- Weather may delay launch of mission to study deflected asteroid
- China to flesh out economic stimulus plans after bumper rally
- Artist Marina Abramovic hopes first China show offers tech respite
- Asian markets track Wall St rally on US jobs data
- Pakistan 122-1 at lunch in first England Test
- Kazakhs approve plan for first nuclear power plant
- World marks anniversary of Oct. 7 attack on Israel
- 'Second family': tennis stars hunt winning formula with new coaches
- Philippines, South Korea agree to deepen maritime cooperation
- Mexico mayor murdered days after taking office
- Sardinia's sheep farmers battle bluetongue as climate warms
- Japan govt admits doctoring 'untidy' cabinet photo
- Israel marks first anniversary of Hamas's October 7 attack
- Darvish tames Ohtani as Padres thrash Dodgers
- Asian markets track Wall St rally on jobs data
- Family affair as LeBron, Bronny James make Lakers bow
- Cancer, cardiovascular drugs tipped for Nobel as prize week opens
- As Great Salt Lake dries, Utah Republicans pardon Trump climate skepticism
- Amazon activist warns of 'critical situation' ahead of UN forum
- Mourners pay tribute to latest victims of deadly Channel crossing
- Tunisia incumbent Saied set to win presidential vote: exit polls
- Phillies win thriller to level Mets series
- Yu bags first PGA Tour win with playoff win
- PSG held by Nice to leave Monaco clear at top of Ligue 1
- AC Milan fall at Fiorentina after De Gea's penalty heroics
- Lewandowski treble for leaders Barca as Atletico held
- Fresh Israeli strikes hit south Beirut
- Sucic stunner earns Real Sociedad draw against Atletico
- PSG draw with Nice, fail to reclaim top spot in Ligue 1
- Gudmundsson downs AC Milan after De Gea's penalty heroics for Fiorentina
- 'Yes' vote prevails in Kazakhstan nuclear plant vote: TV
- 'Difficult day': Oct 7 commemorations begin with festival memorial
- Commemorations begin for anniversary of attack on Israel
- Lewandowski hat-trick powers Liga leaders Barca to Alaves victory
- 'Nothing gets in way of team,' says Celtics' MVP hopeful Tatum
- India maintain Pakistan stranglehold as Windies cruise at Women's T20 World Cup
- 'We will win!': Mozambique's ruling party confident at final vote rally
- Tunisia voting ends as Saied eyes re-election with critics behind bars
- Florida braces for Milton, FEMA head slams 'dangerous' Helene misinformation
- Postecoglou slams 'unacceptable' Spurs after 'terrible' loss at Brighton
- Marmoush double denies Bayern outright Bundesliga top spot
- Rallies worldwide call for Gaza, Lebanon ceasefire
- Maresca hails Chelsea's 'fighting' spirit after draw with 10-man Forest
- New 'Joker' film, a dark musical, tops N.America box office
- Man Utd stalemate keeps Ten Hag in danger, Spurs rocked by Brighton
- Drowned by hurricane, remote N.Carolina towns now struggle for water
- Vikings hold off Jets in London to stay unbeaten
- Ahead of attack anniversary, Netanyahu says: 'We will win'
- West Indies cruise to T20 World Cup win over Scotland
- Arshdeep, Chakravarthy help India hammer Bangladesh in T20 opener
Olympics is 'crazy dream' for Mexican skater who trains in mall
Donovan Carrillo practises on an ice rink in a shopping mall and only got into figure skating in the first place to impress a girl.
But on Tuesday he became the first Mexican to progress past the first round of the Olympic figure skating -- and had a lot of fun doing it.
A vivacious short programme performance to Santana's "Black Magic Woman" and "Shake It" -- complete with a cheeky hip thrust -- earned him a personal-best score and a place in the men's single free skate on Thursday in Beijing.
"I didn't want it to end," he said. "I wanted to keep skating and living the Olympic dream."
In trying to show off to a girl as an eight-year-old boy, he found his calling.
Now 22, it is a "dream come true" to be at the Beijing Games.
"Many people told me during the beginning of my career that this was a crazy dream for a kid," he said. "They were always laughing or telling me it was impossible for a Mexican to qualify.
"I never wanted to think like that and I always tried to push harder."
He credited his coach, with whom he shared a long hug before taking his starting position on Tuesday, with believing in him from a young age.
- 'Challenging' -
Carrillo landed a difficult quadruple toe loop jump early in his routine and visibly drew confidence from this.
"Yeah I was super happy," he laughed. "I tried to calm a little bit because I had the whole programme (to go!)"
He said he had to make adjustments to it because the shopping mall rink is not Olympic-sized -- in fact, there are none in Mexico that are.
"It’s challenging, I am not lying," he said of the limitations.
Most of the other skaters he trains with are 11 to 14-year-old girls, at novice or intermediate level.
But he said instead of being negative, "I always try to work with what I have and I think that’s key for me to be here."
Carrillo has no plans to try and change his training situation.
"I think it’s working," he said. "So when something is working, I don’t believe in change too much."
- 'Like an onion' -
Carrillo was the first Mexican figure skater to qualify for the Olympics in 30 years and is conscious he is one of the few Latin American athletes at the Winter Games.
He picked the music for his routine because Carlos Santana was born in Mexico and because he is Carrillo's father's favourite artist.
Carrillo's striking costume, a black shirt streaked with rays of golden crystals, was custom-made for free by Mexican designer Edgar Lozano.
"I always try to think on different artists who motivate me to represent my country at the world level," Carrillo said.
There is one last thing about the Beijing Games he is not used to -- the sub-zero cold.
"I’m like an onion, I always put some layers on me," he laughed. "But I'm having a great time."
D.Sawyer--AMWN