the duties that got here with offering an applicable response. My reply to José was essential to supporting him accurately. Like my Omega Speedmaster throughout important moments in its historical past, I confronted an unlimited problem. My response was brief and easy, aiming to ease the strain or drama of the choice: “José, you probably did every part very effectively immediately. There’s no must make rushed selections. It’s time to recuperate. Relaxation your physique and thoughts. Tomorrow, you’ll absolutely know what’s finest.” And with that, he went to relaxation.
Olympic gold
The next day, Thursday, July thirty first, was an important day of my skilled life in sports activities sciences. An athlete beneath my duty was a critical candidate for the Olympic podium, and every part hinged on the choice he would make.
We met within the field round 12:30 PM. The silence was an indication of respect for the focus and focus directed at reaching a end result. It was simply Maxi, José, and me. José requested his coach to get him some fruit and water to remain nourished and hydrated throughout the occasion. I understood completely that he wished to be alone with me. At that second, José stated, “I need your opinion. I’ve determined to make a really aggressive first run, aiming for excessive methods on the highest potential altitude. This fashion, I’ll rating the best factors potential, and the duty to surpass me will fall on the others. It’s true; it’s extremely dangerous as a result of a mistake can be deadly, nevertheless it’s the one strategy to win a medal.”
At that second, I noticed José wasn’t merely aiming for the rostrum — he was going for the gold medal. I used to be about to provide an important response of my skilled life to an athlete. Now was not the time to sow doubts. I wanted to assist him in pursuing the final word achievement, with all of the dangers it entailed. So I stated, “José, I assist your determination. No matter occurs, you’ve got my full assist.” He replied, “That’s what I wished to listen to, Rio.”
The remaining is historical past. José achieved Olympic gold, and my Speedmaster was prominently featured within the official broadcast on the Olympic Channel. I particularly cherish the picture of us sitting outdoors the stadium, awaiting the outcomes. Within the photograph, I’m visibly joyful, with a clenched fist and my Speedy within the foreground as we had been knowledgeable that José, based mostly on his rating, had already secured an Olympic podium spot.
Our ardour for watches goes past their high quality, magnificence, or status. It’s not even in regards to the manufacturers we will afford. The fervour and dedication to our watches will be valued in these distinctive moments in life — moments that mark us without end — after they faithfully accompany us. After all, the one Olympic champion right here is José Torres. Nevertheless, being an intimate a part of his group and having my Moonwatch by my aspect throughout his planning and competitors course of permits me, modestly, to say that my Speedmaster can be an Olympic champion.
You may comply with Ricardo Rio right here.
