Colombia holds the third position in the overall medal standings at the South American Games in Santa Fe, maintaining a fierce battle with Argentina for second place as the multi-sport competition nears its Saturday closing ceremony. With Brazil securing the general title early by accumulating 114 gold medals, the attention across the delegation centers squarely on the tight podium race. Argentina holds the second spot with 74 gold medals, while Colombia follows closely with 66 gold medals heading into the final day of competition.
Archery Stars Shine Bright in Santa Fe Showdowns
Archery delivered some of the most dramatic moments of the week for the Colombian delegation, highlighted by Jorge Enríquez securing the gold medal. Enríquez faced off against Brazil’s Marcus D’Almeida, the world number one, in a tense final that finished 6-5 and required two distinct shoot-off rounds. After both athletes scored nine points in the initial shoot-off, Enríquez repeated the nine-point mark in the second tiebreaker, placing his arrow closer to the center X to capture the gold medal. The victory marks a successful defense of his regional crown, as Enríquez previously won the event at the 2022 Asunción Games.
https://x.com/DeportColombia/status/2103479422246322213
In the women’s compound division, Sara López captured her third gold medal of the Santa Fe competition by defeating compatriot Alejandra Usquiano 146-143 in an all-Colombian final. López previously topped the podium in both the women’s team and mixed team events, cementing her status as a dominant force in the sport.
Ronal Longa and Relay Squads Deliver Track and Field Gold
Track and field added significant weight to the Colombian medal count, led by sprinter Ronal Longa securing his third title of the Santa Fe Games. Longa anchored the men’s 4×100-meter relay team, executing a decisive final-stretch comeback to cross the finish line in 39.09 seconds. He shared the top step of the podium with teammates Carlos Flórez, John Paredes, and Carlos Palacios. Venezuela secured the silver medal with a time of 39.14 seconds, while Guyana claimed bronze at 39.23 seconds.
The success extended to the women’s 4×100-meter relay, where the quartet of Marleth Ospino, Angélica Gamboa, Danna Banquez, and María Camila Maturana won gold in 44.36 seconds. Beyond securing the victory, the team established a new South American Games record. Chile finished second for the silver medal with a time of 44.65 seconds, and Brazil took the bronze at 44.79 seconds.
Schedule and Closing Events
The South American Games in Santa Fe conclude on Saturday with a full slate of final events, including competitions in badminton, equestrian, handball, racquetball, squash, table tennis, tennis, and water polo. These concluding matches will officially decide the final medal table standings and close out the regional multi-sport event.
https://x.com/elcolombiano/status/2103087152393228589
