Esteban Silva, a young 19 -year -old neuquino archer, is part of the national team of archery and aspires to represent the Argentina in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. His tour in sport began on medical recommendation, after being diagnosed with a heart condition that prevented him from continuing with high demand aerobic activities.
The diagnosis came in 2019during a basketball match, when doctors detected the disease. They suggested to practice less impact sports and, among the options, chose archery, a discipline that had a few blocks from his home in Neuquén.
Since then, he trains between four and six times a week, he started in the Plottier Archers Union Club And today it is part of Comahue archeswhere it is directed by Damián Oteroalso coach of the Argentine team.
“The target – as the target is called where the arrows are triggered – reflects the person’s mental state. If you see that there is a very large dispersion, it is because that person is altered,” he explained Silva.
Learnings from this discipline
Since then, his arch became an extension of himself. “It is a sport that needs a lot of mental capacity. If the head is not on, the arrows will not hit where they should go.” Concentration, anxiety control and living the present are some of the learning that stands out.
He also highlighted his playful and explorer side: “The sports circuit is within the country. Tournaments can be in Neuquén, Tierra del Fuego, in Buenos Aires. They are beautiful opportunities to leave and meet.”
Esteban trains between four and six times a week, between two and three hours a day. In addition, he studies electronic engineering at the university, so he ensures that this routine “does not leave you an agenda open to other things, because of the demand that demands, even more if you practice a high performance sport.”
This young promise of the archery, commented that it began at the Arcco de Arqueros de Plottier Club, and for two years it has been part of Comahue archers, where it trains under the guidance of Damián Oteroalso coach of the Argentine National Team.
“It’s a crazy thing to put the light blue and white”, He confessed. Since his entry in the national team, he participated in national and international tournaments.“I recently participated in a South American archery and world ranking event, where I took bronze medal in mixed teams.
I shot at people in the senior category, who have been firing for more than 10 years, ”said Esteban, who also luxurized: knowing his idol.”My reference is a Brazilian goalkeeper, Marcus Vinícius d’Almeida. I was able to shoot against him in Colombia. For me it is like the archery messi”.
Esteban is part of the elite group of the National Team, a nucleus of six athletes per category that is periodically concentrated for technical checks. “I have colleagues from La Rioja, Buenos Aires, Córdoba, La Pampa, Missions … the competition is quite federal”.
Benefits of practicing this sport
Beyond the competitive, for Esteban the archery has a therapeutic dimension. “It allows you to disconnect from all the problems. Launch arrows is like freeing yourself from loads. You train, shoot arrows and go lighter home.” Technical, explains that the arches adapt to the physicist of the shooter. “You cannot lend your arc. It is your own tool, an extension of each person.”
His family has been key on this tour. “They have always been present. Sport is economically demanding, and they have helped me a lot. They feel very proud that I am in the selection and enjoying sport despite my illness.”
He also managed to obtain institutional support: “We presented a project to the view and remained among the 9 selected. It caught the attention because it had never presented to archery in this type of program to achieve contributions destined to develop the discipline. We were more than 48 postulated athletes of which they won 6 and 3 clubs.”
This is the program, Encouraging sportan initiative of Energy Vista and Laureus Foundation which has the accompaniment of the province of Neuquén, through the Ministry of Human Development, local governments and women in charge of the minister Julieta Corrozawhose objective is to provide financial support for the development of athletes and clubs.
Currently, this young goalkeeper lists his goals and as immediate, in August, the Pan -American will take place in Asunción 2025, in Paraguay, where he will play a place. In the future, he dreams of the games of the South American Sports Organization (ODESUR) planned for 2026; and the Pan American in Lima, in 2027. But his highest horizon is clear: the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
“I would recommend any person to try arc
