Agustina De Lucía won a silver medal in judo at the South American Games, but the athlete revealed she had to take out a loan to fund her participation in the national championship. Despite her recent podium success, De Lucía remains without the athletic scholarship she lost following the Pan American Games, forcing her to seek outside employment to sustain her training and living expenses.
Loss of scholarship impacts training and Olympic aspirations
The financial instability began after the Pan American Games, where De Lucía narrowly missed out on a bronze medal. “If you don’t have the bronze, you don’t have the scholarship,” De Lucía stated regarding the communication she received at the time.
This loss of funding had a direct impact on her athletic preparation. De Lucía explained that the situation made it significantly more difficult to maintain the necessary quality of training and general quality of life. This financial strain coincided with her bid for the Paris Olympic Games; while she believed she was well-positioned to qualify, she ultimately remained outside the Olympic roster. De Lucía described the decision regarding her Olympic absence as one she does not share.
Financial measures and current employment status
To bridge the gap left by the missing scholarship, De Lucía began teaching judo classes to generate income. However, these efforts were not sufficient to cover all competitive costs, leading her to secure a loan to attend the national championship.
Following her silver medal performance at the South American Games, De Lucía confirmed she has still not recovered her scholarship.
The judoka has coordinated her next steps with her partner. They decided that she will focus exclusively on her current competition phase for the next two months before analyzing how to balance her professional employment with her sporting career.
The cost of elite competition in South American judo
De Lucía’s situation highlights the rigid nature of performance-based funding in regional sports, where a single placement—such as the difference between a bronze medal and fourth place—can determine whether an athlete has the financial means to train. For De Lucía, the silver medal at the South American Games serves as a professional triumph, but it has not yet translated into the systemic financial support required to avoid personal debt.
The athlete noted that the struggle has changed her perspective, leading her to value her achievements and current possessions differently. She now faces the challenge of maintaining an elite competitive level while entering the general workforce.
